Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the health of a peripheral component of an information handling system. An aggregation logic circuit coupled to a communication path provides data communication with each of a plurality of electrical circuits disposed on the peripheral component, the aggregation logic circuit providing a feedback signal representative of the health of the peripheral component during operation of the peripheral component.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification transponder apparatus includes a transceiver. A control logic device is coupled to the transceiver. A transponder programming device is coupled to the control logic device and operable to store information, whereby the information stored is determined by the presence or absence of a printing material adjacent the transponder programming device. A conventional printing device may program the transponder programming apparatus and print transponder labels by positioning printing material adjacent the transponder programming device.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for controlled impedance at transitional via sites using barrel inductance minimization are provided. In one embodiment, one or more sidewalls of a via barrel are preferably processed such that conductive material disposed thereon is selectively removed thereby forming an inner-via trace connecting one or more conductive traces and/or pads on a first substrate layer to one or more conductive traces and/or pads on a second substrate layer. Removal of conductive material from a sidewall of the via barrel is done in a manner such that an inner-via trace traveling from a first surface to a second surface of one or more substrate layers possesses at least one electrical characteristic substantially approximating a corresponding electrical characteristic of those structures to which the inner-via trace is connected.

Abstract: A thermal dissipation apparatus includes a thermal transfer device including a heat pipe member. A temperature sensitive material is coupled to the heat pipe member and operable to provide a visual indication of the heat transfer in the heat pipe member. The thermal dissipation apparatus may be coupled to a heat producing component in order to dissipate heat from the component, and the temperature sensitive material will allow the function of the heat pipe member to be visually determined.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for reconfiguring the links of a PCI Express bus after a user hot swaps a PCI device. A computer system has been initially configured with PCI Express bus links to various endpoints, using the scaling features of the PCI Express standard. If a hot swap occurs, an SMI routine is used to signal a reconfiguration circuit to reroute unused links (or unused portions of links) to one or more other PCI devices.

Abstract: Remote access to a platform management system, for example via an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI), is maintained despite a failure affecting a local area network (LAN) controller. Failover to a second, operational LAN controller can be achieved by monitoring the status of the LAN controllers, and using a selector to couple a different LAN controller to a platform controller if the LAN controller currently coupled to the platform controller fails.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for constructing capped resistive vias are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a bare, electronic component substrate or printed circuit board via is preferably surrounded at each opening by a conductive pad. Defined by openings at a first and second surface of the substrate and a conductive material free wall defining the via is a void filled with one or more resistive inks and/or fills. A conductive cap is preferably coupled to the conductive pads such that an opening therein and the resistive fill exposed at the surface of the substrate is substantially covered. The presence of the conductive cap enables one or more electronic component conductors to be coupled directly to the capped resistive via.

Abstract: A computer system has a plurality of sub-systems each comprising a serial interface and a buffer device coupled with the serial interface for buffering crash data sent by the serial interface having an external serial output. The system further comprises a management controller coupled with the external serial output of the buffer device to retrieve data buffered during a crash.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely controlling the power of an information handling system which includes a power supply, an input output (I/O) controller, a power button coupled to the I/O controller and a power management controller coupled to the I/O controller. The power management controller receives a power command signal and generates a remote power signal based upon the power command signal. The remote power signal controls the power supply via the I/O controller.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for constructing capped resistive vias are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a bare, electronic component substrate or printed circuit board via is preferably surrounded at each opening by a conductive pad. Defined by openings at a first and second surface of the substrate and a conductive material free wall defining the via is a void filled with one or more resistive inks and/or fills. A conductive cap is preferably coupled to the conductive pads such that an opening therein and the resistive fill exposed at the surface of the substrate is substantially covered. The presence of the conductive cap enables one or more electronic component conductors to be coupled directly to the capped resistive via.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for controlled impedance at transitional via sites using barrel inductance minimization are provided. In one embodiment, one or more sidewalls of a via barrel are preferably processed such that conductive material disposed thereon is selectively removed thereby forming an inner-via trace connecting one or more conductive traces and/or pads on a first substrate layer to one or more conductive traces and/or pads on a second substrate layer. Removal of conductive material from a sidewall of the via barrel is done in a manner such that an inner-via trace traveling from a first surface to a second surface of one or more substrate layers possesses at least one electrical characteristic substantially approximating a corresponding electrical characteristic of those structures to which the inner-via trace is connected.

