Patent ID: 7979610

Claim:
An apparatus for providing a remotely controllable connection between a host computer and one of a multitude of connected devices, the apparatus comprising: a multiplexer having a host port for connection to the host computer, two or more device ports for connection to the devices, and one or more control lines, the multiplexer operative to connect one of the device ports to the host port based upon the status of the control lines; and a controller connected to the control lines of the multiplexer, the controller having a serial communications interface and being operative to receive control data on the serial communications interface identifying a device port that should be connected to the host port, and to place signals on the control lines for selecting the identified device port in response to receiving the control data on the serial communications interface, wherein a first instruction is transmitted from a test control computer to the host computer, the first instruction operative to cause the host computer to perform a first test utilizing the first connected device, wherein the first connected device comprises a first mass storage device, and wherein performing the first test utilizing the connected device comprises performing an initial program load (IPL) for the host computer utilizing a first operating system (OS) stored on the first mass storage device and performing a first test of the host computer during or after the IPL of the first OS.