Patent Publication Number: US-2004059903-A1

Title: Control system and method for rack mounted computer units

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/413,922, titled REMOTE RESET SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS, filed Sep. 25, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Additionally, priority is claimed to U.S. non-provisional patent applications Ser. No. 10/449,799, filed May 29, 2003, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component and Method of Making Same”; Ser. No. 10/448,691, filed May 29, 2003, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component Cooling Method and Device”; Ser. No. 10/449,608, filed May 29, 2003, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component For Cooling Arrangement and Method; and Ser. No. 10/448,508, filed May 29, 2003, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component Power Distribution Unit and Method”.  
     [0002] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/160,526, titled “Method and Apparatus for Rack Mounting Computer Components,” filed May 31, 2002, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/384,996, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component and Method of Making Same,” filed May 31, 2002; U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/384,987, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component Cooling Method and Device,” filed May 31, 2002; U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/384,986, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component Fan Cooling Arrangement and Method,” and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/385,005, titled “Rack Mountable Computer Component Power Distribution Unit and Method,” filed May 31, 2002, which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.  
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0004] The present invention relates in general to computer components. It more particularly relates to a system and method for remote monitoring and resetting of computer components or systems.  
       [0005] 2. Related Art  
       [0006] There have been a variety of different types and kinds of methods and systems for mounting computer components. For example, reference may be made to the following United States patents:  
                                                       PATENT NO.   INVENTOR   ISSUE DATE                          4,258,967   Boudreau   Mar. 31, 1081           4,879,634   Storrow et al.   Nov. 07, 1989           4,977,532   Borkowicz et al.   Dec. 11, 1990           5,010,444   Storrow et al.   Apr. 23, 1991           5,216,579   Basara et al.   Jun. 01, 1993           5,460,441   Hastings et al.   Oct. 24, 1995           5,571,256   Good et al.   Nov. 05, 1996           5,684,671   Hobbs et al.   Nov. 04, 1997           5,877,938   Hobbs et al.   Mar. 02, 1999           5,896,273   Varghese et al.   Apr. 30, 1999           6,025,989   Ayd et al.   Feb. 15, 2000           6,058,025   Ecker et al.   May 02, 2000           6,075,698   Hogan et al.   Jun. 13, 2000           6,220,456 B1   Jensen et al.   Apr. 24, 2001           6,305,556 B1   Mayer   Oct. 23, 2001           6,315,249 B1   Jensen et al.   Nov. 13, 2001           6,325,636 B1   Hipp et al.   Dec. 04, 2001           Re. 35,915   Hastings et al.   Oct. 06, 1998           Des. 407,358   Belanger et al.   Mar. 30, 1999                      
 
       [0007] Computer systems such as networks, rack mounted computer clusters, or mainframes may generally be provided with a control that is physically mounted on each unit for resetting the unit. In this regard, the performance of one or more units may be monitored remotely to detect possible malfunctions. Such malfunctions are typically resolved simply by shutting down and restarting, or resetting, the unit.  
       [0008] In a typical environment, many units may be monitored remotely while the units are located in another room, another building or even another city. When a malfunction is detected at the remote location, a user must physically travel to the location of the unit, determine which of typically many physical units corresponds to the detected malfunction, and physically shut down and restart the unit. The user may then return to the remote monitoring location. If the malfunction re-occurs, the user must repeat the process, including the travelling to the location of the unit. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] The following is a brief description of the drawings:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a rack-mounted computer system showing the front, left side and top thereof, which may use an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a housing of the system of FIG. 1, illustrating the process of installation of computer blades;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale top view of one embodiment of a blade of the rack-mounted system of FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the blade of FIG. 3;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1, illustrating the control arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a reset control module for the control arrangement of FIG. 5;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an optical isolator arrangement of the reset control module of FIG. 6; and  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of an optical isolator arrangement of the reset control module of FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0018] The following detailed description is organized according to the following outline:  
     [0019] A) General Overview  
     [0020] B) General System Description  
     [0021] C) Reset Control System  
     [0022] D) Reset Control Hardware  
     [0023] E) Reset Control Software Method  
     [0024] According to at least one of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system and a method for controlling a computer unit such as a computer, a computer component or a computer system.  
