Abstract:
Audible status indications available at a local information handling system, e.g. beep codes, are used to notify a remote information handling system of the local information handling system&#39;s status. The remote information handling system then generates a visual or audible indication of the local information handling system&#39;s status.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates generally to audio indicators, such as beep codes generated during a power on self test (POST), and more particularly to providing audio indicators remotely.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
         [0003]     Most information handling systems include a basic input/output system (BIOS) that includes test capabilities, to determine the functionality of critical subsystems. Some information handling systems may include technologies that allow users to remotely observe the progress of certain tests by redirecting text or graphics to a serial text or graphics console. In effect, text and graphics consoles allow text or graphics messages which would otherwise be displayed locally on the information handling system being tested, to be displayed on a remote information handling system.  
         [0004]     For some failures, e.g. failures detected during early portions of a power-on self test (POST), however, no text or graphics display is generated. For instance, failures that cause the information handling system to stop responding before video is queued, or before serial text generation is enabled, do not normally cause text or graphics to be generated. Instead, these types of failures are most often indicated by generating a pattern of audible tones, commonly referred to as a beep code. Based on the beep code, a user can determine which portion of the POST failed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method are described for providing a local information handling system&#39;s status, which is normally indicated by a locally generated audible signal, to a remote information handling system.  
         [0006]     In at least one embodiment, a modulated signal configured to be provided to a speaker for generating a beep code is provided to a communications subsystem, e.g. a Remote Access Card (RAC) or Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). The communications subsystem evaluates the signal to determine the status of the information handling system, and transmits an indication of that status to a remote information handling system.  
         [0007]     The remote system may use the status indication to generate an audible or visual indication of the status, for example by flashing an icon on a graphical user interface or re-creating the audible beep code. In this way, a beep code generated by a first information handling system may be used to notify a second information handling system of the status of the first information handling system, even if first information handling system has stopped responding prior to text or graphics console redirection being enabled.  
         [0008]     In some embodiments, a method according to the present disclosure is implemented by a computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions. Other embodiments take the form of an information handling system including a processor, a chipset that generates a modulated signal indicating a status of the information handling system, and a communications subsystem that determines the status indicated by the modulated signal and communicates that status to a remote information handling system.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an information handling system that provides a signal configured to produce an audible indication of a power on self test to a second information handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are flow diagrams illustrating methods of providing a signal configured to produce an audible indication of a test result to a remote information handling system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.  
         [0013]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0014]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a network of information handling systems according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be discussed. Network  100  includes local information handling system  110  connected to remote system  170  via local area network (LAN)  165 . Local information handling system  110  and remote system  170  may be one of various types of information handling systems, such as those discussed previously. In one embodiment, for example, local information handling system  110  may be a server, while remote system  170  may be a desktop or portable information handling system, or another server. Further in some embodiments, remote system  170  may be dedicated to monitoring the status of one or more information handling systems including local information handling system  110 .  
         [0015]     In at least one embodiment, local information handling system  110  is one of multiple servers, e.g. a blade server, located in a single equipment enclosure or rack. In other embodiments, local information handling system  110  is a desktop, laptop, handheld, or some other similar computer system operating essentially independently of remote system  170 , which may also be a desktop, laptop, handheld, server or other type of information handling system. Although the terms local and remote are used herein, it should be appreciated that local information handling system  110  and remote system  170  may be co-located in a common physical facility, room, or equipment enclosure.  
         [0016]     In the illustrated embodiment, local information handling system  110  includes a drive controller  120 , e.g. a redundant array of independent drives (RAID) on mother board (ROMB), a central processing unit (CPU)  125 , chipset  130 , a speaker, such as buzzer  140 , and a graphics subsystem  135 , such as VGA. Local information handling system  110  also includes remote access card (RAC)  150 , which provides out of band signaling and communications between remote system  170  and local information handling system  110 .  
         [0017]     Remote access card  150  includes, in at least one embodiment, digitizer logic  145 , service processor and virtual keyboard/video/mouse processor (vKVM)  155 , and out-of-band network interface connection (NIC)  160 .  
         [0018]     Chipset  130 , in at least one embodiment, includes a basic input/output system (BIOS) that provides instructions to CPU  125  for performing a series of self tests of individual subsystems upon initial power-up of local information handling system  110 . In at least one embodiment, early portions of the power on self test (POST) verify the operation of various input/output capabilities of information handling system  110 .  
         [0019]     For example, VGA subsystem  135 , which provides graphical interface capabilities for local information handling system  110 , may be tested early in the POST. Early portions of the POST may also initialize vKVM functions of RAC  150 . By establishing graphics or vKVM functionality early in the POST, information handling system  110  is assured of being able to relay information about the results of the POST to a user.  
         [0020]     If, however, the post test fails before the graphics or vKVM functionality has been established, chipset  130  may be limited to providing self test indications through a local speaker, such as buzzer  140 , or through some similar indicator local to information handling system  110 .  
         [0021]     In such a case, chipset  130  generally generates a series of beep codes to provide an indication of self test results, allowing a user to determine the status of the information handling system without using graphics or text input/output devices. For example, if BIOS chipset  130  fails a memory test portion of the self test, then BIOS chipset  130  may generate three short beeps. If a second CPU cache portion of the self test fails, then BIOS chipset  130  may generate a second beep code consisting of a single long beep followed by two short beeps.  
         [0022]     It should be appreciated that in addition to a number of beeps, the frequency/tone of the beeps, the pattern of the beeps and pauses therebetween, or the like, may be used to establish unique beep codes that are associated with different statuses of particular portions of the POST. Furthermore, although the above example focuses on beep codes generated as a result of a POST, the principles of the present disclosure also encompass audible status indications generated at times other than during a POST.  
         [0023]     ROMB  120  may also perform certain self tests, upon initial power up or otherwise, and generated beep codes indicating various different failure modes, and/or statuses. Like chipset  130 , ROMB  120  may provide these beep codes to buzzer  140 .  
         [0024]     In some cases, however, information handling system  110  may not be provided with a buzzer  140 . Additionally, even if local information handling system  110  does include a speaker or other audible signaling device, local information handling system  110  may be located where audible indications cannot be observed. If, for example, information handling system  110  is one of multiple servers located in an unattended server room, any audible indications generated by ROMB  120  or chipset  130  may go unnoticed. Environmental conditions, such as noise from equipment fans or alarms generated by other equipment may also prevent audible indications from being heard. Under these circumstances, and many others, it would be advantageous to provide a beep code generated by information handling system  110  to remote system  170 , so that remote system  170  can be used to monitor the status of local information handling system  110 .  
         [0025]     In at least one embodiment, therefore, modulated signals provided to buzzer  140 , either by ROMB  120  or BIOS chipset  130 , are routed not only to buzzer  140 , but also to a RAC  150  or to a BMC (not illustrated). In one such embodiment, signals destined for buzzer  140  are also provided to digitizer logic  145 , which captures the duration and pattern of the beeps and transcribes them into pitch and beep durations. The pitch and beep durations may be compared against a lookup table of beep codes so that the RAC can determine, based on the beep code, what failures or other status indicators are indicated. The remote access card may then provide an indication of the status of the power on self test to remote system  170  via out of band NIC  160 .  
         [0026]     In some embodiments, the indication provided to remote system  170  may be a digitized version of the beep code. In other embodiments, the indication provided to remote system  170  is a signal generated in response to comparing the signal generated by digitizer logic  145  with beep code meanings in a lookup table.  
         [0027]     The indication provided by local information handling system  110  may be received at remote system  170  using software plugins and applets used to control and observe information handling system  110 . Remote system  170  can then use software, e.g. a browser plug-in, or other suitable software and/or hardware to convert the received indication to text, graphics, or some other suitable display object or group of objects. This display object can be used to provide a user of remote system  170  with a visual indication of the status of local information handling system  110 . In some embodiments, remote system  170  uses the signal received from local information handling system  110  to recreate the audible beep code that would have been generated by buzzer  140 .  
         [0028]     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be discussed. Method  200  begins by initiating a BIOS and/or a RAID power on self test (POST) at  210 . At  220  the method generates a modulated signal, e.g. a beep code, configured to drive a speaker to produce an audible indication of the status of the BIOS and/or RAID POST. In at least one embodiment, the beep code has specific frequencies, duty cycles, pulse widths, amplitudes, or other characteristics that enable the beep code to be associated with a particular functional status of one or more subsystems of the information handling system.  
