Apparatus and method for saving precise system state following exceptions

摘要

A computer system has at least one processor, a memory system, a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) bus interface, and Input/Ouput devices. At least one Input/Ouput device of the system has an integrated circuit connected to and readable by the JTAG bus interface. The memory system of the computer system contains an exception handler capable of reading a state of the readable integrated circuit of the Input/Output device upon occurrence of an exception.