Computer system with improved data capture system
View Patent ↗A computer system has a plurality of sub-systems each comprising a serial interface and a buffer device coupled with the serial interface for buffering crash data sent by the serial interface having an external serial output. The system further comprises a management controller coupled with the external serial output of the buffer device to retrieve data buffered during a crash.
1. A computer system, comprising:
a plurality of independent sub-computer systems, wherein each system comprises,
a serial interface;
a buffer device coupled with the serial interface for buffering crash data sent by the serial interface having an external serial output;
a microcontroller having a memory and a serial input coupled with the serial interface and a serial output;
a communication controller; and
a switch coupled with the serial output, wherein the switch is controlled by the communication controller; and
a management controller coupled with the external serial output of the buffer device of each independent sub-computer system to retrieve data buffered during a crash.
2. A method of operating a computer system comprising a plurality of independent sub-computer systems, each running independently an operating system and a management controller coupled with the plurality of sub-systems, comprising:
upon a system crash of one of the independent sub-computer systems outputting a crash dump file through a serial port of the respective independent sub-computer system;
buffering the crash dump file;
generating a control signal for a management controller;
upon request by the management controller coupling the management controller with the sub-system wherein the coupling of the management controller with the sub-system includes the coupling of a serial output of the sub-system with a serial communication line coupled with the management controller through a switch; and
transferring the buffered crash dump file to the management controller.
3. A computer system, comprising:
a plurality of independent sub-systems each running a operating system that outputs a crash dump through a serial port and generates a control signal upon a system crash;
a management controller having a control input, a serial bus interface coupled with a communication line, and a serial input;
wherein each sub-system comprises:
a microcontroller having a control input, a memory, and a serial input port coupled with the serial port and a serial output port;
a controller unit having a serial bus interface for coupling with the management controller and an input for receiving the control signal and generating an external control signal fed to the control input of the management controller and an output for an internal control signal fed to the microcontroller;
a switch controlled by the controller unit for coupling the serial output port with the external communication line.
4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein the control signal and the external control signal are interrupt signals.
5. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein the serial input and output ports are part of an RS232 serial interface.
6. A computer system, comprising:
a plurality of independent sub-computer systems, wherein each sub-computer systems comprises:
a serial interface;
a buffer device coupled with the serial interface for buffering crash data sent by the serial interface having an external serial output;
an interrupt signal output;
a microcontroller having a memory and a serial input coupled with the serial interface and a serial output;
a communication controller; and
a switch coupled with the serial output, wherein the switch is controlled by the communication controller; and
a management controller coupled with the external serial output of the buffer device of each independent sub-computer system and with each interrupt signal output to retrieve data buffered during a crash.
7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the communication controller is coupled with the management controller through a serial bus.