Patent ID: 6304929
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
A method of hot swapping a standard programmable adapter to an operational computer connected to a plurality of standard programmable adapters, comprising:providing a hot plug hardware in the operational computer, the hot plug hardware being configured to enable and disable power to the standard programmable adapter, wherein the hot plug hardware comprises at least one programmable data processor for receiving requests from a central processing unit and for controlling the power to the standard programmable adapter in response to requests from the central processing unit;receiving a hot swap request from a user interface program for the hot swap of a selected one of the standard programmable adapters, wherein the hot swap request causes suspension of communications and power disablement to the standard programmable adapter;suspending all communication to the selected standard programmable adapter;disabling power to the selected standard programmable adapter, wherein the disabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware, and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to disable power;removing the selected standard programmable adapter;swapping a new standard programmable adapter into the operational computer;enabling power to the new standard programmable adapter, wherein the enabling occurs under the control of the hot plug hardware and wherein the programmable data processor determines whether the received request is to enable power; andrestarting communications between the operational computer and the new standard programmable adapter.