Abstract: An apparatus for use in the manufacture of a computer system comprises a step table and a component table. The step table contains substantially all software installation and/or testing steps for all components of all computer systems being manufactured at a given site. The component table contains substantially all components that are included within all computer systems being manufactured at the site. The apparatus also includes a step dependency table and a step parameter table. The step dependency table identifies steps in the step table which are incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the step. The step parameter table identifies steps in the step table which require a parameter.

Abstract: A computer system includes first and second computer-readable media. The second computer-readable medium stores information specifying one of the first and second computer-readable media from which the computer system boots. The computer system reads the information from the second computer-readable medium and boots from the specified one of the first and second computer-readable media in response to an event and the information.

Abstract: A method of installing software on and/or testing software for build-to-order computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file. Each component descriptor describes a respective component of the computer system. A plurality of steps are retrieved from a database, each step being associated with a respective sequence number. The plurality of steps are sequenced in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence. The step sequence includes commands for installing and/or testing software upon the computer system. For each step read from the database, it is determined if that step is incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the component descriptor associated with the step. If so, the step is discarded or not according to data associated with that step in the database.

Abstract: A test device for a computer system includes a burn rack including a plurality of workcells. A simple network management protocol enabled network device is provided adjacent the burn rack. The network device includes a plurality of ports. Cables provide an interconnection between a respective port and a respective workcell. A monitor is connected to a port of the network device and is also connected to a burn rack database. A display on a screen of the monitor provides a visual occupancy representation of each workcell.

Abstract: A method of installing software on and/or testing a computer system includes providing a step sequence having a plurality of software installation and/or testing steps to be executed in an order determined by the step sequence, and reading and executing consecutive steps from the step sequence. The method further includes updating, in respect of each step which is executed, a file with data relating to the current status of the installation and/or testing, and, prior to the execution of each step, determining from the file if that step is properly the next consecutive step in the step sequence.

Abstract: A method of installing software on and/or testing a computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file, each component descriptor describing a respective component of the computer system, reading a plurality of steps from a database, each step being associated with a component descriptor and including a respective sequence number, and sequencing the plurality of steps in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence including commands for installing software on and/or testing the computer system. The method further includes determining for each step read from the database, from data associated with that step in the database, if that step is incompatible with the presence in the computer system of a component other than that corresponding to the component descriptor associated with the step, and if so, discarding or not discarding the step according to further data associated with that step in the database.

Abstract: A software installation process for use in the manufacture of a prescribed computer system includes the steps of providing at least one processor, at least one memory, and an interface for connecting the computer system to a network server. The at least one memory includes a master boot record, a utility partition and a primary partition. The utility partition includes manufacturing code particular to a manufacturing sequence in the manufacture of the computer system. The primary partition further includes file allocation tables and a root directory. Upon booting of the computer system, the manufacturing code is executed by the at least one processor, wherein the manufacturing sequence includes at least a downloading of software from the network server to the primary partition.

Abstract: A method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system includes reading a plurality of component descriptors from a computer readable file. At least one component descriptor describes a respective component of the computer system. A plurality of steps are retrieved from a database, at least one step being associated with a respective component descriptor. A step also includes a respective sequence number. The plurality of steps are sequenced in a predetermined order according to the sequence numbers to provide a step sequence. The step sequence includes commands for installing and/or testing software upon the computer system.

Abstract: A method for installing and/or testing software for a build-to-order computer system having a plurality of components includes a plurality of elements. The computer system has an associated step sequence. The step sequence includes a plurality of steps where each step includes at least one command and a step is associated with a respective component descriptor. A component descriptor corresponds to a respective component of the computer system. The method includes accessing a command within the step sequence; creating a file including a start of execution indication; executing the command; deleting the file including the start of execution indication when the command completes execution; and repeating the accessing, creating, executing and deleting for the plurality of steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing software onto a computer system includes a step table and a component table. The step table contains a set of software installation steps shared among different components of substantially all computer systems being manufactured. The component table contains a set of substantially all possible components that are included within computer systems being manufactured. The computer system corresponds to a family of computer systems and the apparatus further includes a family relation table, a family relation table and a family component relation table. The family relation table identifies the relationship between a set of software installation steps and each family of computer system being manufactured. The family component relation table identifies the relationship between the family of computer systems and the set of components.