Patent ID: 6668294
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for avoiding data corruption on a bus extending onto a backplane adapted to receive at least two bus controller cards for connection to the bus, each bus controller card having a plurality of switches controlling its configuration, where different models of bus controller may be received by the backplane, comprising:receiving the bus controller cards onto the backplane with the backplane unpowered; applying power to the backplane; comparing the model of each bus controller card received by the backplane further comprising: generating information at each bus controller card corresponding to the model of that bus controller card; transmitting said information to each bus controller card; and analyzing said information at each bus controller card; selectively connecting the bus controller cards to the bus utilizing said comparison; and if said comparison determines that all of the bus controller cards are of the same model: determining which of the bus controller cards acts as a master card and which of the bus controlled cards acts as a servant card; connecting said master card to the bus; transmitting from said master card to each said servant card the settings of the switches on said master card; comparing at each said servant card said settings transmitted by said master card with the settings of the switches on said servant card; and if said setting of the switches on said master card differs from said setting of the switches on said servant card, preventing said servant card from connecting to the bus.