Patent ID: 6839866

Claim:
In a computer system, said system including a plurality of system control processors, each said system control processor with a plurality of activation states, said system control processors controlling a plurality of other processors (OPs) in said system, each said OP with a plurality of activation states, a method, comprising the steps of: providing a reset function for said system control processors enabling said system control processors to change the activation state of other system control processors and OPs; setting the activation state of a system control processor to active, said active state indicating a functioning processor fully integrated into system operations; setting the activation state of a system control processor to standby, said standby activation state indicating a functioning processor partially integrated into said system operations; detecting an error in one of said OPs with said system cannot processor set to an active activation state; verifying the detecting of said error in one of said OPs with said system control processor set to a standby activation state; and altering the activation stare of said OP using said system control processor set to an active activation state and said system control processor sot to a standby activation state following said verification.