     [0025] The method includes receiving a command signal by a reset control module from another source such as a remote computer through a network. The command signal includes instructions to manipulate or control a computer unit such as a computer, computer component or computer system. An execution signal is transmitted for manipulation or control of the computer, computer component or computer system. The controlling or manipulation includes resetting, powering on or powering off the computer, computer component or computer system.  
     [0026] The method may also include receiving a data signal from at least one of a sensor and the computer, computer component or computer system. The data signal may include information relating to operation of the computer unit such as a computer, computer component or computer system. A notification signal may be transmitted by the reset control module for receipt by the remote computer, the notification signal being transmitted through the computer network and including the information relating to operation of the computer, computer component or computer system.  
     [0027] In a preferred embodiment, the data signal includes an operating temperature of the computer, computer component or computer system. The information may include an alarm indicating the operating temperature exceeding a high temperature threshold or dropping below a low temperature threshold.  
     [0028] The remote computer may be a personal computer or a workstation. In one embodiment, the computer network is a public network, such as the Internet. In another embodiment, the computer network is an intranet or a local area network.  
     [0029] A disclosed embodiment of the system includes a reset control module, one or more computer units such, for example, as computers, computer components or computer systems adapted to communicate with the reset control module. The reset control module is adapted to transmit information relating to operation of the computer units to a computer or other terminal such as a remote personal computer and to receive instructions therefrom for control or manipulation of the computer unit. The remote computer is adapted to communicate with the reset control module through a computer network.  
     [0030] B. General System Description  
     [0031] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIGS.  1 - 4 , there is illustrated one embodiment of a vertical computer unit rack mounted system  10 , which may be used with the diagnostic assembly of an embodiment of the invention as hereinafter described in greater detail. It should be understood that different rack mounted systems and other types and kinds of systems may also be employed, such, for example, as horizontal rack mounted computer units. The rack mounted system  10  includes a rack housing  12  configured generally as a rectangular box having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart bays  14 . The embodiment illustrated in the drawings includes three vertically spaced-apart bays  14 .  
     [0032] Each bay  14  is divided into a front bay portion  16  and a rear bay portion  18  by an intermediate transversely-extending horizontal divider  19 . The bays  14  are formed in the rack housing  12  in a vertically spaced-apart manner one above the other. In a bottom portion of the rack housing  12 , a control bay  21  is provided to house various control components for controlling various computer units of the system  10  according to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, as hereinafter described in greater detail.  
     [0033] The rack housing  12  further includes a fan/LAN tray slot  23  above each bay  14 . Each fan/LAN tray slot is configured to accommodate a fan/LAN tray such as tray  27 .  
     [0034] The system illustrated in the drawings provides a control bay  21  used for controlling the system  10  as hereinafter described in greater detail. The control bay  21  has a bottom opening  25  for facilitating air flow to receive vertically moving air flow from a vent opening  26  in a floor  28  and vertically through the system  10  as assisted by the fan/LAN trays. At the top of the rack housing  12 , an apertured top panel  26  is provided to permit venting of the vertically moving air flow from the system  10 .  
     [0035] At the top portion of each bay  14 , in the intermediate region between the front bay portion  16  and the rear bay portion  18 , a power distribution unit (PDU)  29  is provided to supply electricity to various components mounted in the rack mounted system. Each bay is adapted to accommodate a plurality of computer components in the form of open structure computer blades, such as blade  32 , in each of the front bay portions  16  and the rear bay portions  18 . In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, eleven blades may be accommodated in each of the front bay and rear bay portions. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the system  10  accommodates 66 computer components in a densely compact, closely spaced configuration.  
