Patent Publication Number: US-2017351565-A1

Title: Apparatus and method to provide a mounted electronic part with information related to a failure occurrence therein

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-113718, filed on Jun. 7, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to apparatus and method to provide a mounted electronic part with information related to a failure occurrence therein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In an electronic apparatus, such as a computer system including multiple replaceable electronic parts, when the electronic apparatus does not normally operate due to the occurrence of a failure or the like in the electronic parts, the electronic part causing the problem is replaced. For example, when the electronic part recommended to be replaced is detected based on failure information collected from the electronic parts, an error log including environmental information of the electronic apparatus is stored in a non-volatile memory mounted on the electronic part recommended to be replaced. This enables recovery based on the information related to the failure (see, for example, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2007/088606). Moreover, when there is a failure in an electronic part, the cause of the problem is readily determined by recording failure information in a recording unit in each electronic part, together with status information on those other than the electronic part with the failure (see for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-227665). 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a plurality of mounting slots each configured to mount an electronic part including a first memory. The apparatus collects, through a first path, from the electronic part mounted on each of the plurality of mounting slots, and stores the collected event information in a second memory included in the apparatus, where event information indicates an operating state of the electronic part. When the event information stored in the second memory has a first level of importance, the apparatus causes the event information stored in the second memory to be stored, through a second route, in the first memory of the electronic part from which the event information having the first level of importance has been collected. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing apparatus, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of operations of an information processing apparatus, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing apparatus, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a baseboard management controller (BMC), according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a log database, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of operations of an information processing apparatus, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of an operational flowchart for a process when a BMC detects coupling of an electronic part to an output port, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of an operational flowchart for storing event information in a log database, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of an operational flowchart for storing failure information and abnormal information selected from a log database in a log list, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of processing of extracting failure information and abnormal information from a log database, according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of an operational flowchart for outputting failure information and abnormal information stored in a log list to a mounted part that has generated failure information, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the electronic part, when there is a failure in a control circuit such as a data write circuit coupled on a route used in a normal operation, access to the electronic part through the route used in the normal operation is blocked. In this case, there is a risk that failure information is not stored in the electronic part even when processing of storing the failure information in the electronic part with the failure is executed through the route used in the normal operation. When the failure information is not stored in the electronic part, it is difficult to determine the cause of the problem. 
     It is desirable to store event information of a second level generated by an electronic part, together with event information of a second level generated by another electronic part, in the electronic part with a failure without being affected by the influence of the failure. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an information processing apparatus, a method for controlling the information processing apparatus, and a program for controlling the information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus IPE 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a control unit  2 , a switch unit  4 , a management unit  6 , and multiple mounting slots  8  ( 8   a  and  8   b ) on which electronic parts  10  ( 10   a  and  10   b ) respectively including first storage units  12  ( 12   a  and  12   b ) are capable of being mounted. For example, the electronic parts  10  are each a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) standard card or the like. The mounting slots  8  are each a connector or the like for detachably mounting the card. The first storage units  12  are each a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory. The control unit  2 , the switch unit  4 , the management unit  6 , and the mounting slots  8  are mounted on a printed circuit board or the like. 
     The control unit  2  is electrically coupled to the mounting slots  8  through a route R 1  formed using signal wiring or the like on the printed circuit board. The control unit  2  controls operations of the electronic parts  10  mounted on the mounting slots  8  and collects event information EV indicating operating states (events) of the electronic parts  10  through the route R 1 . The event information EV includes parts information for identifying the electronic parts  10  that have issued the event information EV. The control unit  2  transfers the collected event information EV to the management unit  6 . For example, the control unit  2  is a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that controls operations of the information processing apparatus IPE 1 . 
     In the following description, the electronic parts  10  mounted on the mounting slots  8  are also referred to as the mounted parts  10  ( 10   a  and  10   b ). For example, the event information EV includes any of normal information NRM indicating occurrence of a normal event, abnormal information ABN outputted by the mounted part  10  when detecting a temporary error or the like, and failure information FAIL outputted by the mounted part  10  when detecting a failure. Note that the abnormal information ABN indicates an abnormal operating state of the mounted part  10 , which occurs temporarily, and does not indicate a failure. The failure information FAIL is an example of event information EV of a first level of importance, while the abnormal information ABN is an example of event information EV of a second level of importance, which is lower than the first level. 
     The switch circuit  4  includes a port P 0  coupled to the management unit  6  and multiple ports P 1 , P 2 , and P 3  electrically coupled to the mounted parts  10   a  and  10   b  or the like through a route R 2  via signal cables or the like. The switch unit  4  couples the port P 0  to any one of the ports P 1  to P 3 , based on a control signal CNTL outputted from the management unit  6 . The ports P 1  to P 3  are each an example of a first port, while the port P 0  is an example of a second port. The control signal CNTL is an example of control information for coupling the port (any of P 1  to P 3 ) coupled to the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL, to the port P 0 . 
     The management unit  6  includes a storage processing unit  14 , a monitoring unit  16 , a selection unit  18 , an output processing unit  20 , a second storage unit  22 , and a route table  24 . For example, the management unit  6  is a baseboard management controller (BMC) that manages operations of the control unit  2  and the like mounted on the printed circuit board in the information processing apparatus IPE 1 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the storage processing unit  14 , the monitoring unit  16 , the selection unit  18 , and the output processing unit  20  are realized by a program PGM executed by the BMC. However, the storage processing unit  14 , the monitoring unit  16 , the selection unit  18 , and the output processing unit  20  may be realized by hardware mounted on the BMC. 
     The storage processing unit  14  stores the event information EV (normal information NRM, abnormal information ABN, or failure information FAIL) sequentially transferred from the control unit  2 , in the second storage unit  22 . The second storage unit  22  is a storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). Note that the second storage unit  22  may be disposed outside the management unit  6 . The route table  24  is allocated to a semiconductor memory, such as a flash memory or a static random access memory (SRAM), mounted in the management unit  6 , and holds information that identifies the mounted parts  10  respectively coupled to the ports P 1  to P 3 , in the switch circuit  4 . More specifically, the route table  24  holds coupling information indicating coupling relationships between the multiple ports P 1  to P 3  and the mounted parts  10 . In other words, the route table  24  stores the information that identifies the mounted parts  10  in association with the ports (any of P 1  to P 3 ) to which the mounted parts  10  are coupled. 
