Abstract: Sideband communication capability is incorporated into an Input/Output Adapter (IOA) and/or a host apparatus in a manner that permits the communication of base I/O and other sideband signals between an IOA and a host apparatus without conflicting with standard IOA and/or I/O architecture form factors. The primary connector of an IOA may be selectively partitioned to permit sideband information to be communicated across the primary connector, often without compromising the primary communication functionality of the primary connector. In lieu of or in addition to such a partitioned connector, a second, sideband connector may be incorporated into an IOA and/or host apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to an apparatus for holding one or more devices, comprising a rack. The rack includes one or more devices in which at least one device has a microcontroller. The rack further includes a device memory associated with each device containing a unique identifier. The microcontroller is connected to the device memory through a bus. The microcontroller is configured to retrieve the unique identifier.

Abstract: A method and system for using an Ethernet ring topology to connect Ethernet Computer Enclosure Services (CES) devices. The system contains two physical Ethernet tailstock connectors for every CES device on the Ethernet ring for point-to-point connection between Ethernet Network Interface Cards (NIC's) connected to each CES device. A master CES device initiates all network traffic, and the master CES device assigns IP addresses for all CES devices, including both the master CES device as well as slave CES devices on the Ethernet ring. After IP addresses are assigned to all CES devices, a network command is issued by the master CES device on a regular basis to poll the slave CES devices for status and failure information. If a break occurs anywhere in the ring, the master CES device isolates and identifies the break and reverses the direction of the polling signal to access each slave CES device.

Abstract: In an electrical system having a connector board with at least one electrical connector thereon for receiving an electrical device therein, volumetric vital product parametric data is stored in memory associated with the connector board. The stored volumetric vital product parametric data can be accessed with the electrical system to check for available space for a proposed electrical device, for example. The stored data may include information about dimensional characteristics of the connector board and the at least one electrical connector. This data can be compared with corresponding data for the electrical device to determine compatibility, for example.

Abstract: Enclosure services in a computer system having a Host computer and at least one Target device, are provided on a functional path, which is preferably a relatively high-speed, point-to-point serial bus between the Host computer and the at least one Target device. The at least one Target device and the Host computer each have a full power operational mode and an auxiliary power mode. The Host computer generates enclosure services commands and sends them to the at least one Target device on the functional path. The at least one Target device can receive and respond to the enclosure services commands, even when in the auxiliary power mode.

Abstract: In an electrical system having subsystems, and which stores configuration labeling information therein, subsystem configuration is detected and the stored configuration labeling information is updated based thereon. Service personnel can then access the stored updated configuration labeling information to use in affixing labels at appropriate locations in the electrical system.

Abstract: An adapter node is provided for use in adapting internal system enclosure services to a system power control network to thereby provide remote power control, diagnostics, and logical-to-physical correlation information, through the system power control network. The adapter node is for use in one computer of a plurality of different types of computers, having a respective internal system enclosure services low-level communication path. The power control network has a plurality of nodes, one of the nodes being a control node. The adapter node includes a substrate having electrical contacts adapted to plug to a system bus in the one computer. The substrate further has at least one system enclosure services interface connection to connect to the internal system enclosure services low-level communication path in the one computer. The adapter node further has a system power control network interface connection for connecting to the system power control network.

Abstract: In an electrical system having a chassis with at least one chassis slot for receiving a chassis electrical device, and at least one connector board with at least one board slot thereon for receiving a connector board electrical device therein, respective memory is provided for storing vital product parametric data associated with the at least one chassis slot, the at least one connector board slot, and the respective electrical devices. The stored vital product parametric data can be accessed by the electrical system to check compatibility.

Abstract: In an electrical interface providing a predefined number of connections at least some of which have predefined functions and at least some of which have reserved, undefined or non-critical functions, selective use of at least one of the connections having a reserved, undefined or non-critical function is accomplished. At least one switch is provided which is controllable and coupled to switch at least one connection having a reserved, undefined or non-critical function to a desired customized function. In this way, the electrical interface can be selectively switched to provide additional functionality using reserved, undefined or non-critical connections of the interface.

Abstract: In an electrical system, concurrent maintenance of a system component coupled to the system by an adapter on a first communications path is accomplished through the provision of a second communications path to a system power controller, so that concurrent maintenance is not dependent on communications over the first communications path. In particular, concurrent maintenance of a direct access storage device (DASD) coupled to a computer system through a small computer system interconnect (SCSI) bus, an input-output adapter (IOA), a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus and a PCI bridge circuit (PCIB), is enabled by providing a IIC serial, point-to-point signal path between the bridge circuit and a system power control network (SPCN) to coordinate quiescing of the SCSI buses and powering down of the DASD.

Abstract: In an electronic system having at least one enclosure including at least one connecting board with at least one associated device coupled thereto, a respective physical location of each device is electronically determined, and an indication of each respective physical location is stored in memory disposed in the at least one enclosure. An operating system uses the stored physical location indication to correlate logical addresses to physical location.

Abstract: An interface in a data-processing system for identifying operating parameters of storage systems and enclosures is disclosed. The data-processing system communicates with the storage systems utilizing a serial bus. The storage systems are included within a storage system enclosure which includes a backplane. A backplane interface is included within the backplane and is utilized for coupling a storage system to the storage system enclosure. The storage system has a first and a second connector which are coupled together. The second connector is coupled to the backplane interface and is utilized to transmit data to be stored to and read from the storage system. A plurality of resistors are coupled to the first connector. A physical location is selected for a storage system by connecting selected ones of the resistors to a first potential, while all remaining resistors are connected to a second potential.

Abstract: An enhanced peripheral component interconnect (PCI) architecture for a data-processing system is described. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) architecture for a data-processing system comprises a PCI host bus, a number of PCI local buses, and a PCI hot-plug bridge. Each of the local PCI buses has an adapter card slot. The PCI hot-plug bridge, connected between the PCI host bus and the PCI local buses, is utilized for controlling power to each of the PCI local buses, such that a PCI adapter card may be removed from or added to any one of the adapter card slots during power up while there is processing ongoing within adapter card(s) situated in other adapter card slot(s).