     [0036] Referring now to FIGS.  2 - 4 , the blades  32  and their installation into the rack housing  12  will now be described in greater detail. Each blade is provided with a pair of handles  54  which allow a user to easily manipulate the blade  32  to be grasped by the user to slide the blade into or out of its bay. Each blade  32  may include one or more mother boards  56 . In the system illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each blade  32  includes two mother boards  56   a,    56   b.  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of mother boards included in each blade  32  may be varied according to design. The mother board may include heat sinks such as heat sinks  58  and  59  for facilitating the cooling of the mother boards. Examples of the heat sinks are disclosed in greater detail in U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/384,487, filed May 31, 2002. Further, each mother board is provided with random access memory (RAM)  61 . The amount of RAM  61  provided for each mother board may be varied as needed. A pair of power supply  63   a,    63   b  may be provided on the blade  32  for supplying power to their corresponding mother boards  56   a,    56   b.  Similarly, a pair of hard disks  64   a,    64   b  may also be provided on the blade  32 .  
     [0037] All of the components are mounted on one side of a rigid plate or support  64 , which is adapted to be supported vertically within its bay. Each blade  32  includes a cut-out corner portion or section  65  in its upper back portion. The cut-out portion  65  is sized to receive and accommodate the PDU  29  therebetween such that two opposing blades  32  and  32   a  accommodate the PDU  29  almost completely. Thus, a substantially zero footprint is achieved for the PDU  29 . Each blade  32  is provided with an AC power inlet such as an inlet  67  at or near the cut-out portion  65 . Thus, when the blade  32  is installed into the rack housing  12 , the AC power inlet  67  engages electrically a corresponding AC connector such as a connector  76  of the PDU  29 .  
     [0038] As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the installation of the blade  32  may be achieved in a fast and efficient manner. The blade  32  is simply slid into either the front bay portion  16  or the rear bay portion  18  of a bay  14  of the rack housing  12 . Each blade  32  is slid back until its AC power inlet  67  engages a corresponding AC connector  76  on the PDU  29 . The intermediate dividers  19  serve as a back stop for the blades  32 . Each blade  32  is secured in its slot by four blade screws  69 , which attach the blade  32  to the rack housing  12 .  
     [0039] Once the blade  32  has been mounted onto the rack housing  12 , a short blade/LAN connector cable such as a cable  71  provides electrical networking connection between the blade  32  and a network such as a local area network, wide area network or a public network such as the internet. In this regard, the mother boards are each mounted at the front of each blade, and thus access thereto is readily available at front outlets.  
     [0040] Each rack system  10  may include one or more master blades located, for example, in the front lowest bay, with the remainder of the blades being slave blades being at least partially controlled by or through the master blades.  
     [0041] C. Reset Control System  
     [0042] A system for controlling computer units such as the computer components or systems described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 4  will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  5 - 8 . The disclosed embodiments of the system and methods enable a user to control one or more computer units, and the control can be executed remotely, if desired, without physically travelling to the location of the computers, computer components or computer systems to be controlled. It is to be understood that the control can be executed locally as well, and can be accomplished according to certain embodiments of the invention substantially without human intervention.  
     [0043]FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a system for controlling by monitoring and/or resetting of computer units mounted on, for example, the rack assembly described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 4  either remotely or locally. In this embodiment, the computer system  10  is constructed and arranged with the blades, such as the blade  32 , serving as slaves. The blades are designated in FIG.  5  with the letter “S” such as the blade  32 . Also, one of the blades serves as a master blade  103 . Of course, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the computer system  10  may be provided with more than one master blade  103 , and any number of slave blades. In one embodiment, no master blades are provided, and the existing blades (no longer slave blades) are controlled directly, rather than through the master blade.  
     [0044] The system  10  further includes thermal couples, such as thermal couple  105 . The thermal couples may be strategically located, for example, within each bay of a rack system. In further embodiments, a thermal couple is provided near or within each component such as a blade. Accordingly, the number of thermal couples included in the system  10  may be varied as needed.  
     [0045] The thermal couple  105  is adapted to detect a temperature of, for example, an environment around or within a component. In this regard, the thermal couples may detect the operating temperature of the computer, computer component or computer system and transmit the value to an external recipient. Such thermal couples are well known to those skilled in the art.  
