IP Library Granted Patent US 8,612,509
Granted Patent B2
US 8,612,509 · App. 13/456,919 · Granted Dec 17, 2013

Resetting a hypertransport link in a blade server

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,612,509
App. No.
13/456,919
Granted
Dec 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are described for resetting a HyperTransport link in a blade server, including reassigning, by a blade management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a HyperTransport link reset; sending, by the blade management module to a reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the blade processor, HyperTransport reset signals. The HyperTransport link includes a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency, point to point data communications link. The blade server includes the blade processor, the reset sync module, and the baseboard management controller. The blade server is installed in the blade center. The blade center includes the blade management module. The blade management module is coupled to the baseboard management controller by the blade communication bus.

Claims (40)

1. A method of resetting a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link in a server, the server comprising a processor, a reset sync module, and a baseboard management controller, the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link comprising a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency data communications link, the method comprising:

reassigning, by a management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset, the management module coupled to the baseboard management controller through a data communications bus;

sending, by the blade management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and

in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the server's processor, point-to-point inter-processor data communications reset signals.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the management module, a notification that the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link requires a reset;

sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, a message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset; and

responsive to the message, arming, by the baseboard management controller, the reset sync module to receive the gate signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset comprises an identification of a type of reset to be initiated.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein reassigning a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a reset further comprises sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, an instruction to disable communication on the communication bus between the management module and the baseboard management controller.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, at a time after sending the gate signal, sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller an instruction to enable communication on the communication bus between the management module and baseboard management controller.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein sending, by the management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal further comprises transmitting, by the management module, the gate signal as a pulse.

7. An apparatus for resetting a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link in a server, the server comprising a processor, a reset sync module, and a baseboard management controller, the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link comprising a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency data communications link,

the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:

reassigning, by a management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset, the management module coupled to the baseboard management controller through a data communications bus;

sending, by the blade management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and

in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the server's processor, point-to-point inter-processor data communications reset signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:

receiving, by the management module, a notification that the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link requires a reset;

sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, a message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset; and

responsive to the message, arming, by the baseboard management controller, the reset sync module to receive the gate signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset comprises an identification of a type of reset to be initiated.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein reassigning a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a reset further comprises sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, an instruction to disable communication on the communication bus between the management module and the baseboard management controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising computer program instructions capable of, at a time after sending the gate signal, sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller an instruction to enable communication on the communication bus between the management module and baseboard management controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein sending, by the management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal further comprises transmitting, by the management module, the gate signal as a pulse.

13. A computer program product for resetting a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link in a server, the server comprising a processor, a reset sync module, and a baseboard management controller, the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link comprising a bidirectional, serial/parallel, high-bandwidth, low-latency data communications link,

the computer program product disposed upon a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of:

reassigning, by a management module, a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset, the management module coupled to the baseboard management controller through a data communications bus;

sending, by the management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal; and

in response to the gate signal, sending, by the reset sync module to the server's processor, point-to-point inter-processor data communications reset signals.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a recordable medium.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a transmission medium.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising computer program instructions capable of:

receiving, by the management module, a notification that the point-to-point inter-processor data communications link requires a reset;

sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, a message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset; and

responsive to the message, arming, by the baseboard management controller, the reset sync module to receive the gate signal.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the message advising the baseboard management controller to initiate a point-to-point inter-processor data communications link reset comprises an identification of a type of reset to be initiated.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein reassigning a gate signal from enabling a transceiver to signaling a reset further comprises sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller, an instruction to disable communication on the communication bus between the management module and the baseboard management controller.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising computer program instructions capable of, at a time after sending the gate signal, sending, by the management module to the baseboard management controller an instruction to enable communication on the communication bus between the management module and baseboard management controller.

20. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein sending, by the management module to the reset sync module on an out-of-band bus, the gate signal further comprises transmitting, by the blade management module, the gate signal as a pulse.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034194/0291 →