Selectively coupling a PCI host bridge to multiple PCI communication paths
Abstract:
Instead of disabling PCI communication between system resources in a host computing device and I/O devices when a PCI Host Bridge (PHB) is reset, the host computing device may include a PCI communication path for maintaining communication between the system resources and the I/O devices. In one embodiment, the redundant PCI communication path includes a second PHB that is maintained in a standby state. The host may monitor the errors generated by a plurality of master PHBs and select a master PHB that satisfies an error threshold. The second PHB (i.e., a servant PHB) and the selected master PHB are synchronized, and the second PHB is coupled to the PCI communication path between the master PHB and a PCI switch. The master PHB can then be reset while the second PHB maintains PCI communication between the host and the I/O devices.
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