     [0046] The blades, such as slave blade  32 , and the thermal couples, such as thermal couple  105 , are adapted to communicate with a reset control module  107  forming a part of the control bay  21  through cables, such as cables  101   a  and  105   a.  In a preferred embodiment, each cable linking the reset control module  107  to a blade or a thermal couple is a two-wire cable.  
     [0047] The reset control module  107  is adapted to receive data from each thermal couple, such as thermal couple  105 . Further, the reset control module  107  is adapted to receive and send signals from and to the various blades, including slave blade  32  and master blade  105 . In this regard, the reset control module  107  may receive computer unit performance signals including performance data for each blade. For example, the data may include indications of a malfunction and requesting attention.  
     [0048] A user, such as a system administrator may communicate with the reset control module  107  using a remotely located computer  112 , such as a personal computer or a workstation. It should be understood that the computer  112  may also be located on the same site as the computer units being monitored. The computer  112  may communicate with the reset control module  107  through a network  114  of computers such as an Intranet or a local area network (LAN). The computer  112  may be located in a different room, building or city from the system  100 . The network  114  allows two-way communication between the reset control module  107  and the computer  112 . The user may also communicate with the reset control module  107  using a personal computer  116  through a public network  118  such as the Internet.  
     [0049] In operation, the reset control module  107  receives signals from the thermal couples, such as thermal couple  105 , through the cables, such as cable  105   a.  The signals may include data relating to the operating temperature of the computer, computer component or computer system, such as a blade. The data is transmitted to the reset control module  107  from each thermal couple. The reset control module  107  may receive the data at a pre-determined frequency, such as one hertz, thereby providing regular updates to the reset control module  107 .  
     [0050] Further, the reset control module  107  may also receive signals from the various computers, computer components or computer systems, such as blades  103 ,  101 . These signals may include further data relating to the operation of the blades, such as operating efficiency, capacity, etc.  
     [0051] The temperature and other operating information may be monitored through the networks  114  or  118  by the user at the computers  112  or  116 . If a malfunction is detected at one of the blades, for example, a signal may be transmitted from one of the computers such as the computers  112  and  116  to the reset control module  107  to shut down or reset the particular computer, component or system. For example, a malfunction may be detected as a temperature above a pre-determined threshold at one of the thermal couples. The high temperature may indicate that, for example, a ventilation fan has failed, thereby threatening to destroy or damage one or more components. In this scenario, either one blade or an entire bay of blades may be shut down or reset.  
     [0052] The reset is performed when a signal is sent from one of the remote computers  112  and  116  to the reset control module  107 . The signal may contain instructions for the reset control module  107  to shut down the necessary components. The reset control module  107 , in turn, may itself shut down or reset the appropriate components. Alternatively, the reset control module  107  may transmit a further signal to the component requesting the component reset itself.  
     [0053] In a further embodiment, the reset control module  107  may be provided with a pre-set threshold for resetting various components. For example, the reset control module  107  may be provided with a maximum temperature detected by the thermal couples. If the thermal couples indicate a temperature above that threshold, the reset control module  107  may initiate the reset process automatically without involving the remote computers  112  and  116 . In this regard, the threshold may be modified remotely by the user using the computer  112 ,  116 . A signal may be transmitted from one of the computers  112  and  116  to the reset control module  107  through a network such as the networks  114  and  118  providing a new threshold.  
     [0054] D. Reset Control Hardware  
     [0055] Referring now to FIG. 6, the hardware design of one embodiment for the reset control module  107  is illustrated in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. FIG. 6 shows the functional blocks and connector interfaces contained on the PCB assembly for the module  107 .  
     [0056] The disclosed embodiment of the module  121  provides control of  136  power and reset outputs and monitoring of temperature input via a mini web server  123 . The mini web server  123  may be implemented using the Dallas Semiconductor TINI™ product. The control and monitoring functions may be provided via a Java™ Applet embedded into an html web page. The disclosed embodiment of the module  107  includes an integral TINI™ PCB  123 , communications interfaces  125 ,  127 , and  129 , and  136  isolated digital outputs indicated at  132 .  
