Hardware Component Warm Swapping with Compatibility Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Complex computing systems face disruptive device failures, leading to inefficient hardware recovery processes that require manual intervention and system restarts, causing downtime and service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism to automatically detect hardware errors and place the system in a specific sleep state based on the faulty component type, allowing for replacement without restarting or rebooting, using systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media to manage the sleep state and component replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual hardware recovery process is used to replace failed components, then system reliability is improved, but system downtime increases and service disruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidsystem downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting hardware failures and placing the system in an appropriate sleep state before the actual component replacement occurs. This preparation eliminates the need for manual intervention and system restarts, enabling seamless hot-swapping of components while maintaining system reliability and minimizing downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If system is powered down to replace hardware component, then component replacement is simplified, but service disruption increases and recovery efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent replacement simplicityVSAvoidrecovery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes its operational parameter by transitioning to a sleep state that maintains certain system functions while allowing safe component replacement. This parameter change enables automated recovery processes and hot-swapping capabilities, improving both ease of repair and productivity by eliminating the need for complete system shutdowns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If hot-plug support is not available, then system complexity is reduced, but hardware recovery becomes less efficient and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidautomated recovery capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism by implementing automated failure detection and sleep state management that bridges the gap between systems without hot-plug support and modern automated recovery requirements. This intermediary layer enables automated component replacement and compatibility verification, increasing the extent of automation without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3211532B1Warm swapping of hardware components with compatibility verification
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 QUANTA COMPUTER INC
  • EP3211532B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3211532B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP3211532B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for hardware recovery are disclosed. In some examples, a system can detect a hardware error and identify a system component associated with the hardware error. The system can then generate a request configured to trigger an operating system of the system to place the system in a particular operating state. The particular operating state can be determined based on a component type of the system component. The particular operating state can be a first sleep state when the component type is a peripheral component or a second sleep state when the component type is a processor, a memory, or a power supply. The second sleep state can result in a lower power resource consumption than the first sleep state. The system can generate an indication that the system component can be replaced without restarting the operating system.