748results about "Detecting faulty hardware by power-on test" patented technology

The present invention proposes a computer system and a method capable of performing integrity detection, comprising: a running mode unit which comprises an integrity detection boot variable to determine whether or not to initiate an integrity detection boot mode by judging said running mode unit; an EFI integrity detection unit (5), which is used for performing an integrity detection on EFI image codes in the integrity detection boot mode, and comprises an integrity metric value for being compared with an EFI integrity calculated value generated after the EFI integrity detection unit performs the integrity detection on the EFI image codes, to determine the integrity of the EFI image codes; an operating system integrity detection unit (6); and an integrity management unit. The present invention is based on the EFI BIOS to perform the integrity detection on the operating system during the pre-boot stage, having better reliability and security.

A computer system includes a dual basic input-output system (BIOS) read-only memory (ROM) system to initialize the computer. When the computer is first powered on or reset, the primary BIOS ROM is initially enabled. The computer analyzes the contents of the primary BIOS memory to detect data errors. If a data error is detected, a chip enable circuit disables the primary BIOS ROM and enables a secondary BIOS ROM containing essentially the same initialization instructions as the primary BIOS ROM. If no errors are detected in the secondary BIOS ROM, the initialization of the computer proceeds using the secondary BIOS ROM. As part of the initialization procedure, the contents of the secondary BIOS ROM are copied to a random access memory. The primary BIOS ROM can then be reprogrammed with the contents of the secondary BIOS ROM using the copy in random access memory, or from the secondary BIOS ROM itself.

A method and system for automatically initiating particular computer system activities in a computer system. Initially, a predetermined list of computer system activities to be initiated is stored within the computer system. Thereafter, the presence of a user within a particular area surrounding the computer system is detected. Next, particular amount of time that has passed since the computer system activities were last processed is determined. The computer system activities contained within the predetermined list of computer system activities are then automatically initiated, in response to detecting the presence of a user within the particular area, if the particular amount of time that has passed since the computer system activities were last processed is greater than a predetermined threshold period, thereby permitting the computer system activities to be initiated without manual user input. The computer system itself may be implemented as a computer workstation or stand-alone personal computer within a distributed computer network. In this case, the predetermined list of computer system activities to be initiated can be stored at a memory location (e.g., memory location at a server or host) within the distributed computer network.

A method 20 and computer apparatus for using available firmware flash ROM space as a diagnostic drive. The computer apparatus has a nonvolatile random access memory, an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) and a basic input and output system (BIOS). To implement the functionality provided by the present invention, a command shell of the EFI is modified to include the EFI driver and operates to configure available flash space normally reserved for firmware (BIOS) as a diagnostic disk drive. The modified EFI and the EFI driver are stored in the flash memory. When the computer system 10 is initialized (booted), the EFI driver configures the available space in the flash memory that is not allocated to the firmware as the diagnostic disk drive. Diagnostic programs are loaded into the diagnostic disk drive, which are selectively run by a user, such as by using the command shell. The method may also be configured to include data compression and decompression routines to increase the quantity of data that may be stored in the configured disk drive space, or encryption routines for security purposes. The diagnostic disk drive space may be used to store power on self test (POST) error logs in files that may be read by the operating system during its boot process and displayed by an event viewer.

A method of controlling data transfers between a volatile memory and a non-volatile storage, the volatile memory being on a memory device operatively coupled to a computer system, the data transfers comprising: storing data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile storage when a power source of the computer system fails, the method comprising following re-establishment of the previously failed power source, the step of: selectively restoring data from the non-volatile storage to the volatile memory by a controller software after restart operations.

A system and method provides remote diagnostics testing of a data processing system. Diagnostics testing code is stored in a non-volatile memory in the system. A diagnostic test indicator (e.g., in the form of flag in a CMOS RAM) is settable by a signal from a controlling computer system remote from the data processing system. The signal requests that diagnostics testing is to be performed on the data processing system. When the data processing system is rebooted, the CMOS flag is checked and if found to be set, the diagnostics code is invoked and diagnostic testing is performed. When the diagnostics testing is complete and results have been logged in the non-volatile storage, the code causes the flag to be reset and the data processing system to be rebooted. The results are transferred, on request, to the remote controlling computer system for analysis.

During power up initialization, security data such as passwords and other sensitive data which are stored in a lockable memory device are read and copied to protected system management interrupt (SMI) memory space, subject to verification by code running in the SMI memory space that the call to write the security data originates with a trusted entity. Once copied to SMI memory space, the security data is erased from regular system memory and the lockable storage device is hard locked (requiring a reset to unlock) against direct access prior to starting the operating system. The copy of the security data within the SMI memory space is invisible to the operating system. However, the operating system may initiate a call to code running in the SMI memory space to check a password entered by the user, with the SMI code returning a “match” or “no match” indication. The security data may thus be employed after the lockable memory device is hard locked and the operating system is started.

A system adds functionality to a power button where use of the power button controls the entry and exit from a diagnostic mode. The system includes an information appliance connected to a diagnostic appliance. Once an information appliance is powered up, the information appliance monitors its power button for a press which indicates a request to enter a diagnostic mode. Absent a press of the power button, the system continues to be under control of the information appliance and never enters a diagnostic mode. However, if a press of the power button is detected, the system enters a diagnostic mode. Once in a diagnostic mode the system provides an exit therefrom by interpreting a power button press as a request to exit. The window of time to make such an exit closes once the diagnostic appliance achieves communication with the information appliance. If the power button is pressed during this window of time, then the system ends its diagnostic mode and control of the system returns to the information appliance. If the power button is pressed after the window of time has closed, then the diagnostic appliance retains control of the information appliance and maintains its ability to execute diagnostic type commands thereon. The illustrative system is particularly useful when incorporated into devices with limited interface connections such as legacy-free information appliances. The system allows for a standard existing button on the information appliance to serve diagnostic purposes, avoiding the need for initializing peripherals requiring substantial execution space.

A method of booting an information handling system including a volatile memory device to be selectively tested during a booting operation, the method comprising a step of reading current system configuration information from the information handling system, a step of comparing the current system configuration information with corresponding prestored system configuration information in a nonvolatile memory device, and a step of selectively performing a test for the volatile memory device according to a result of the comparison.

A drug infusion device determines whether an infusion program is stored within a memory. If so, a user is prompted to confirm usage of the program and a drug identifier, and to review the configuration of the device. If the program is not in the memory, the drug infusion device is enabled to receive an auto program with which it can configure itself. When auto program receipt is enabled, the drug infusion device waits for the auto program or for a selection for manual entry of the infusion program. A menu screen is displayed to indicate that the drug infusion device is waiting for the auto program, but the menu screen is not displayed if the auto program is already received. Therefore, a waiting for auto program menu screen may be avoided in many cases, reducing device setup time. In some embodiments, removal of a drug vial resets the device to a point after a power-on self-test and thus provides an easy method for resetting the device to a point that avoids unnecessary steps and expands a window of opportunity for receiving an auto program compared to prior work flows.

An apparatus, program product and method utilize targeted boot diagnostics in connection with a boot operation to automate the handling of hardware failures detected during startup or initialization of a computer. In particular, in response to detection of a failure after initiation of and during performance of a boot operation, a targeted diagnostic operation is initiated on at least one hardware device in the computer in response to detecting the failure, such that after the targeted diagnostic operation is initiated, the boot operation may be completed.

A method and system for preventing stack buffer overflow attacks in a computer system are disclosed. A computer system can prevent stack buffer overflow attacks by encrypting return addresses prior to pushing them onto the runtime stack. When an encrypted return address is popped off the runtime stack, the computer system decrypts the encrypted return address to determine the actual return address. A random encryption key can be used, which can be generated from the CPU's clock cycle counter. Multitasking environments can add a seed register to the task state so that each task can use a unique seed to encrypt the return addresses.

A basic input / output system (BIOS) for use in a computer system having a plurality of processors is described. The BIOS is embodied in a computer readable medium as computer program instructions which are operable to facilitate substantially simultaneous operation of the plurality of processors. According to one embodiment, the processors are simultaneously enabled to test of different portions of the system memory.

A POST (power on self test) debug system and method applicable to an electronic device is proposed. First, a reading module reads a POST code of a sub-routine to be executed when the electronic device is started up to execute a power on self test, and sends the POST code to a processing module. When the processing module receives the POST code, the processing module temporarily stores the POST code and detects whether the temporarily stored POST code has been changed at a predefined time interval. If no, the processing module records the temporarily stored POST code such that a user can fine reason for error according to the recorded POST code and repair the system timely. Such a debug system is simple and easy to implement.

Methods and apparatus are provided for use in testing a memory (220, 230, 240) in a multiprocessor computer system (200). The multiprocessor computer system (200) has a plurality of processing nodes (210-217) coupled in an array wherein each processing node is coupled to at least one other processing node, and a memory (220, 230, 240) distributed among the plurality of processing nodes (210-217). A configuration of the array is determined. An initial configuration of the memory (220, 230, 240) is also determined. The memory (220, 230, 240) is tested over the array according to the initial configuration to identify a bad memory element. The initial configuration is modified to form a revised configuration that excludes the bad memory element.

The embodiment of the invention provides a fault locating method and device. The fault locating method includes the steps that when a power-on starting device performs a BIOS program of a basic input and output system, monitoring is performed on hardware abnormity triggering conditions; when the hardware abnormity triggering conditions are monitored, abnormity information is collected, and the abnormity information at least comprises fault information of a central processing unit (CPU); the abnormity information is reported to a monitoring server through a network. Examining and accurate locating performed on the fault information are achieved in a remote mode.

A method, system, and article of manufacture for automatically performing one or more diagnostic tests during a system boot process are provided. The tests may be performed after a specific period or periods of time associated with the tests have passed since the tests were last performed. Such periodic diagnostic tests may allow faulty chips or other problems within the system to be detected before the occurrence of full system failures that could cause unacceptable downtime.

The present invention may be introduced to an architecture such as a personal computer or an amusement equipment for realizing a high-speed graphic processing. When a frame buffer, a command memory and an image processor are incorporated in one chip in order to improve the drawing performance of an image processing device, a test terminal and a test bus are provided in the image processing device, and a test port is provided in each memory module and is connected to a common test bus, so that a content of each incorporated memory module is monitored externally when it is tested. Thereby, it is possible to employ the conventional testing method itself in testing the memory modules.

A testing method for a server supporting an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) is applied to test a server before an operating system (OS) of the server operates. The test method includes the following steps. A baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server is activated. The server is activated, and a monitoring module is operated. Real-time status data of the server stored in the BMC of the server is obtained. The monitoring module executes a pre-test procedure according to the real-time status data of the server before the OS operates. A test result of the pre-test procedure is stored.

A system for auto-operating backup firmware I disclosed, which includes a baseboard management controller, a first BIOS ROM, a second BIOS ROM, and an inverter. The baseboard management controller has an I / O pin. The first BIOS ROM is electrically connected to the I / O pin of the baseboard management controller. The inverter is electrically connected to the I / O pin, and the second BIOS ROM is electrically connected to the inverter. A method for auto-operating backup firmware is also disclosed.

According to one embodiment, an information processor, includes: a storage module which stores a plurality of charging modes associated with a plurality of external devices to be charged when an operating system is not in operation; an input module which receives a charging mode selection request; and a test module which receives the charging mode in the received selection request from the storage module, and tests the charging mode on at least one of the external devices connected to the information processor.

The present invention discloses a debugging device using an LPC interface and capable of recovering the BIOS functions and a debugging method therefor. The debugging device comprises a firmware hub, an LPC interface, a decoder, and a display unit. The LPC interface electrically connects to the decoder, the firmware hub, and a computer system. The decoder receives a POST code of the computer system to monitor a startup state of the computer system through the LPC interface, and then decodes and provides the decoded POST code to the display unit for showing every startup step of the computer system. When the original BIOS of the computer system is damaged, the firmware hub provides a backup BIOS for the computer system to start up, and recovers the original damaged BIOS. The present invention improves the stability of the computer system, and saves the cost and time of recovering the BIOS.

A method and system for performing diagnostic testing to speed the computer boot process. A boot process is initiated and an error counter value is read in any of memory, input / output, central processing, networking, mass storage, or other computing subsystems. The error counter values are compared to subsystem error thresholds. The method includes identifying subsets of subsystems with error counters exceeding error thresholds and then, performing diagnostic tests only on this subset of subsystems as part of the boot process. The error counter may be a correctable error counter that is incremented by an operating system error handler as it isolates subsystem errors. The method includes identifying subsystems in service less than a predefined time threshold by comparing a value stored in a power-on hours field in each subsystem to time thresholds, and including these modules in the tested subset.

A method, system, and computer program product in a logical partitioned data processing system are disclosed for providing a host bridge that implements extended error handling (EEH). If all devices coupled to the host bridge implement EEH, the host bridge is initialized to operate in EEH mode. In EEH mode, the devices handle any error that occurs within the devices without reporting the error to the host bridge. All partitions that share the host bridge continue to operate without being terminated while the devices are handling the error. If at least one device does not implement EEH, the host bridge is initialized to operate in non-EEH mode. In non-EEH mode, a machine check is generated by the host bridge when an error occurs within one of the devices resulting in the termination of all partitions that share the host bridge in response to a receipt of the machine check.

An improved method of testing a computer system comprises a sequence of tests that are performed when the computer system is first turned on, according to one embodiment. The operation of various components of the computer system, such as a chipset, a random access memory, a cache memory, a video controller, a keyboard controller, peripheral memory controllers, busses, and the like, is tested by a test program stored in read only memory (ROM). If the components successfully pass, an address is permanently changed in ROM, so that the test sequence is bypassed whenever the computer system is subsequently booted, saving significant time during future reboots. An improved computer system and a machine-accessible medium are also described.

A computer system is provided. The computer system comprises system and peripheral hardware devices, a display device and a chip. The display device comprises a display panel and an on-screen display (OSD) control module. The chip comprises a computer system environment information monitoring module, a control connection interface and a control module. The computer system environment information monitoring module monitors computer system environment information according to the system and peripheral hardware devices. The control connection interface is electrically connected to the OSD control module. The control module is electrically connected to the computer system environment information monitoring module and the control connection interface to control the OSD control module through the control connection interface according to the computer system environment information to further control the display function of the display panel.

An apparatus, program product and method utilize targeted boot diagnostics in connection with a boot operation to automate the handling of hardware failures detected during startup or initialization of a computer. In particular, in response to detection of a failure after initiation of and during performance of a boot operation, a targeted diagnostic operation is initiated on at least one hardware device in the computer in response to detecting the failure, such that after the targeted diagnostic operation is initiated, the boot operation may be completed.

A power-on error detection system and method applicable in an electronic device having a motherboard is proposed, wherein the motherboard is provided with a memory for storing a BIOS program and a signal outputting unit. The power-on error detection system and method are used to indicate an operation state of the electronic device while the electronic device reads the BIOS program at power-on and performs a POST (Power-on self-test) process. A first warning signal output command is set in the a segment of the BIOS program. The first warning signal output command drives the signal outputting unit to output a first warning signal after the electronic device is turned on and executes the POST process according to the BIOS program stored in the memory.

A computer booting method is provided for a computer system. The method comprises performing a power-on-self test. When the test result shows no error on the BIOS, a booting procedure is executed. When the test result shows the BIOS is damaged, whether the computer system stores a backup file of the BIOS is determined. When the computer system stores the backup file, the central processing unit reads the data of backup file and write it into a BIOS system memory and a reboot process is performed. When there is no backup file in the computer system, the computer system is connected to an internet server and downloads a BIOS backup file to the system main memory from the internet server. The central processing unit reads the BIOS backup file and write it into the BIOS system memory and a reboot process is formed.