Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configurations is constructed in response to the collection of device information. Each device is represented by at least one device configuration, which defines the resource element requirements for the corresponding device. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device configurations and the availability of the desired resources. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configurations is constructed in response to the collection of device information. Each device is represented by at least one device configuration, which defines the resource element requirements for the corresponding device. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device configurations and the availability of the desired resources. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configurations is constructed in response to the collection of device information. Each device is represented by at least one device configuration, which defines the resource element requirements for the corresponding device. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device configurations and the availability of the desired resources. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.

Abstract: A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer, including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network adapter is identified.

Abstract: An operating system provides a common name space for both long filenames and short filenames. In this common namespace, a long filename and a short filename are provided for each file. Each file has a short filename directory entry and may have at least one long filename directory entry associated with it. The number of long filename directory entries that are associated with a file depends on the number of characters in the long filename of the file. The long filename directory entries are configured to minimize compatibility problems with existing installed program bases.

Abstract: A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer, including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network adapter is identified.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating extended information, including status information, from a hardware device to a computer operating system. An adapter detects changes in the status of hardware devices attached thereto, including inserted, removed or requested-to-be-removed status, places information regarding that status in registers accessible to the operating system, and generates an interrupt. In handling the interrupt, the operating system reads the status information from the registers and takes appropriate action. The described framework extensibly provides the operating system with the ability to issue commands to the adapter such as commands which obtain information on the capabilities of the adapter and the hardware devices attached thereto. Another such command enables the operating system to direct the adapter to mechanically eject a device attached thereto, such as in response to detection of request-to-be-removed status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards used in a computer system. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that enables the circuit cards to be automatically configured during system boot up without any user intervention. The present invention also includes a method for the computer system software to detect resources requested by the circuit cards in order to resolve any system resource conflicts.

Abstract: A method and system for simulating auto-init DMA transfers to peripheral devices that do not support system DMA. To simulate auto-init mode DMA, a device driver monitors and responds to activity on the DMA channel when the application program specifies auto-init mode DMA. Data in a buffer is transferred to the peripheral device in small amounts called bursts. Several bursts comprise a block, and the end of each block must coincide with the end of a burst. When a burst is transferred from the buffer to the peripheral device, the peripheral device generates a physical interrupt. The device driver intercepts the physical interrupt and sends a virtual interrupt to the application program only when the physical interrupt is received for a burst that ends at the end of a block. In this manner, the application program is informed that it can again write data into the buffer for subsequent transfer to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A system for managing the assignment of device drivers to devices of a computer system. The computer system can maintain device-related information for a primary device and for devices that are "compatible" with the primary device. This device information supplies an indication of whether a device driver intended for primary use with a device is maintained by the computer system. Moreover, the device information provides an indication of whether one or more device drivers compatible with the primary device are maintained by the computer system. During assignment of device drivers to devices of the computer system, the device information is examined to determine whether the intended device driver for the primary device is available to support the operations of that device. If not, the device information is examined to determine whether a device driver for a device that is compatible with the primary device is available for supporting computer operations of the primary device.

Abstract: A system for managing the configuration of devices of a computer system. Device information is obtained to uniquely identify each device and to describe the device characteristics associated with device operation. To obtain device information, a particular device is detected on a selected system bus and thereafter assigned an identification code that uniquely identifies the detected device. A system bus code, which uniquely identifies the selected system bus, is appended to the identification code, thereby forming a device identification code associated with the particular device. Logical configuration data, which supplies configuration requirements for device operation, is also obtained for the detected device. This data collection process is repeated until device information is obtained for each of the devices connected to the selected system bus. Resources are allocated to each device based on the device identification code and the logical configuration data.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer system. A possible configuration of elements of a resource is obtained. This possible configuration defines the resource elements that are appropriate for operating the devices within the computer system. For a selected device, a determination is made whether a particular resource element is available for use by this device. If not, another possible configuration is obtained and the process begins anew. In contrast, if the particular resource element is available, then this resource element is assigned for use by the selected device. This resource allocation process continues until resource elements have been assigned to the remaining devices.

Abstract: A system for configuring devices of a computer system without user intervention. Device information for each of the devices is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of the resources by the devices. A device driver, which enables communications between the corresponding device and the computer system, is also identified for each of the devices in response to the device information. In response to the allocation of resources, the identified device drivers are loaded and the devices are activated for operation with the computer.

Abstract: An operating system provides a common name space for both long filenames and short filenames. In this common namespace, a long filename and a short filename are provided for each file. Each file has a short filename directory entry and may have at least one long filename directory entry associated with it. The number of long filename directory entries that are associated with a file depends on the number of characters in the long filename of the file. The long filename directory entries are configured to minimize compatibility problems with existing installed program bases.

Abstract: A system for configuring a devices of a computer with minimal support by a user. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources.

Abstract: An interrupt handler may be run in multiple processor modes on a data processing system having a processor for executing instructions and a memory for storing information. The sharing of interrupt handler code across multiple processor modes minimizes the switching between processor modes during the handling of interrupts. The mode in which the interrupt handler executes is dictated by the current processor mode. The indicator of the current processor mode directs the interrupt handler to use information that is appropriate for the current processor mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing files on a computer file storage device. The files are organized into an hierarchical directory structure. The directory structure comprises directory entries and file entries. The file entries and directory each contain a primary and a secondary pointer. The secondary pointer is initially set to a predefined value. When an entry is to be updated, the secondary pointer is overridden with a value that points to the superseding entry. This directory structure is especially suitable to be used in a write-once computer memory.