Computer card for storing bootable images and providing remote management functions

Abstract

A system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a bridge device coupling a system bus to the processor. The system bus is configured to couple to an expansion bus of a managed computer system. The memory is configured to hold a bootable image for the managed computer system, and wherein the processor is configured to emulate a disk drive device storing the bootable image, and to boot the managed computer system from the bootable image stored in the memory.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor; and    a bridge device coupling a system bus to the processor, the system bus configured to couple to an expansion bus of a managed computer system;    wherein the memory is configured to hold a bootable image for the managed computer system, and wherein the processor is configured to emulate a disk drive device storing the bootable image, and to boot the managed computer system from the bootable image stored in the memory.    
     
     
         2 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to determine a source of an error in the managed computer system by accessing components of the managed computer system over the system bus.  
     
     
         3 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to store information related to a state of the managed computer system in the memory.  
     
     
         4 . The system as defined in  claim 3  wherein the processor is configured to store diagnostic information about the managed computer system in the memory.  
     
     
         5 . The system as defined in  claim 3  wherein the processor is configured to store event log information about the managed computer system in the memory.  
     
     
         6 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to reboot the managed computer system without accessing a host processor of the managed computer system.  
     
     
         7 . The system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a network interface coupled to the memory by the system bus;  
 wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface.  
 
     
     
         8 . The system as defined in  claim 7  wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface from a remote management console.  
     
     
         9 . The system as defined in  claim 7  wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface using file transfer protocol (FTP) software.  
     
     
         10 . The system as defined in  claim 7  wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface using TFTP software.  
     
     
         11 . A method comprising: 
 transferring a bootable image for a managed computer system to a memory within a management sub-system coupled to the managed computer system; and    emulating a floppy drive by the management sub-system to boot the managed computer system from the bootable image in the memory of the management sub-system.    
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising transferring the bootable image to the memory at the behest of a remote management console.  
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12  further comprising transferring the bootable image to the memory from the remote management console.  
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 12  further comprising transferring the bootable image through a network interface coupled to the management sub-system using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software.  
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 12  further comprising transferring the bootable image through a network interface coupled to the management sub-system using TFTP software.  
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising rebooting the managed computer system, by a processor of the management sub-system, prior to emulating.  
     
     
         17 . A management sub-system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a bootable image for a managed computer system; and    a bridge device coupling a system bus to the processor, and wherein the system bus is configured to couple to an expansion bus of the managed computer system;    wherein the processor is configured to emulate a disk drive device storing the bootable image, and the processor is further configured to boot the managed computer system from the bootable image stored in the memory.    
     
     
         18 . The management sub-system as defined in  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a network interface coupled to the memory by the system bus;  
 wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface.  
 
     
     
         19 . The management sub-system as defined in  claim 18  wherein the bootable image is transferable to the memory through the network interface from a remote management console.  
     
     
         20 . The management sub-system as defined in  claim 18  wherein the bootable image is transferred to the memory through the network interface using TFTP software.  
     
     
         21 . The management sub-system as defined in  claim 17  wherein the processor, memory and network interface are mounted on an add-in card configured to be substantially within the chassis of the managed computer system.  
     
     
         22 . The management sub-system as defined in  claim 17  wherein the system bus is a Peripheral Components Interconnect (PCI) bus.