     The monitoring unit  16  monitors the event information EV that is stored in the second storage unit  22  by the storage processing unit  14 . When the event information EV is the failure information FAIL, the monitoring unit  16  outputs detection information FDET indicating the detection of the failure information FAIL to the selection unit  18 . Note that the mounted parts  10  do not necessarily output the failure information FAIL only in case of failure of internal circuits or the like. For example, the mounted parts  10  output the failure information FAIL to the route R 1  also when communication with unillustrated other electronic parts coupled to the mounted parts  10  is blocked by failure of the other electronic parts. 
     The selection unit  18  selects the failure information FAIL detected by the monitoring unit  16  and the abnormal information ABN indicating the abnormal operating condition, from among the event information EV stored in the second storage unit  22 , based on the detection information FDET outputted from the monitoring unit  16 . Then, the selection unit  18  outputs the selected failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the output processing unit  20 . 
     The output processing unit  20  detects a port (any of P 1  to P 3 ) to which the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL is coupled, by referring to the route table  24 , based on the parts information indicating the mounted parts  10  included in the failure information FAIL received from the selection unit  18 . Then, the output processing unit  20  outputs a control signal CNTL for coupling the port P 0  to the port (any of P 1  to P 3 ) coupled to the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL, to the switch circuit  4 , based on the detection result. The coupling inside the switch circuit  4  is switched based on the control signal CNTL. 
     After the coupling inside the switch unit  4  is switched, the output processing unit  20  outputs the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN received from the selection unit  18  to the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL, through the switch circuit  4  and the route R 2 . Then, the output processing unit  20  causes the mounted part  10  to store the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN in the first storage unit  12 . 
     The output processing unit  20  outputs failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN to the electronic part  10 , which are important information in a failure analysis to be executed by a manufacturer of the mounted parts  10  to be described with reference to  FIG. 2 , among the event information EV stored in the second storage unit  22 . By storing only the important event information EV in the first storage unit  12 , the first storage unit  12  with a minimum storage capacity may be mounted in the electronic part  10  or only a minimum storage area may be required to be used in the first storage unit  12  mounted in the electronic part  10 . Therefore, cost increase associated with mounting the first storage units  12  in the electronic parts  10  may be minimized. 
     Note that the management unit  6  may be coupled to the electronic parts  10   a  and  10   b  through the route R 2 , without through the switch circuit  4 . In this case, the information processing apparatus IPE 1  includes no switch circuit  4 , and the output processing unit  20  is coupled directly to the route R 2 . The route table  24  holds information indicating correspondence between the route R 2  and the mounted parts  10 , instead of information indicating correspondence between the ports P 1  to P 3  and the mounted parts  10 . The output processing unit  20  detects the route R 2  to which the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL is coupled, by referring to the route table  24 , based on the parts information indicating the mounted parts  10  included in the failure information FAIL received from the selection unit  18 . Then, the output processing unit  20  outputs the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the electronic part  10  through the detected route R 2 . 
     In case of failure of the mounted part  10 , access to the first storage unit  12  through the route R 1  used in a normal operation is sometimes blocked. By transferring the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the mounted part  10  through the route R 2 , which is different from the route R 1 , the probability that the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN will be stored in the first storage unit  12  may be increased compared with the case of using the route R 1 . Thus, the possibility that the cause of failure will be specified in the failure analysis to be executed by the manufacturer of the mounted parts  10  to be described with reference to  FIG. 2  may be increased. 
     Note that the output processing unit  20  may write the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN directly into the first storage unit  12  in the mounted part  10 . Moreover, when the mounted part  10  that has generated the failure information FAIL has a function to store the failure information FAIL in the first storage unit  12 , the output processing unit  20  may output only the abnormal information ABN to the switch unit  4  without the selection unit  18  selecting the failure information FAIL from the second storage unit  22 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of operations of the information processing apparatus IPE 1  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . More specifically,  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 1 , and operations of the management unit  6  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may be realized by executing a program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 1 . 
     Each of the mounted parts  10   a  and  10   b  outputs event information EV (normal information NRM, abnormal information ABN, or failure information FAIL) to the control unit  2  every time an event occurs ((a) in  FIG. 2 ). The normal information NRM is event information EV indicating a normal operating state of the mounted parts  10  without failure or abnormal. In  FIG. 2 , to simplify the description, serial numbers for each of the mounted parts  10   a  and  10   b  are added to the ends of the normal information NRM, the abnormal information ABN, and the failure information FAIL. 
     The control unit  2  transfers the received event information EV to the storage processing unit  14  (( b ) in  FIG. 2 ). The storage processing unit  14  stores the event information EV received from the control unit  2  in the second storage unit  22  (( c ) in  FIG. 2 ). The monitoring unit  16  monitors the event information EV outputted to the second storage unit  22  by the storage processing unit  14  (( d ) in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , upon detection of failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) outputted from the mounted part  10   a  (( e ) in  FIG. 2 ), the monitoring unit  16  outputs detection information FDET to the selection unit  18 . The selection unit  18  searches the event information EV stored in the second storage unit  22 , based on the detection information FDET outputted from the monitoring unit  16 , to extract the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) and abnormal information ABN 1  ( 10   a ), ABN 2  ( 10   b ), and ABN 1  ( 10   b ) (( f ) in  FIG. 2 ). The selection unit  18  outputs the extracted failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) and abnormal information ABN 1  ( 10   a ), ABN 2  ( 10   b ), and ABN 1  ( 10   b ) to the output processing unit  20  (( g ) in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The output processing unit  20  outputs a control signal CNTL to the switch unit  4 , based on the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) received from the selection unit  18  (( h ) in  FIG. 2 ), The control signal CNTL includes information for coupling the port P 0  to the port P 2  coupled to the mounted part  10   a  that has generated the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ). The switch unit  4  couples the port P 0  to the port P 2 , based on the control signal CNTL. 
     Next, the output processing unit  20  outputs the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) and abnormal information ABN 1  ( 10   a ), ABN 2  ( 10   b ), and ABN 1  ( 10   b ) received from the selection unit  18  to the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL, through the switch unit  4  (( i ) and ( j ) in  FIG. 2 ). Then, the output processing unit  20  causes the mounted part  10  that has outputted the failure information FAIL to execute processing of storing the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) and abnormal information ABN 1  ( 10   a ), ABN 2  ( 10   b ), and ABN 1  ( 10   b ) in the first storage unit  12 . Thus, the abnormal information ABN 1  ( 10   a ), ABN 2  ( 10   b ), and ABN 1  ( 10   b ) on the mounted part  10   a  and the other mounted part  10   b  are stored, together with the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ), in the first storage unit  12  in the mounted part  10   a  that has outputted the failure information FAIL. 
     Thereafter, a user of the information processing apparatus IPE 1  or the like replaces the mounted part  10   a  with a new electronic part  10 , based on the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) outputted to a display device and the like by the control unit  2 . For example, the mounted part  10   a  removed from the information processing apparatus IPE 1  is sent to the manufacturer of the mounted part  10   a , and the manufacturer performs a failure analysis to analyze the cause of occurrence of the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ). 
     In this event, the first storage unit  12  of the mounted part  10   a  stores not only the failure information FAIL 1  but also abnormal information ABN on the other mounted part  10   b . More specifically, the first storage unit  12  stores information indicating the operating condition of the information processing apparatus IPE 1  immediately before the occurrence of the failure information FAIL 1 . Therefore, an analyst or the like who analyzes the cause of failure may increase the possibility that the cause of failure may be specified, compared with the case of performing a failure analysis using only the failure information FAIL 1  on the mounted part  10   a . For example, when the cause of occurrence of the failure information FAIL 1  ( 10   a ) resides in the other mounted part  10   b  that has generated the abnormal information ABN, performing the failure analysis using the failure information FAIL 1  and the abnormal information ABN may make it easier to specify the cause of failure. 
     Furthermore, since the abnormal information ABN on the other mounted part  10   b  is stored in the first storage unit  12  of the mounted part  10   a , the analyst or the like who analyzes the cause of failure may acquire the abnormal information ABN outputted by the other mounted part  10   b  without making an inquiry to the user of the information processing apparatus IPE 1  or the like. Moreover, even when the abnormal information ABN on the other mounted part  10   b  is lost from the information processing apparatus IPE 1  with time due to the prolonged failure analysis, the analyst or the like may acquire the abnormal information ABN outputted by the other mounted part  10   b.    
     Note that the output processing unit  20  may output coupling information indicating relationships between the information for identifying the mounted parts  10  and the ports P 1  to P 3 , which is held in the route table  24 , to the mounted parts  10  when outputting the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the mounted parts  10 . In this case, the analyst or the like may grasp the coupling status of the mounted parts to the information processing apparatus IPE 1  in the event of occurrence of failure information FAIL, without making an inquiry to the user of the information processing apparatus IPE 1  or the like. As a result, the cause of failure may be more readily specified compared with the case where no coupling information is outputted to the mounted parts  10 . 
     As described above, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the management unit  6  transfers the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the route R 2 , which is different from the route R 1  used in a normal operation. Therefore, the probability that the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN will be stored in the first storage unit  12  in the event of occurrence of the failure information FAIL may be increased compared with the case of using the route R 1 . More specifically, the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN generated by the mounted part  10  may be stored, together with the abnormal information ABN generated by the other mounted part  10 , in the electronic part  10  that has generated the failure information FAIL, without being affected by the influence of the failure. As a result, in the case of analyzing the cause of occurrence of the failure information FAIL at a location different from a location where the information processing apparatus IPE 1  is installed, the possibility that the cause of failure will be specified may be increased by using the mounted part  10  that has generated the failure information FAIL, for example. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of an information processing apparatus, a method for controlling the information processing apparatus, and a program for controlling the information processing apparatus. The same or similar components as or to those described in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. An information processing apparatus IPE 2  according to this embodiment includes a CPU  30 , a memory  40 , a chip set  50 , card slots  60   a  and  60   b , a BMC  70 , and a switch  80 , all of which are mounted on a mother board  100 ; a keyboard  110 ; a mouse  120 ; and an HDD  130 . The CPU  30  is an example of a control unit, the BMC  70  is an example of a management unit, and the switch  80  is an example of a switch circuit, In the following description, the card slots  60   a  and  60   b  are also referred to as the card slots  60 . Note that the number of the card slots  60  mounted on the mother board  100  may be three or more. 
     The CPU  30  realizes functions of the information processing apparatus IPE 2  by executing a basic program such as an OS and application programs. The CPU  30  has a function to transfer event information EV ( FIG. 4 ) supplied from a card  200  through an input-output bus IOB and the chip set  50 , to the BMC  70  through the chip set  50 . Note that the CPU  30  may store the received event information EV in the memory  40  or an unillustrated HDD or the like. 
     The memory  40  stores programs to be executed by the CPU  30 , data to be used in the programs, and the like. For example, the memory  40  is a dual inline memory module (DIMM) equipped with multiple synchronous dynamic random access memories (SDRAMs). 
     The card slots  60   a  and  60   b  are coupled to the chip set  50  through the input-output bus IOB. The input-output bus IOB is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or a PCI express bus. Note that the input-output bus IOB may be a bus of another standard. Cards  200  ( 200   a  and  200   b ) such as PCI cards are detachably mounted in the card slots  60  ( 60   a  and  60   b ). The cards  200   a  and  200   b  are each an example of an electronic part. The card slots  60  are each an example of a mounting slot that mounts a card CARD. The input-output bus MB is an example of a first route. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , HDDs  300   a  and  300   b  are coupled to the card  200   a , while an HDD  300   c  and an optical drive  400  are coupled to the card  200   b . Event information EV to be generated by the cards  200  is outputted directly to the input-output bus MB through the card slots  60 . Event information EV to be generated by the HDDs  300   a  to  300   c  and the optical drive  400  is outputted to the input-output bus IOB through the cards  200  and the card slots  60 . The cards  200   a  and  200   b , the HDDs  300   a  to  300   c , and the optical drive  400  include non-volatile memories  500  ( 500   a ,  500   b ,  500   c ,  500   d ,  500   e , and  500   f ) such as flash memories. Note that the number of the electronic parts coupled to each of the cards  200  is not limited to two. Moreover, the HDDs  300  and the like may be coupled in series to the cards  200 . The non-volatile memories  500  are each an example of a first storage unit. 
     The cards  200   a  and  200   b , the HDDs  300   a  to  300   c , and the optical drive  400  are electrically coupled to the switch  80  through signal lines R 2  (R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , and R 26 ) such as signal cables. The signal lines R 2  are an example of a second route. In the following description, the signal lines R 2  are also referred to as routes R 2  (R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , and R 26 ). Moreover, in the following description, the cards  200  mounted in the card slots  60  are also referred to as mounted parts. Note that the mother board  100  may be fitted with sockets, connectors or the like, instead of the card slots  60 . In this case, electronic parts other than the cards  200  are detachably mounted in the sockets, connectors or the like. 
     For example, the HDD  300   a  includes a transmission and reception, unit  302 , a reception unit  304 , and a selection unit  306 . The transmission and reception unit  302  outputs information, such as data received through the input-output bus IOB, to the selection unit  306 , and outputs information, such as data to be outputted from the selection unit  306 , to the input-output bus IOB. The reception unit  304  outputs event information EV received through the signal line R 23 , to the selection unit  306 . The selection unit  306  stores the information received from the transmission and reception unit  302  or the event information EV received from the reception unit  304 , in the non-volatile memory  500   c , and outputs information, such as data to be outputted from the non-volatile memory  500   c , to the transmission and reception unit  302 . 
     Note that, as in the case of the HDD  300   a , the cards  200   a  and  200   b , the HDDs  300   b  and  300   c , and the optical drive  400  may each include a transmission and reception unit  302 , a reception unit  304 , and a selection unit  306 . More specifically, the cards  200   a  and  200   b , the HDDs  300   b  and  300   c , and the optical drive  400  may each include: a transmission and reception unit  302  coupled to the input-output bus IOB; a reception unit  304  coupled to the signal line R 2 ; and a selection unit  306  coupled to the non-volatile memory  500 . Furthermore, as in the case of the HDD  300   a , the electronic parts  10   a  and  10   b  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may each include a transmission and reception unit  302 , a reception unit  304 , and a selection unit  306 . More specifically, the electronic parts  10   a  and  10   b  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may each include a transmission and reception unit  302  coupled to the route R 1 , a reception unit  304  coupled to the route R 2 , and a selection unit  306  coupled to the first storage units  12   a  and  12   b.    
     The chip set  50  manages input and output of information, such as data that is transferred between the CPU  30  and any of the BMC  70 , the electronic parts such as the cards  200  ( 200   a  and  200   b ) coupled to the card slots  60   a  and  60   b , the keyboard  110 , and the mouse  120 . 
     The BMC  70  controls a power-supply voltage to be supplied to the CPU  30 , a frequency of a clock to be supplied to the CPU  30 , a rotation speed of an unillustrated fan, and the like. Also, the BMC  70  has a function to store event information EV transferred from the CPU  30  through the chip set  50  in a log database LDB allocated to the HDD  130 . Note that the log database LDB may be provided in the BMC  70 . The log database LDB is an example of a second storage unit that stores event information EV transferred from the CPU. 
     Furthermore, the BMC  70  has a function to communicate with the mounted parts (cards  200 , HDDs  300 , optical drive  400 , and the like) coupled to ports P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 5 , and P 6  of the switch  80  through the routes R 21  to R 26 . The BMC  70  and the mounted parts communicate with each other by using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C; registered trademark) method, a serial peripheral interface (SPI; registered trademark) method or the like. For example, the BMC  70  transmits predetermined event information EV extracted from the event information. EV held in the log database LDB to the mounted part through the switch  80  and any one of the routes R 21  to R 26 . Upon receipt of the event information EV, the mounted part stores the event information in the non-volatile memory  500  included therein. 
     The switch  80  includes a port P 0  coupled to the BMC  70  and the ports P 1  to P 6  respectively coupled to the routes R 21  to R 26 . In the following description, for convenience, the port P 0  is also referred to as the input port P, and the ports P 1  to P 6  are also referred to as the output ports P. The switch  80  couples the input port P 0  to any one of the output ports P 1  to P 6  based on a control signal CNTL to be received from the BMC  70 . Note that the number of the output ports P 1  to P 6  is not limited to six. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The BMC  70  includes a storage processing unit  71 , a monitoring unit  72 , a selection unit  73 , an output processing unit  74 , a coupling detection unit  75 , and a log list  76 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the storage processing unit  71 , the monitoring unit  72 , the selection unit  73 , the output processing unit  74 , and the coupling detection unit  75  are realized by a program PGM to be executed by the BMC  70 . However, the storage processing unit  71 , the monitoring unit  72 , the selection unit  73 , the output processing unit  74 , and the coupling detection unit  75  may be realized by hardware mounted on the BMC  70 . Note that the storage processing unit  71 , the monitoring unit  72 , the selection unit  73 , the output processing unit  74 , the coupling detection unit  75 , and the log list  76  may be provided in a controller different from the BMC  70 . 
     The storage processing unit  71  stores event information EV (normal information NPM, abnormal information ABN or failure information FAIL) sequentially transferred from the CPU  30 , in the log database LDB, and notifies the monitoring unit  72  of the stored event information EV. Note that the event information EV is stored in the order of time of occurrence of the event information EV. The operations of the storage processing unit  71  are the same as those of the storage processing unit  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The monitoring unit  72  monitors the event information EV notified from the storage processing unit  71 . When the event information EV is failure information FAIL, the monitoring unit  72  outputs detection information FDET indicating the detection of the failure information FAIL to the selection unit  73 . The operations of the monitoring unit  72  are the same as those of the monitoring unit  16  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The selection unit  73  selects the failure information FAIL detected by the monitoring unit  72  and abnormal information ABN indicating an abnormal operating condition from among the event information EV stored in the log database LDB, based on the detection information FDET outputted from the monitoring unit  72 . In this event, the selection unit  73  selects, from the log database LDB, abnormal information ABN that has occurred within a range (search range) from a reference time that is the time of occurrence of the failure information FAIL to a time that goes back a predetermined period of time. Note that the time of occurrence of the event information EV is included in the event information EV. Then, the selected failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN are registered in the log list  76 . 
     When at least one piece of abnormal information ABN is detected within the search range, the selection unit  73  sets a new search range by taking the earliest time of occurrence of the abnormal information ABN as a new reference time. When there is no abnormal information ABN within the search range, the selection unit  73  terminates the operation of selecting the abnormal information. ABN from the log database LDB. When the new search range is set, the selection unit  73  selects abnormal information included in the new search range from the log database LDB, and registers the selected abnormal information ABN in the log list  76 . When no abnormal information ABN is included in the search range, the selection unit  73  terminates the operation of selecting the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB. In this way, the selection unit  73  repeats the operation of selecting the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB until the search for the abnormal information ABN for a predetermined period of time is completed or no more abnormal information ABN is detected within the search range.  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an example of the operations of the selection unit  73 . 
     Note that the selection unit  73  may terminate the operation of selecting the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB when the number of times of setting the extraction range reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, five times). Alternatively, the selection unit  73  may search for abnormal information ABN that has occurred within a predetermined period (for example, a period corresponding to five extraction ranges) after the time of occurrence of the failure information FAIL, without setting the search range. After terminating the operation of selecting the abnormal information ABN, the selection unit  73  outputs an output request OUTREQ to the output processing unit  74 , the output request being a request to output the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN registered in the log list  76  to the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL. 
     The output processing unit  74  reads the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN registered in the log list  76  based on the output request OUTREQ. The output processing unit  74  detects the output port P (any one of P 1  to P 6 ) coupled to the mounted part that has outputted the failure information FAIL, by referring to a route table  77  based on unique information UID for identifying the mounted parts among the information included in the read failure information FAIL. Then, the output processing unit  74  outputs, based on the detection result, a control signal CNTL for coupling the input port P 0  to the output port P coupled to the mounted part that has outputted the failure information FAIL, to the switch  80 . The coupling inside the switch  80  is switched based on the control signal CNTL. 
     After the coupling inside the switch  80  is switched, the output processing unit  74  transmits the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN read from the log list  76  to the mounted part that has outputted the failure information FAIL through the switch  80  and any one of the routes R 21  to R 26  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Then, the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL stores the received failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN in the non-volatile memory  500  included therein. 
     Note that the selection unit  73  may output the failure information FAIL selected from the log database LDB to the output processing unit  74 . In this case, the output processing unit  74  may generate a control signal CNTL to switch the coupling inside the switch  80 , before reading the abnormal information ABN from the log list  76 , based on the unique information UID included in the failure information FAIL. Thus, the transfer of the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the mounted part may be started earlier than the case where no failure information FAIL is received from the selection unit  73 . 
     Moreover, as described with reference to  FIG. 1 , the output processing unit  74  may write the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN directly into the non-volatile memory  500  in the mounted part. Furthermore, when the mounted part has a function to store the failure information FAIL generated by itself in the non-volatile memory  500 , the output processing unit  74  may omit the output of the failure information FAIL to the switch  80 . In this case, the selection unit  73  generates an output request OUTREQ based on the selection of the failure information FAIL from the log database LDB, but does not register the failure information FAIL in the log list  76 . 
     The route table  77  holds information for identifying the mounted parts respectively coupled to the output ports P 1  to P 6  in the switch  80 . More specifically, the route table  77  holds coupling information indicating coupling relationships between the output ports P 1  to P 6  and the mounted parts. In other words, the unique information UID for identifying each of the mounted parts is stored in the route table  77  in association with the output port (any one of P 1  to P 6 ) coupled to the mounted part. For example, the route table  77  has an information storage area for storing the unique information UID for identifying the mounted part in association with each of the output ports P 1  to P 6 . Note that the route table  77  may be provided in an SRAM, a flash memory or the like included in the BMC  70 , which are outside the output processing unit  74 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , to simplify the description, reference numerals of the cards  200 , the HDDs  300 , and the optical drive  400  are stored as the unique information UID of the mounted parts in the information storage area of the route table  77 . Note that unique information UID capable of differentiating the mounted parts from each other may be stored in the information storage area, such as information including serial numbers or information including combinations of types and serial numbers of the mounted parts. 
     The coupling detection unit  75  monitors voltage levels of the output ports P alternately coupled to the input port P 0  in response to the control signals CNTL sequentially generated at predetermined time intervals by the output processing unit  74 . The coupling detection unit  75  detects the coupling of the electronic part to the output port P based on a change in the voltage level of the output port P, and notifies the output processing unit  74  of the detection result. Note that the coupling detection unit  75  may also detect decoupling of the electronic part from the output port P, based on a change in the voltage level of the output port P, and notify the output processing unit  74  of the detection result. 
     When notified by the coupling detection unit  75  of the coupling of an electronic part, the output processing unit  74  stops switching of the control signals CNTL, and communicates with the electronic part newly coupled to the output port P. Then, the output processing unit  74  notifies the electronic part, through the switch  80 , of the unique information UID capable of differentiating the electronic part from other electronic parts, and causes the electronic part to register the unique information UID. For example, the electronic part stores the unique information UID notified from the coupling detection unit  75  in the non-volatile memory  500 . Note that, when the electronic part is previously coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and has unique information UID stored therein, the output processing unit  74  receives the unique information UID previously registered in the electronic part from the electronic part. The output processing unit  74  registers the unique information UID in the information storage area corresponding to the output port P whose coupling is detected, in the route table  77 . When notified by the coupling detection unit  75  of the decoupling of the electronic part, the output processing unit  74  may delete the unique information UID held in the information storage area in the route table  77  corresponding to the output port P whose coupling is released. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of information stored in the log database LDB illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The log database LDB includes multiple entries, each including regions storing unique information UID, date and time of occurrence of event, a content of the event, and a level of the event. The unique information UID, date and time of occurrence of an event, content of the event, and level of the event stored in the log database LDB are included in event information EV to be outputted from the mounted part. 
     In the content of the event, “device coupling” represents that coupling of the electronic part is detected by the card  200 . “Data write” represents that data is written by the HDD  300  or that data is written into an optical disk by the optical drive  400 . “Transmission error” represents failure to transmit data to the HDD  300  or the optical drive  400  by the card  200 . “Write error” represents occurrence of an error in the writing of data executed by the HDD  300  or the optical drive  400 . “Data read” represents that data is read by the HDD  300  or that data is read from the optical disk by the optical drive  400 . “Reception error” represents failure to receive data from the HDD  300  or the optical drive  400  by the card  200 . “Write failure” represents continuous occurrence of a predetermined number of errors in the writing of data executed by the HDD  300  or the optical drive  400 . 
     Since “device coupling”, “data write”, and “data read” are normal operations, the level is “NRM” (that is normal information NRM). Since “transmission error”, “reception error”, and “write error” are errors that may be retried, the level is “ABN” (that is abnormal information ABN). On the other hand, since “write failure” is an error that may not be restored by a retry, which is determined to be failure, the level is “FAIL” (that is failure information FAIL). 
     The selection unit  73  illustrated in  FIG. 4  selects event information EV whose levels are “FAIL” and “ABN”, from among the event information EV stored in the log database LDB, as the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of operations of the information processing apparatus IPE 2  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . More specifically,  FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , and the operations of the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 6  indicate an example of a program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . In  FIG. 6 , an electronic part  101  and an electronic part  102  are the cards  200 , the HDDs  300 , the optical drive  400  or the like illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Note that, to simplify the description,  FIG. 6  illustrates an example where the two electronic parts  101  and  102  are coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . However, the information processing apparatus IPE 2  operates in the same manner as illustrated in  FIG. 6  even when three or more electronic parts are coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . 
     First, the coupling detection unit  75  in the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4  detects the voltage level of each of the output ports P while switching the coupling inside the switch  80 , thereby detecting that the electronic part  101  is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and coupled to the switch  80  through any one of the routes R 2  (( a ) in  FIG. 6 ). The output processing unit  74  in the BMC  70  requests the electronic part  101  to notify unique information UID through the switch  80  and the route R 2 , based on the detection by the coupling detection unit  75  (( b ) in  FIG. 6 ). More specifically, the BMC  70  makes an inquiry to the electronic part  101  about the unique information UID. 
     The electronic part  101  is mounted on the information processing apparatus IPE 2  for the first time, and thus has no unique information UID allocated thereto. Therefore, the electronic part  101  holds no unique information UID, and notifies the output processing unit  74 , through the route R 2  and the switch  80 , of an initial value UID 0  indicating that no unique information UID is allocated to the electronic part  101  (( c ) in  FIG. 6 ). 
     Upon receipt of the initial value UID 0 , the output processing unit  74  generates new unique information UID to be allocated to the electronic part  101 , and registers the generated unique information UID in the route table  77  in association with the output, port P coupled to the electronic part  101 . Moreover, the output processing unit  74  notifies the electronic part  101  of the generated unique information UID through the switch  80  and the route R 2  (( d ) in  FIG. 6 ). The electronic part  101  stores the unique information UID notified from the output processing unit  74  of the BMC  70 , in the non-volatile memory  500  (( e ) in  FIG. 6 ). This allows the electronic part  101  to subsequently notify the CPU  30  and the BMC  70 , through the input-output bus IOB, of event information EV including the unique information UID generated by the BMC  70  every time an event occurs. 
     Next, the coupling detection unit  75  detects that the electronic part  102  is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and the electronic part  101  is coupled to the switch  80  through the route R 2  (( f ) in  FIG. 6 ). The output processing unit  74  requests the electronic part  102  to notify unique information UID through the switch  80  and the route R 2  ((g) in  FIG. 6 ). 
     The electronic part  102  is previously coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , and has previously allocated unique information UID stored in the non-volatile memory  500 . In this case, the electronic part  102  reads the unique information UID from the non-volatile memory  500  and notifies the BMC  70  of the read unique information UID through the route R 2  and the switch  80  (( h ) in  FIG. 6 ). The output processing unit  74  registers the unique information. UID received from the electronic part  102 , in the route table  77  in association with the output port P coupled to the electronic part  102 . Thereafter, the electronic part  102  outputs the event information EV including the unique information UID previously generated by the BMC  70  to the input-output bus IOB every time an event occurs. 
     As described above, every time the electronic part  101  or  102  is coupled to any one of the output ports P in the switch  80  through any one of the routes R 2 , the BMC  70  registers the unique information UID of the electronic part  101  or  102  in the route table  77  in association with the output port P. Note that, when the unique information UID is redundantly held in multiple entries in the route table  77  by the registration of the unique information UID in the route table  77 , the BMC  70  deletes the unique information UID from the entry already holding the unique information. Thus, the output processing unit  74  may detect the output port P coupled to the electronic part  101  or  102  having the unique information UID allocated thereto, by referring to the route table  77 . 
     Furthermore, the output processing unit  74  does not reallocate the unique information UID to the electronic part  102  that is previously coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and has the unique information UID allocated thereto. Thus, the processing of allocating the unique information UID to the electronic part  102  may be omitted, and the processing for coupling the electronic part  102  to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  may be simplified. 
     After the coupling of the electronic parts  101  and  102  to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , the BMC  70  receives the event information EV from the electronic parts  101  and  102  through the CPU  30  (( i ) in  FIG. 6 ). The event information EV is any one of normal information NRM, abnormal information ABN, and failure information FAIL. 
     Upon each receipt of the event information EV, the storage processing unit  71  in the BMC  70  stores the received event information EV in the log database LDB ((j) in  FIG. 6 ). The electronic parts  101  and  102  coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  output the event information EV including the allocated unique information UID to the BMC  70 . Thus, the output ports P coupled to the electronic parts  101  and  102  that have generated the event information EV may be identified by referring to the event information EV stored in the log database LDB. 
     The monitoring unit  72  of the BMC  70  detects reception of failure information FAIL. The selection unit  73  of the BMC  70  reads the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB, based on the detection of the failure information FAIL by the monitoring unit  72 , and stores the read failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN in the log list  76  (( k ) in  FIG. 6 ). 
     The output processing unit  74  refers to the route table  77  by using the unique information UID included in the failure information FAIL, in response to the storage of the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN in the log database LDB by the selection unit  73 . Then, the output processing unit  74  detects the output port P coupled to the electronic part (in this example, the electronic part  102 ) that has generated the failure information FAIL. The output processing unit  74  controls the switch  80  to couple the input port P 0  to the output port P coupled to the electronic part  102  that has generated the failure information FAIL. 
     Then, the output processing unit  74  outputs the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN stored in the log list  76  to the electronic part  102  that has generated the failure information FAIL, through the switch  80  and the route R 2  (( l ) in  FIG. 6 ). Thus, the output processing unit  74  may output the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the electronic part  102  that has generated the failure information FAIL and is coupled to any one of the output ports P, by referring to the route table  77 . 
     Note that the output processing unit  74  may output coupling information indicating the relationship between the unique information UID and the output port P held in the route table  77 , to the electronic part  102  when outputting the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the electronic part  102 . In this case, an analyst or the like who analyzes the cause of failure of the electronic part may grasp the coupling status of the electronic parts  101  and  102  to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  in the event of occurrence of failure information FAIL, without making an inquiry to an operator of the information processing apparatus IPE 2  or the like. As a result, the cause of failure may be more readily specified compared with the case where no coupling information is outputted to the electronic part  102 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example of an operational flowchart for operations when the coupling of the electronic parts to the output ports P is detected by the BMC illustrated in  FIG. 4 . More specifically,  FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and the program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . The processing illustrated in  FIG. 7  is the processing from requesting the electronic parts  101  and  102  to notify the unique information UID to registering the unique information UID in the route table  77  in FIG,  6 , and is executed by the output processing unit  74  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     First, in Step S 100 , the output processing unit  74  determines whether or not an initial value UID 0  of unique information is received from an electronic part coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . When the initial value UID 0  is received, the output processing unit  74  determines that the electronic part is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  for the first time, and advances the processing to Step S 112 . When no initial value UID 0  is received, that is, when unique information UID other than the initial value UID 0  is received, the output processing unit  74  determines that the electronic part previously coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , and advances the processing to Step S 102 . 
