Computer server with improved reliability, availability and serviceability

Claim 1

A computer system comprising: a system memory bus; an input/output bus slot coupled to an input/output bus; a system management slot coupled to the system memory bus; one or more subsystems, each subsystem providing one or more management signals to the system management slot, the management signals including at lease one signal which is not included on the input/output bus; a system management agent detachably coupled to the system management slot and detachably coupled to the input/output bus slot; the system management agent including, a processor, a memory system coupled to the processor, instructions stored in the memory system performing autonomous logic and control functions, and a communication interface coupled to the processor and the memory system; wherein the communication interface provides a connection to a maintenance manager, wherein the maintenance manager controls the system management agent.

Claim 8

A method for monitoring and controlling the internal state of a computer server having an input/output bus and one or more subsystems, the input/output bus containing input/output signals, the input/output signals coupled to an input/output connector, the one or more subsystems providing one or more management signals to a system management connector, the management signals including at least one signal which is not one of the input/output signals, both the input/output connector and the system management connector coupled to a system management agent, the system management agent comprising a processor, a memory system, and a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing both the input/output bus signals and the one or more system management signals to the systems management agent; and (b) executing instructions stored in the memory system of the system management agent for monitoring and controlling the state of the computer system, the executing of instructions performed by the processor of the system management agent; wherein the system management agent is an add-in board and the step (a) is perfected by inserting the system management agent add-in board into the computer server in order to couple the input/output signals and the system management signals simultaneously to the system management agent.

Claim 9

A method for monitoring and controlling the internal state of a computer server having an input/output bus and one or more subsystems, the input/output bus containing input/output signals, the input/output signals coupled to an input/output connector, the one or more subsystems providing one or more management signals to a system management connector, the management signals including at least one signal which is not one of the input/output signals, both the input/output connector and the system management connector coupled to a system management agent, the system management agent comprising a processor, a memory system, and a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing both the input/output bus signals and the one or more system management signals to the systems management agent; and (b) executing instructions stored in the memory system of the system management agent for monitoring and controlling the state of the computer system, the executing of instructions performed by the processor of the system management agent; wherein the system management agent is an add-in board and the step (a) is perfected by inserting the system management agent add-in board into the computer server in order to couple the input/output signals and the system management signals simultaneously to the system management agent.

Claim 15

A system management agent comprising: a processor; a memory system coupled to the processor; instructions stored in the memory system performing autonomous logic and control functions; a communication interface coupled to the processor and the memory system; a first interface means for detachably coupling input/output signals from an input/output bus of a computer server to the system management agent; and a second interface means for detachably coupling system management signals from a computer server to the system management agent, the system management signals including at least one signal which is not included in the input/output signals; wherein the first interface means and the second interface means are positioned for coupling both the first interface means and the second interface means to a computer system simultaneously.

Claim 16

A system management agent comprising: a processor; a memory system coupled to the processor; instructions stored in the memory system performing autonomous logic and control functions; a communication interface coupled to the processor and the memory system; a first interface means for detachably coupling input/output signals from an input/output bus of a computer server to the system management agent; and a second interface means for detachably coupling system management signals from a computer server to the system management agent, the system management signals including at least one signal which is not included in the input/output signals; wherein the first interface means and the second interface means are positioned for coupling both the first interface means and the second interface means to a computer system simultaneously.