     [0057] The power input requirements for the disclosed embodiment of the PCB assembly  121  are 7-to-30V AC or DC at 500 mA maximum. The power input is not isolated from the PCB logic and internal ground. The power input is made via a two-part header  134  that can accept #22 to #16 AWG wire and is supplied to a low voltage power supply  135 .  
     [0058] The PCB assembly  121  is contains a watchdog timer  133  that provides supervision of the application software and monitors the logic power supply. The watchdog timer  133  is used to increase the reliability of the system and eliminates the need for a manual restart in the event of an unforeseen malfunction.  
     [0059] The disclosed embodiment of the module  107  connects to local area networks via a 10Base-T Ethernet interface  129  that is terminated by a RJ-45 connector (not shown). The interface  129  is generally terminated at one of the networks hub or switch ports. The Ethernet interface TCP/IP settings can be made via the RS232 port  125  or a network Telnet session. The former is used for PCB assembly&#39;s “1 st  Birthday” configuration or when the network settings are unknown.  
     [0060] The disclosed embodiment of the module  107  includes a Dallas Semiconductor 1-Wire™ network that is terminated by a standard RJ-11 connector  127 . The pin out arrangement is compatible with a variety of third party 1-Wire™ I/O devices that range from temperature sensors to complex I/O points.  
     [0061] The disclosed embodiment of the PCB assembly  121  contains a serial RS232 communication port  125  that is terminated by a DB9 female connector (not shown). The RS232 port  125  may interface to a personal computer with a common null modem cable. The RS232 port  125  is used to access the system software for configuration purposes, and is functionality available for future expansion of the product.  
     [0062] The disclosed PCB assembly  121  contains  136  digital outputs indicated at  132  that can be remotely controlled via a web browser and TCP/IP. The output states are written to latch devices  137  via decoding and interface logic  139  by the application software. Each output channel is optically isolated by means of optical isolators  142  from the PCB assembly  121  ground or common point by at least 1500 VAC continuous. Each channel can be independently controlled via the application software. All of the outputs go to the inactive state when the PCB (TINI CPU) is in a system reset. Each channel provides a current sink output capable of switching up to 50 mA to a return wire at 12 VDC. The digital outputs are terminated to a connector and pin out arrangement (not shown). The digital output common return isolation may be arranged with either a common or independent return path as described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.  
     [0063]FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the optical isolators  142  and how they are coupled to the digital outputs  132 . The arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is a common return path topology. The return path for multiple channels can share a common grounded connector pin such as a pin  152 . It is presently preferred in the disclosed embodiment that the sharing of the common ground should preferably be limited to six channels or fewer for some applications. The advantage for some applications is that the connector requires less than two pins per output channel.  
     [0064] The optical isolators  142  include optocouplers, such as optocoupler  155 , which have their outputs coupled through current limiting resistors such as a resistor  157  for the optocoupler  155 , to the digital outputs  132 . The outputs  132  include a first series of pins, such as a pin  159 , connected to the optocouplers  142 , and a second series of pins such as the pin  152 . The first and second series of pins are arranged in pairs, such as the pins  159  and  152 . Thus, for example, when the optocoupler  155  is activated, ground is then switched to the pin  159  to send the control signal to a given blade. It should be understood that only two optocouplers and four pairs of digital output pins are illustrated for sake of simplicity.  
     [0065]FIG. 8 is another embodiment of an optical isolator arrangement in the form of an independent return path topology. The advantage of this configuration for some applications is that the signal commons on the target systems do not get interconnected.  
     [0066] The optical isolator  170  of FIG. 8 includes a group of optocouplers such as an optocoupler  172  and a group of digital outputs  174  arranged in pairs of pins such as pins  176  and  178 . The pin  176  is connected through a current limiting resistor  181  to one output of the optocoupler  172  and its other output is connected directly to the pin  178 . Thus, there are no common grounds.  
     [0067] Referring again to FIG. 6, the disclosed embodiment of the PCB assembly  121  may contain footprints for the circuitry necessary to add an additional 512K FLASH memory  138 . The additional FLASH memory may be used to store larger application programs.  