         [0029]     The beep code is provided to interface circuitry, such as a remote access card (RAC) or baseboard management controller (BMC) at  230 . In other embodiments (not illustrated), the beep signal or code is provided to a speaker in addition to being provided to the RAC or BMC.  
         [0030]     At  240  the interface circuitry analyzes the beep code to determine the status of the BIOS or RAID. In at least one embodiment, the analysis includes digitizing the modulated beep code signal to generate a digital version of the beep code. The digital version of the beep code is compared with a table of beep code meanings to determine the status of the information handling system.  
         [0031]     At  260  method  200  determines whether the status of the information handling system, as indicated by the beep code, prevents the status from being communicated to a remote information handling system using text or graphic redirection. If the beep code indicates that graphics or text redirection is unavailable, the method proceeds to  280 , and transmits an indication of the status of the information handling system to a remote system using an out of band communications channel.  
         [0032]     At least one embodiment of the present disclosure sends the remote system a modified digital signal indicating the status of the local information handling system. For example, if a particular information handling system recognizes six possible failure modes that may prevent text and graphics redirection from being used, then the modified digital signal provided to the remote system may include a three bit signal representing an octal value between zero and seven, with each value corresponding to a particular one of the six possible failure modes. Other, similar signal representations may be generated using well known techniques, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a digital version of the beep code may be transferred to the remote system.  
         [0033]     If the beep code indicates that text and graphics redirection is available, the method proceeds to  270 , where an indication of the local information handling system is sent to the remote information system using text or graphics console redirection. Text and/or graphics redirection, and the use of text or graphics consoles, is well know to those skilled in the art.  
         [0034]     At  290  the remote system generates an audible or visual indication of the status of the local information handling system. The visual indication may include text messages, popup windows, flashing icons, illuminated status lamps, or various other visual indications generated by either hardware or software.  
         [0035]     In at least one embodiment, the indication received at the remote information handling system is used to reproduce the audible indication generated at the local information handling system. For example, if the beep code generated by the BIOS or RAID consisted of a sequence of two short beeps and one long beep repeated three times, the remote system would generate an audible signal having two short beeps and one long beep, and repeat that sequence three times.  
         [0036]     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , another method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is discussed. Method  300  begins at  310  by generating a modulated signal configured to be provided to a transducer, e.g. a speaker, to produce an audible indication of the status of a local information handling system. The modulated signal may be produced at any time, including during a boot process, while running applications that produce audio output, during run-time, etc. Such a modulated signal may be produced in response to a POST test, a keyboard overrun, failure of a RAID array, or some other event affecting or indicating the status of the local information handling system.  
         [0037]     Method  300  proceeds to  320 , where the modulated signal is provided to a communications subsystem, such as a BMC, an RAC, or the like. The communications subsystem digitizes the modulated signal at  330 , and provides the digitized signal to a remote monitoring system at  340 . In at least one embodiment, the modulated signal is provided to the remote monitoring subsystem in an undigitized format.  
         [0038]     In at least one embodiment, the modulated/digitized signal may be transmitted to the remote monitoring system using a sideband of network communication channel. By transmitting the modulated/digitized signal over a sideband, status signals can be transmitted without interfering with normal network communications.  
         [0039]     After receiving the modulated/digitized signal, the remote monitoring system may generate an audible or visual status indication at  350 .  
         [0040]     Although methods  200  and  300  discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively, are described as being performed in a particular order, some embodiments may be implemented by performing the same actions in a different sequence, or by performing fewer or additional actions. For example, if a particular local information handling system is not equipped for text and graphics redirection, then actions  260  and  270  ( FIG. 2 ) may not be performed. Additionally, functionality described herein as being performed by chipset  130  ( FIG. 1 ) may instead be performed by CPU  125 , or otherwise.  
         [0041]     Furthermore, self tests other than BIOS or RAID tests may be performed either as part of a POST, or after the local information handling system is operational. Additionally, alarm conditions or other audible indications, even those not generated as a result of a self test, may be delivered to a remote system using the teachings set forth herein.  
         [0042]     Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.