Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing functional validation testing in a system are provided. Generally, functional validation testing includes data acquisition and data validation testing. During the functional validation testing two devices may be exchanging data. The exchange of data by the two devices may be referred to as data acquisition. The data from one device and the data from the other device may be compared to each other. This may be referred to as data validation. When data is exchanged during data acquisition, it is also stored in appropriate locations in a pool of buffers in memory. During the data acquisition, checks are made to determine if the system is entering an idle cycle. If so, the data validation test is performed by using the data in the pool of buffers in memory.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing operational validation on a system are provided. The system may include a CPU with a cache, a communications network, and a plurality of devices exchanging data during a test. When the test is ready to be performed, the CPU may set up a pool of buffers in the cache. The pool of buffers may generally have a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual destination buffer and a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual source buffer. During the performance of the test, data is exchanged over the communications network to and from the source and destination buffers. Snooping logic in the cache may snoop data on the communications network. The data snooped may be entered in appropriate locations in the pool of buffers. This allows the CPU to perform operational validation by using cached data instead of data that is in the actual source and destination buffers.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing operational validation on a system are provided. The system may include a CPU with a cache, a communications network, and a plurality of devices exchanging data during a test. When the test is ready to be performed, the CPU may set up a pool of buffers in the cache. The pool of buffers may generally have a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual destination buffer and a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual source buffer. During the performance of the test, data is exchanged over the communications network to and from the source and destination buffers. Snooping logic in the cache may snoop data on the communications network. The data snooped may be entered in appropriate locations in the pool of buffers. This allows the CPU to perform operational validation by using cached data instead of data that is in the actual source and destination buffers.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing functional validation testing in a system are provided. Generally, functional validation testing includes data acquisition and data validation testing. During the functional validation testing two devices may be exchanging data. The exchange of data by the two devices may be referred to as data acquisition. The data from one device and the data from the other device may be compared to each other. This may be referred to as data validation. When data is exchanged during data acquisition, it is also stored in appropriate locations in a pool of buffers in memory. During the data acquisition, checks are made to determine if the system is entering an idle cycle. If so, the data validation test is performed by using the data in the pool of buffers in memory.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing operational validation on a system are provided. The system may include a CPU with a cache, a communications network, and a plurality of devices exchanging data during a test. When the test is ready to be performed, the CPU may set up a pool of buffers in the cache. The pool of buffers may generally have a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual destination buffer and a set of locations corresponding to locations in an actual source buffer. During the performance of the test, data is exchanged over the communications network to and from the source and destination buffers. Snooping logic in the cache may snoop data on the communications network. The data snooped may be entered in appropriate locations in the pool of buffers. This allows the CPU to perform operational validation by using cached data instead of data that is in the actual source and destination buffers.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing functional validation testing in a system are provided. Generally, functional validation testing includes data acquisition and data validation testing. During the functional validation testing two devices may be exchanging data. The exchange of data by the two devices may be referred to as data acquisition. The data from one device and the data from the other device may be compared to each other. This may be referred to as data validation. When data is exchanged during data acquisition, it is also stored in appropriate locations in a pool of buffers in memory. During the data acquisition, checks are made to determine if the system is entering an idle cycle. If so, the data validation test is performed by using the data in the pool of buffers in memory.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for saving data in a logically partitioned data processing system. An error is detected in the logically partitioned data processing system. Data needed for error analysis of the error is saved in a power independent memory associated with a service processor.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for updating firmware in a data processing system as a background operation allowing a user to utilize the computer for other purposes during the update process is provided. In one embodiment, after an operating system has been loaded and control has been transferred from the service processor to the host, the service processor determines whether the level of a firmware copy on a system component, such as an SPCN card, matches the current level of firmware stored on a non-volatile memory accessible to the service processor. If the level of the firmware copy in the component is different from the current level, the service processor transfers the current level of firmware from the non-volatile memory accessible to the service processor to the system component.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for reestablishing communications between a host and a service processor after the service processor has ceased to function correctly is provided. In one embodiment, the host exchanges heartbeat signals with the service processor. The heartbeat signals indicate that the service processor is active and functioning. In response to a failure to receive a heartbeat signal or in response to some other indication that the service processor is not performing correctly, the host causes a hard reset of the service processor. In addition, the service processor can detect a failure within itself and initiate a hard reset to itself. After the hard reset, the service processor returns to a monitoring mode without performing initial tests of the data processing system. Furthermore, the data processing system remains active and is not shut down during the hard reset of the service processor.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for redirecting a data stream within a data processing system. In response to detecting a request from a terminal, a signal is sent to a hardware switch to redirect the data stream from the first port to a processor. The data stream is packetized for transmission over a second port. The packetized data stream is sent by the processor to a destination over the second port.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for saving data in a logically partitioned data processing system. An error is detected in the logically partitioned data processing system. Data needed for error analysis of the error is saved in a power independent memory associated with a service processor.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for updating firmware in a data processing system as a background operation allowing a user to utilize the computer for other purposes during the update process is provided. In one embodiment, after an operating system has been loaded and control has been transferred from the service processor to the host, the service processor determines whether the level of a firmware copy on a system component, such as an SPCN card, matches the current level of firmware stored on a non-volatile memory accessible to the service processor. If the level of the firmware copy in the component is different from the current level, the service processor transfers the current level of firmware from the non-volatile memory accessible to the service processor to the system component.