Persistent device fault indicators

Abstract

A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices, the method begins by identifying devices with a power connection. The method continues by obtaining status information for each device with the power connection. The method continues by updating an associated persistent indicator based on the obtained status information for each device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices, the method comprises:
 identifying a device with a power connection;   obtaining status information for the device; and   updating an associated persistent indicator based on the obtained status information for the device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining includes any of: initiating a test, interpreting a test result, initiating a query, interpreting a query response, estimating based on one or more other devices in a group of the devices, a lookup, or interpreting an error message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the status information includes any of: failed, operational, memory size, storage utilization level, utilization rate, average bandwidth utilization level, storage error rate, retrieval error rate, number of failed memory locations, identifiers of failed memory locations, memory identifier, memory group identifier, manufacturer identifier, model number, or serial number. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying includes any of: interpreting system registry information, interpreting a power cycle test result, or receiving configuration information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updating includes: converting the status information into one or more driver electrical signals for the associated persistent indicator and activating the associated persistent indicator utilizing the one or more driver electrical signals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a plurality of the devices comprising dispersed storage network (DSN) memories arranged in arrays or gangs, having a common status for power when ganged on a common physical carrier, but a different operational status. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, when each of the DSN memories are removed and powered off, a status to replace a failed unit remains visible. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the associated persistent indicator is any of: e-ink, a latching relay, or a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         9 . A computing device comprises:
 an interface;   a local memory; and   a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module functions to:
 identify one or more devices that share a common power connection; 
 obtain status information for each of the one or more devices; and 
 update an associated persistent indicator based on the obtained status information for each device of the one or more devices. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the obtaining includes any of: initiating a test, interpreting a test result, initiating a query, interpreting a query response, estimating based on one or more other devices of the one or more devices, a lookup, or interpreting an error message. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the status information includes any of:
 failed, operational, memory size, storage utilization level, utilization rate, average bandwidth utilization level, storage error rate, retrieval error rate, number of failed memory locations, identifiers of failed memory locations, memory identifier, memory group identifier, manufacturer identifier, model number, or serial number.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the identifying includes any of: interpreting system registry information, interpreting a power cycle test result, or receiving configuration information. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the updating includes: converting the status information into one or more driver electrical signals for the associated persistent indicator and activating the associated persistent indicator utilizing the one or more driver electrical signals. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the devices comprise memory device and the memory devices are arranged in arrays or gangs, having a common status for power when ganged on a common physical carrier, but with a different operational status. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein, when each of the memory devices are removed and powered off, a status to replace a failed unit remains visible. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the associated persistent indicator is any of: e-ink, a latching relay, or a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         17 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices, the method comprises:
 identifying a group of electrical components that share a common power connection;   obtaining status information for each electrical component of the group of electrical components; and   updating an associated visibly persistent indicator based on the obtained status information for each electrical component of the group of electrical components.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the associated visibly persistent indicator is any of: e-ink, a latching relay, or a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the group of electrical components includes dispersed storage network (DSN) memories arranged in arrays or gangs, having a common status for power when ganged on a common physical carrier, but a different operational status. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, when each of the DSN memories are removed and powered off, a status to replace a failed unit remains visible.