     [0068] E. Reset Control Software Method  
     [0069] The software functional operation and design of one embodiment of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  121  for use with the reset control module  107  will now be described.  
     [0070] The disclosed embodiment of the PCB assembly  121  provides control of  136  power and reset outputs and monitoring of temperature input via the mini web server  123 . The control and monitoring functions may be provided via a Java™ Applet embedded into an html web page. The user connects to the system using a web browser and opens the control and monitor web page that then starts the Applet program. After Applet initialization, a login dialog box may be displayed requiring a username and password. The user must successfully login before the user can access the Applet controls and displays.  
     [0071] Once successfully logged in, the user can select 1 of 68 possible power and reset pairs to be controlled. The user can select to send either a power or reset trigger. The power trigger is selected to be either a “Power On” or a “Power Off” signal. A button is pressed to execute the command and to transmit the signal to the appropriate power or reset output. This signal remains active for a preset, configurable time and automatically clears itself without user intervention. The temperature input reading is periodically updated on the Applet display and displayed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit as configured. A configurable description for the temperature input is also displayed beside the temperature value. An alarm flag may be displayed in the event that the temperature value exceeds a “High Alarm” set point or drops below a “Low Alarm” set point. An email message can be configured to be sent when an alarm is active.  
     [0072] The software for the RackSwitch product may be divided into two main software sub components as follows: the I/O board, and the control Applet.  
     [0073] The I/O board software component is designed to operate on the Dallas Semiconductor TINI™ server  123  and may be based on the Dallas Semiconductor TINI™ Operating System. The operating software is provided by Dallas Semiconductor for development on the TINI™ server  123 . The I/O Board may include  136  digital outputs and a 1-Wire™ temperature input. The digital outputs are defined as a reset or a power output.  
     [0074] The I/O Board software performs several functions in addition to the functions provided by the Dallas Semiconductor TINI™ Operating System. The I/O Board implements a small HTTP server used to serve the control Applet and associated html file when a user request is received. It updates the power and reset outputs based on user requests and timing specifications, and maintains a system log file. The I/O Board periodically reads the temperature inputs and maintains a temperature value between readings. The I/O Board sends email alarms to a configured email address when the temperature reading exceeds a high set point or drops below a low set point. It maintains and services user TCP/IP network connections, and provides username and password login functions for the control Applet. The I/O Board implements system initialization and configuration, and reads and calculates current date and time based on a real-time clock interface provided with the Dallas Semiconductor TINI™server  123 .  
     [0075] The TINI™ Operating System may be the basis for most software operation. In addition to many other features the operating system provides password utilities for managing user accounts, setting the current date and time and configuring network settings. The operating system may be modified for the reset system. During operating system initialization, if the password file is corrupt and/or can not be opened or found, then a default password file is automatically created that contains a default username and password. During operating system initialization, the operating system startup file is automatically created when the file is corrupt and/or can not be opened or found. The default startup file contains the startup line call and the default command line parameters.  
     [0076] Usernames and passwords provide privilege levels: administrative and general. Administrative privilege levels allow a user unlimited access to any aspect of the system as well as any TINI™ Operating System configurations and file system operations. General privilege level permits the user unlimited access to the system features and functions, but limited access to the TINI™ Operating System configurations and functions. The usernames and passwords are maintained in a standard text file with the passwords being encrypted using the TINI™ Operating System password encryption function. Utilities provided in the TINI™ Operating System provide means for adding, deleting and/or modifying system usernames and passwords.  
     [0077] The system log file is a standard text file that lists system events with a date and time stamp. System events include, but are not limited to, system startup, user logins, Java runtime exceptions, records of user actions for “Power On,” “Power Off” and “Reset” and temperature alarms when configured and enabled.  
     [0078] The temperature sensor may be based on the Dallas Semiconductor 1-Wire™ Temperature Sensor, DS18S20. The temperature input may be read periodically and may update the temperature value transmitted to all connected users. The temperature input provides configurable parameters for a description field to be displayed by the Applet, a unit designator for Fahrenheit or Celsius, “Alarm High” set point, “Alarm Low” set point, alarm enable, and an email alarm enable. When the “Alarm High” set point is exceeded, the High alarm flag is set if the alarm is enabled. When the temperature value is less than the “Alarm Low” set point then Low alarm flag is set if the alarm is enabled. If either alarm is active and the email alarm enable is set then the email alarm flag is set.  
