Apparatus and method for maintaining operational status in network computers during system management operations

摘要

A network computer (12) receives instructions from a network manager (11), including a control interrupt instruction, a system management instruction, and a release instruction. A processor (16) associated with the network computer (12) executes the control interrupt instruction first to produce a control interrupt signal. This control interrupt signal causes an operating status controller (17) associated with the network computer (12) to disable local operational status control at the network computer. After local operational status control is disabled at the network computer (12), the processor (16) executes the system management instruction and performs a system management operation at the network computer. Finally, after the system management operation is completed, the processor (16) executes the release instruction to produce a release signal. The release signal causes the operational status controller (17) to enable local operational status control at the network computer (12).