This disclosure relates generally to identifying and locating a failed or failing system component within a computer system, and more specifically to using indicator lights with system components to indicate multiple possible sources for a failed or failing system component.
Some computer manufacturers have recently introduced computer systems that place fault identifying indicator lights such as light emitting diodes (LED) near system components that will light up when its associated component has failed or is failing. System components within these computer systems that may have their own fault identifying LED include components such as central processing units (CPUs), dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), power supplies, fans, adaptor slots, and voltage regulators. As an example, if there is an error associated with a DIMM, then the fault identifying LED associated with the DIMM will light up to indicate that the DIMM has failed or is failing. A customer or service technician can then replace the faulty DIMM without having to troubleshoot whether the DIMM is responsible for the error. This allows the customer or service technician to quickly diagnose the source of the error, minimizing the amount of time that the computer is down because of the failed or failing system component.
An issue that arises with these computer systems that utilize fault identifying LEDs is that often times there may be more than one system component that is responsible for the error. For example, if there is an error associated with a DIMM, it is possible that the cause for error may be due to the memory controller which controls the flow of data to and from the DIMM, and not just due solely to the DIMM. Since replacing the DIMM is the most obvious solution, currently available light diagnostic approaches will only light the LED associated with the DIMM and not any LEDs associated with system components that may have a lesser probability of being the source of the DIMM error. If it turns out that the memory controller is responsible for the error, then the customer or service technician will have needlessly replaced a DIMM before realizing that the source of the error is the controller. Besides incurring unnecessary expenses, the customer or service technician will have wasted time trying to diagnose the error, which means more time that the computer system is down.
Because currently available computer systems that utilize fault identifying LEDs are unable to light up LEDs of multiple system components that may be possible sources for a detected error, computer manufacturers need to develop an approach that can activate LEDs of all system components that may be potentially responsible for an error, and provide an approach that can enable a customer or service technician to identify the likelihood that each of the lighted LEDs is the source of the error, in order to make a quick diagnosis and repair.
In one embodiment, there is a method for diagnosing faulty components within a computer system that utilizes indicator lights with components in the computer system to indicate possible failures. In this embodiment, the method comprises detecting an error within the computer system and determining at least two components within the computer system that are possible sources for the detected error. The method also comprises activating each of the indicator lights associated with the at least two components. In this method, each activated indicator light generates a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error. The visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error.
In another embodiment, there is a computer system that comprises a plurality of indicator lights associated with components within the computer system. BIOS logic is configured to detect errors within the computer system and determine causes for the errors. A service processor, in communication with the BIOS logic, is configured to activate at least two indicator lights from the plurality of indicator lights to indicate possible sources for the detected errors. The service processor activates the at least two indicator lights to generate a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component within the computer system is the source for the detected error. The visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error.
In a third embodiment, there is a computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for diagnosing faulty components within a computer system that utilizes indicator lights with components in the computer system to indicate possible failures. In this embodiment, the computer instructions comprises detecting an error within the computer system; determining at least two components within the computer system that are possible sources for the detected error; and activating each of the indicator lights associated with the at least two components, wherein each activated indicator light generates a visual pattern representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a pattern that ranges from a pattern that indicates a high likelihood of being the source for the detected error to a pattern that indicates a lower likelihood of being the source for the detected error, wherein the visual pattern comprises a steady on pattern, a fast blinking pattern and a slow blinking pattern, wherein the steady on pattern is indicative of a high likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error, the fast blinking pattern is indicative of a medium likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error and the slow blinking pattern is indicative of a lower likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error.
As shown in
Each of the system components shown in
In operation, the fault identifying indicator lights 130 will light up when its associated system component has failed or is failing for a predetermined duty cycle. Each of the fault identifying indicator lights 130 can generate a visual pattern that is representative of the likelihood that a component is the source for a noted error. For example, each fault identifying indicator light 130 can generate a visual pattern that comprises a full steady-on light that indicates that there is a high likelihood that the component is the source for the noted error. A fast blinking visual pattern may be indicative that there is a medium likelihood that the component is the source for the detected error. A slow blinking visual pattern may be indicative that there is a lower likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error.
These are only examples of some of the types of visual patterns that the fault identifying indicator lights 130 can generate and they are not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are a multitude of other visual patterns that the fault identifying indicator lights 130 can generate. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many other ways of correlating the likelihood that a visual pattern of a fault identifying indicator light is the cause of the error. In particular, terminology such as high, medium and lower likelihood are only illustrative of one way of correlating a visual pattern to the probability of being the cause of an error.
Referring back to
After determining system components that are possible sources for the detected error, the BIOS determines the likelihood or probability that each system component is the source of the error at 214. Depending on the likelihood that a system component is the source of the error, the BIOS will then instruct the service processor to activate the fault identifying indicator lights associated with the isolated system components, causing the lights to generate a visual pattern that corresponds with the likelihood that the component is the source of the detected error at 216. As mentioned above, in one embodiment, a visual pattern that comprises a full steady-on light is indicative of a high likelihood that the component is the source for the detected error, a fast blinking visual pattern is indicative of a medium likelihood that the component is the source for the detected error, while a slow blinking pattern visual pattern is indicative of a lower likelihood that a component is the source for the detected error.
In addition to lighting the fault identifying indicator lights, the computer system will activate a warning light on the outside of the system to notify the user of an error. A user or service technician can then power-down the system and isolate the cause for the detected error. The user or service technician will then open the system to see what fault identifying indicator lights are illuminated and what visual pattern is being generated from each indicator. Note that even though the computer system has been powered-down, the auxiliary power source 128 is used to provide power to illuminate each of the relevant fault identifying indicator lights so that they can generate its selected visual pattern at a predetermined duty cycle.
Referring back to
If it is determined at processing block 208 that BIOS logic has not found any errors, then control is passed to the operating system at 224. If the computer system hardware determines an error while the operating system is running at 226, then the operating system will stop and call out the BIOS at 222 and proceed to perform process acts 210-220 until it is determined at 228 that the user is finished and ready to power down the computer system at 230.
The foregoing flow chart of
It is apparent that there has been provided with this disclosure, an approach for implicating multiple possible problematic components within a computer system using indicator light diagnostics. While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure.