Patent ID: 7263620

Claim:
A host processor card configured to be fitted into a server system, the host processor card comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor for storing an operating system; a power control line for controlling the power state of the host processor card; a graceful shutdown circuit coupled to the processor and the power control line, the processor configured to automatically provide a graceful shutdown signal to the graceful shutdown circuit based on a boot-up state of the operating system, the graceful shutdown circuit configured to allow a graceful shutdown of the host processor card when the power control line indicates that the host processor card is to be powered down if the processor has provided the graceful shutdown signal; and wherein the graceful shutdown circuit is configured to allow an immediate shutdown of the host processor card when a received power control signal indicates that the host processor card is to be powered down if the processor has not provided the graceful shutdown signal, wherein the graceful shutdown circuit further comprises a monitor circuit coupled to the power control line and coupled to the processor, the monitor circuit configured to provide an indication of the status of the power control line to the processor, and a switch circuit coupled to the power control line and coupled to the processor, the switch circuit configured to override a power down signal on the power control line and thereby maintain power to the host processor card if the processor has provided the graceful shutdown signal to the graceful shutdown circuit.