     In Step S 102 , the output processing unit  74  refers to one of the entries in the route table  77 . Next, in Step S 104 , the output processing unit  74  determines whether or not the unique information UID received from the electronic part coincides with the unique information UID included in the entry referred to. When the both pieces of unique information UID coincide with each other, the output processing unit  74  determines that the electronic part is temporarily removed from the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and then recoupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , and advances the processing to Step S 108 . When the both pieces of unique information UID do not coincide with each other, the output processing unit  74  advances the processing to Step  5106  to refer to the next entry. 
     In Step S 106 , the output processing unit  74  determines whether or not all the entries in the route table  77  are referred to. When all the entries are referred to, the output processing unit  74  determines that the electronic part previously coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  or an electronic part coupled to another information processing apparatus is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 , and advances the processing to Step S 112 . When there are entries yet to be referred to, the output processing unit  74  returns the processing to Step S 102  to refer to a next entry. Note that, when continuing to use the unique information UID once registered with the electronic part, the output processing unit  74  may advance the processing to Step S 116 , rather than Step S 112 , after determining in Step S 106  that all the entries are referred to. 
     In Step S 108 , the output processing unit  74  determines whether or not an output port P detected to be coupled to the electronic part corresponds to an output port P of the entry with the corresponding unique information UID. When the output ports P correspond to each other, the output processing unit  74  determines that the electronic part is temporarily removed from the output port P and then recoupled to the same output port P, and then terminates the processing without updating the route table  77 . When the output ports P do not correspond to each other, the output processing unit  74  determines that the corresponding entry in the route table  77  is an old entry that does not indicate the actual coupling status, and advances the processing to Step S 110 . 
     In Step S 110 , the output processing unit  74  deletes the unique information UID held in the old entry in the route table  77 , and advances the processing to Step S 116 . 
     Meanwhile, in Step S 112 , the output processing unit  74  generates unique information UID to be allocated to the electronic part coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . Next, in Step S 114 , the output processing unit  74  notifies the electronic part of the generated unique information UID through the switch  80  and the route R 2 . Then, in Step S 116 , the output processing unit  74  stores the generated unique information UID in the entry of the route table  77 , corresponding to the route R 2  coupled to the electronic part, and then terminates the processing. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of an operation of storing the event information EV in the log database LDB by the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . More specifically,  FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and the program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . The processing illustrated in  FIG. 8  is executed by the storage processing unit  71  and the monitoring unit  72  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     First, in Step S 200 , the storage processing unit  71  determines whether or not old event information EV, which has occurred at a time point earlier than the current time by a predetermined time or more, is held in the log database LDB. The storage processing unit  71  advances the processing to Step S 202  when the log database LDB holds the old event information EV, and advances the processing to Step S 204  when the log database LDB holds no old event information EV. In Step S 202 , the storage processing unit  71  deletes the old event information EV detected in Step S 200 . Thereafter, the storage processing unit  71  advances the processing to Step S 204 . 
     When receiving the event information EV from the CPU  30  in Step S 204 , the storage processing unit  71  advances the processing to Step S 206 . When receiving no event information EV from the CPU  30 , the storage processing unit  71  returns the processing to Step S 200 . In Step S 206 , the storage processing unit  71  stores the received event information EV in the log database LDB, and notifies the monitoring unit  72  of the event information EV stored in the log database LDB. 
     Next, in Step S 208 , the monitoring unit  72  determines, based on the event information EV notified from the storage processing unit  71 , whether or not the event information EV stored in the log database LDB is failure information FAIL. When the event information EV is the failure information FAIL, the monitoring unit  72  advances the processing to Step S 210 . When the event information EV is not the failure information FAIL (that is, when the event information EV is normal information NRM or abnormal information ABN), the monitoring unit  72  returns the processing to Step S 200 . In Step S 210 , the monitoring unit  72  outputs detection information FDET indicating detection of the occurrence of the failure information FAIL to the selection unit  73 , and then terminates the processing. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of an operation of storing failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN selected from the log database LDB in the log list  76  by the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . More specifically,  FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and the program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . The processing illustrated in  FIG. 9  is executed by the selection unit  73  ( FIG. 4 ) that has received the detection information FDET from the monitoring unit  72 . 
     First, in Step S 300 , the selection unit  73  deletes the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN held in the log list  76 . Next, in Step S 302 , the selection unit  73  sets a time period from a time of occurrence (starting point) of the failure information FAIL to a time (end point) that goes back a first period At as a search range for searching for the abnormal information ABN. Next, in Step S 304 , the selection unit  73  reads all the event information EV whose times of occurrence are within the search range, among the event information EV held in the log database LDB, from the log database LDB. 
     Next, in Step S 306 , the selection unit  73  selects the event information EV read from the log database LDB in reverse chronological order of the time of occurrence. Then, in Step S 308 , the selection unit  73  advances the processing to Step S 310  when the selected event information EV is the abnormal information ABN, and advances the processing to Step S 312  when the selected event information EV is not the abnormal information ABN (that is, when the selected event information EV is the normal information NRM). The selection unit  73  stores the selected abnormal information ABN in the log list  76  in Step S 310 , and then advances the processing to Step S 312 . 
     When all the event information EV within the search range is selected in Step S 312 , the selection unit  73  advances the processing to Step S 314 . When there is event information EV yet to be selected within the search range, the selection unit  73  returns the processing to Step S 306 . In Step S 314 , the selection unit  73  determines whether or not there is abnormal information ABN in the event information EV within the search range read from the log database LDB. When there is abnormal information ABN within the search range, the selection unit  73  advances the processing to Step S 316 , When there is no abnormal information ABN within the search range, the selection unit  73  advances the processing to Step S 320 . 
     Thereafter, in Step S 316 , the selection unit  73  detects the abnormal information ABN with the earliest time of occurrence, among the abnormal information ABN within the search range read from the log database LDB. The selection unit  73  sets a time period from a new starting point that is the time of occurrence of the detected abnormal information ABN to a time (end point) that goes back a first period Δt from the starting point as a new search range for searching for the abnormal information ABN. 