     [0079] The outputs are classified as a reset or a power output. Each output can be activated for a configured amount of time, for example, from one to thirty seconds. Times configured less than 1 second are automatically set to 1 second and configured times greater than 30 seconds are automatically set to 30 seconds so that the range of time values is always valid. The time configuration is a global configuration for all power and reset outputs and may not be individually configurable.  
     [0080] The power and reset are paired together and the user can perform actions on a single power and reset pair or all power and reset pairs.  
     [0081] Email alarms for the temperature input will be automatically sent for active alarms. Configurable email alarm parameters are: Delay Time (seconds), Repeat Count, Mail To Address. The Delay Time is the amount of time to delay after an alarm has gone active before sending the email alarm. The Repeat Count is the number of times the email alarm is sent while the alarm is active. The Mail To address is the email address of the recipient for the email alarm. When an alarm is activated the email alarm function waits the Delay Time and then sends the email to the configured recipient. If the Repeat Count is greater than or equal to 1 then another email alarm will be sent after the Delay Time expires again. This will repeat for the Repeat Count times. If the email alarm would become inactive anytime during this process then the alarm active state is cleared and the email alarm would cease and reinitialize. If the email alarm would become active again the process would start over again.  
     [0082] A mail host is configured in the TINI™ Operating System IP Configuration using the provided configuration command.  
     [0083] The configurable parameters are configured through a standard text configuration file. Parameters are typically comma delimited. The configuration parameters are read once during initialization and startup. The configuration file is modifiable using a common text editor program and may be transferred to the TINI™ file system using a FTP utility. The IP port number may not be configurable in the standard text configuration file, but may be configured in the TINI™ Operating System startup file which is a standard text file edited and transferred using a common text editor and FTP utility.  
     [0084] The Dallas Semiconductor TINI™ server  123  provides a Real-Time Clock function. The date and time are set using the TINI™ Operating System configuration command provided. The I/O board periodically reads the Real-Time Clock and converts the reading to the current date and time.  
     [0085] The system communicates using two IP port numbers. One IP port is the standard HTTP port, port  80 . The second port is configurable and can be any valid IP port number. The default communication IP port number is port  1025 . The second IP port is used for data communications between the control Applet and the I/O board. Periodic data messages are transmitted to each connected user. This periodic communication maintains the connection status for each Applet to the I/O Board and contains the date and time data.  
     [0086] The software component implements a Java™ Applet that provides the user graphical interface for controlling and monitoring the power and reset outputs and the temperature input. After initialization, the Applet opens a TCP/IP socket connection to the I/O board using a configurable IP port number, establishes and maintains the network connection during operation. Once the network connection is established and the Applet initialization completed, a user login box displays, requiring a valid username and password. After successful login, the Applet controls and displays become visible.  
     [0087] The Applet provides a list box from which 1 of 68 power and reset output pairs are selected for operation. In addition to the 1 to 68 power and reset output pairs in the list box, an “All” selection is provided to select all outputs for the selected action. The user then selects the action to be performed: “Power On,” “Power Off” or “Reset.” The default action is “Reset.” Once the selection has been completed the user activates a control button to complete the action. Then the power or reset output for the selected pair(s) is activated.  
     [0088] The Applet displays the current temperature reading with a configurable label in the configured units either Fahrenheit or Celsius. Fahrenheit units will be the default display. In addition to the temperature input display the current set date and time will be displayed. The time will be displayed with a precision to one second and is continuously updated while a network connection is established with the I/O board.  
     [0089] If the network communications fails, the Applet displays an error banner indicating this failure.  
     [0090] Thus, a remote user may monitor and shut down or reset a computer, computer component or computer system without physically travelling to the location of the computer, computer component or computer system.  
     [0091] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications and combinations are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the invention. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations of the appended claims to the exact disclosure pr abstract herein presented.