Abstract: A blade server system includes multiple blade servers at a common location coupled to a concentrator. The concentrator connects the blade servers to a remote terminal. Upon command from the remote terminal, the concentrator connects a particular one of the blade servers to the remote terminal. Each blade server senses when it is newly connected to the remote terminal and upon detection of such a new connection, a complete screen refresh is sent by the newly connected blade server to the remote terminal. In this manner, contamination of the display of the remote terminal by leftover text from a prior connected blade server is advantageously avoided.

Abstract: An example embodiment of a system for providing fail-over between switches in a network may include a switch having a server-side port and a fail-over circuit in communication with the server-side port. The switch may also include a status circuit, in communication with the fail-over circuit. The switch may also include a switch-side port. The status circuit may communicate the link status of the switch-side port to the fail-over circuit. In response to receiving a link status of down for the switch-side port, the fail-over circuit may automatically disable the server-side port. A related system may include more than one switch, and the system may automatically fail-over from a first switch to a second switch, in response to the disablement of the server-side port in the first switch. At least one related method is also described.

Abstract: A blade server system includes multiple blade servers at a common location coupled to a concentrator. The concentrator connects the blade servers to a remote terminal. Upon command from the remote terminal, the concentrator connects a particular one of the blade servers to the remote terminal. Each blade server senses when it is newly connected to the remote terminal and upon detection of such a new connection, a complete screen refresh is sent by the newly connected blade server to remote terminal. In this manner, contamination of the display of the remote terminal by leftover text from a prior connected blade server is advantageously avoided.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting blank modules includes an information handling system including at least one computing component, a modular chassis, a management module, and one or more sensors. The modular chassis includes one or more slots where each slot is operable to receive either the computing module or a blank module. The computing module interfaces with the management module whereby the management module is operable to detect the presence of one or more of the computing modules in one or more of the slots. The sensors are associated with each of the slots and detect if one or more of the blank modules are installed in one or more of the slots. In addition, the sensors provide an indication to a user when one or more of the slots are empty and do contain neither a computing module or a blank module.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting blank modules includes an information handling system including at least one computing component, a modular chassis, a management module, and one or more sensors. The modular chassis includes one or more slots where each slot is operable to receive either the computing module or a blank module. The computing module interfaces with the management module whereby the management module is operable to detect the presence of one or more of the computing modules in one or more of the slots. The sensors are associated with each of the slots and detect if one or more of the blank modules are installed in one or more of the slots. In addition, the sensors provide an indication to a user when one or more of the slots are empty and do contain neither a computing module or a blank module.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely controlling the power of an information handling system which includes a power supply, an input output (I/O) controller, a power button coupled to the I/O controller and a power management controller coupled to the I/O controller. The power management controller receives a power command signal and generates a remote power signal based upon the power command signal. The remote power signal controls the power supply via the I/O controller.

Abstract: A system and method for using a shared bus to control a keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) output is disclosed. The system may include a mid-plane having a video bus. At least one server module, including a video output module, may be placed in communications with the video bus. The video output module may transmit a video signal over the bus and receives a control signal over the bus. A management module may also be placed in communications with the video bus. The management module may receive the video signal from the server module via the bus and provide a control signal through the video bus to each server module. The control signal may activate or deactivate the video output module on each server module.

Abstract: A computer system has a plurality of sub-systems each comprising a serial interface and a buffer device coupled with the serial interface for buffering crash data sent by the serial interface having an external serial output. The system further comprises a management controller coupled with the external serial output of the buffer device to retrieve data buffered during a crash.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for autonomous power sequencing in a computer system. The system and method includes at least one server module such as a server blade or a server brick. A midplane receives the server modules and provides a unique address for each server module based on the location of the server modules on the midplane. The server modules each include an address module having a timer, the address module operable to obtain the unique address from the midplane and calculate a start-up time for the associated server module based on the unique address for each server module. A power supply sequences power to the server modules based on the start-up times for the server modules. Therefore, the server modules power up in a sequence instead of simultaneously and without the aid of a central controller controlling the sequencing of the powering of the server modules.