Method and apparatus for bus hang detection and identification of errant agent for fail safe access to trapped error information

摘要

A method and apparatus for detection of a bus hang with identification and capturing of errors in a network computing environment having at least one bus. A first and a second unit are in processing communication with one another in the environment and both units are capable of transferring data between one another. A status circuit is provided for monitoring the first and second units as well as a counting circuit that is measuring periods of bus inactivity during an active bus transfer sequences. A compare circuit is in processing communication with the first and second units for comparing threshold counts provided with a threshold value circuit. Finally, an error detector mechanism that is responsive to the threshold circuit is provided, capable of detecting a bus hang condition, where the detector asserts an error indication when appropriate.