Importance

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Abstract

A user-initiated diagnostic test of a computer system is performed using a hardware abstraction layer including a diagnostic subsystem file and a diagnostic definition file, and also using diagnostic control routines and diagnostic status response routines. A selection is accepted from a user of a diagnostic subsystem to be tested from among a list of diagnostic subsystems stored in the diagnostic subsystem file. In accordance with information stored in the diagnostic definition file, the user is prompted for parameters of the selected diagnostic test, which are accepted from a user. These parameters are passed to the diagnostic control routine, which in response starts the selected diagnostic test. Diagnostic status response information from the diagnostic status response routine is received in the diagnostic control routine. The diagnostic status response information is presented to the user through a hardware-independent mechanism. As a result, user interface and other software at a level above the hardware abstraction layer may be readily migrated to various hardware platforms.

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First Claim