     Next, when the number of times of setting the search range exceeds a predetermined number of times N (for example, five times) in Step S 318 , the selection unit  73  advances the processing to Step S 320 . When the number of times of setting the search range is not more than the predetermined number of times N, the selection unit  73  returns the processing to Step S 306  to execute the processing of detecting abnormal information ABN within the new search range set in Step S 316 . 
     Then, in Step S 320 , the selection unit  73  outputs an output request OUTREQ, together with the unique information UID indicating the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL, to the output processing unit  74 , and then terminates the processing. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example of processing of extracting the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB by the processing illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 10 , four electronic parts  101 ,  102 ,  103 , and  104  are coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . To simplify the description, the event information EV (normal information NRM, abnormal information ABN, and failure information FAIL) held in the log database LDB is illustrated in chronological order for each electronic part. 
     First, the selection unit  73  sets a time period from a time of occurrence of the failure information FAIL to a time that goes back a first period Δt as a search range SRI, and extracts abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 1 . 
     Since there is abnormal information ABN in the search range SR 1 , the selection unit  73  detects the abnormal information ABN with the earliest time of occurrence, among the abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 1  read from the log database LDB. The selection unit  73  sets a time period from a new starting point that is the time of occurrence of the detected abnormal information ABN to a time that goes back the first period At from the starting point as a new search range SR 2 , and extracts abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 2 . 
     Since there is abnormal information ABN in the search range SR 2  the selection unit  73  detects the abnormal information ABN with the earliest time of occurrence, among the abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 2  read from the log database LDB. The selection unit  73  sets a time period from a new starting point that is the time of occurrence of the detected abnormal information ABN to a time that goes back the first period Δt from the starting point as a new search range SR 3 , and extracts abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 3 . 
     Since there is abnormal information ABN in the search range SR 3 , the selection unit  73  detects the abnormal information ABN with the earliest time of occurrence, among the abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 3  read from the log database LDB. The selection unit  73  sets a time period from a new starting point that is the time of occurrence of the detected abnormal information ABN to a time that goes back the first period Δt from the starting point as a new search range SR 4 , and extracts abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 4 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 10 , since there is no abnormal information ABN in the search range SR 4 , the extraction of the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB is completed. Note that, when the predetermined number of times N is three times in Step S 318  illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the selection unit  73  extracts the abnormal information ABN within the search range SR 3  and then terminates the extraction of the abnormal information ABN from the log database LDB. 
     In  FIG. 10 , determination of whether to further extract the abnormal information ABN is made based on whether or not abnormal information ABN has occurred in the first period Δt that is determined by taking the time of occurrence of the failure information FAIL or the time of occurrence of the abnormal information ABN as the starting point for going back. Accordingly, the time period for extracting the abnormal information ABN changes with the frequency of occurrence of the abnormal information ABN. Therefore, compared with the case of extracting abnormal information ABN that has occurred in a fixed period that is predetermined based on the time of occurrence of the failure information FAIL, the possibility of extracting the abnormal information ABN related to a failure of the mounted part may be increased. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an example of an operation of outputting the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN stored in the log list  76  to the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL, through the switch  80  and the route R 2 , by the BMC  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . More specifically,  FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a method for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2  and the program for controlling the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . The processing illustrated in  FIG. 11  is executed by the output processing unit  74  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     First, in Step S 400 , the output processing unit  74  waits to receive an output request OUTREQ and unique information UID to be outputted from the selection unit  73 . Upon receipt of the output request OUTREQ and the unique information UID, the output processing unit  74  advances the processing to Step S 402 . In Step S 402 , the output processing unit  74  searches the route table  77  for an entry including the unique information UID received from the selection unit  73 . 
     Next, in Step S 404 , the output processing unit  74  acquires an output port P from the entry including the unique information UID. Then, in Step S 406 , the output processing unit  74  outputs a control signal CNTL to the switch  80 , and couples the input port P 0  of the switch  80  to the output port P acquired in Step S 404 . Thus, the input, port P 0  of the switch  80  is coupled to the mounted part that has generated the failure information, through the output port P and the route R 2 . 
     Thereafter, in Step S 408 , the output processing unit  74  outputs the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN stored in the log list  76  to the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL, through the switch  80  and the route R 2 , and then terminates the processing. The mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL stores the received failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN in the non-volatile memory  500 . More specifically, the output processing unit  74  causes the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to be stored in the non-volatile memory  500  of the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL. 
     As described above, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 11 , the same effects may be achieved as those achieved in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . More specifically, the BMC  70  transfers the failure information and the abnormal information ABN to the routes R 21  to R 26 , which are different from the input-output bus IOB used in a normal operation. Therefore, the failure information FAIL and abnormal information ABN generated by the mounted part may be stored, together with the abnormal information ABN generated by another mounted part, in the electronic part that has generated the failure information FAIL without being affected by the influence of failure. As a result, for example, the possibility that the cause of failure will be specified may be increased in the case of analyzing the cause of occurrence of the failure information. FAIL, by using the mounted part that has generated the failure information FAIL, at a location different from a location where the information processing apparatus IPE 2  is installed. 
     Furthermore, the following effects may be achieved in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 11 . Repeated setting of the first period Δt and extraction of the abnormal information ABN held in the log database LDB may increase the possibility of extracting the abnormal information ABN related to a failure of the mounted part, compared with the case of extracting the abnormal information ABN that has occurred in the fixed period. 
     The BMC  70  registers the unique information UID of the electronic part in the route table  77  in association with the output port P every time the electronic part is coupled to the information processing apparatus IPE 2 . Therefore, the output port P coupled to the electronic part may be detected by referring to the route table  77 . In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the output processing unit  74  may output the failure information FAIL and the abnormal information ABN to the electronic part  102  that has generated the failure information FAIL and is coupled to any one of the output ports P, by referring to the route table  77 , The unique information UID is not reallocated to the electronic part to which the unique information UID has already been allocated. Thus, the processing for coupling the electronic part to the information processing apparatus IPE 2  may be simplified. 
     The features and advantages of the embodiments will become apparent from the above detailed description. The scope of claims is intended to cover the features and advantages of the embodiments as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of right thereof. Moreover, those having conventional knowledge in the field may easily conceive various modifications and changes. Therefore, the scope of the embodiments having the inventiveness is not intended to be limited to that described above, but may include modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope disclosed by the embodiments. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.