HP ProLiant BL660c ISS Technology Update Volume 7, Number 10 - Page 3

ISS Technology Update Volume 7, Number 10 Meet the Expert- Brian Purcell Mark Brian Purcell is an HP hardware architect whose job is critically important to the success of AMD-based ProLiant servers. He is responsible for reviewing the future chipset and processor offerings, and he works closely with vendors to evaluate how their products can best be integrated into all HP server products. He also provides feedback to vendors on what features are needed to ensure that HP products meet or exceed customer requirements and expectations. Scot Wurster, Brian's manager, adds "Brian is very willing to help anyone facing a problem. When presented [with] a challenge from marketing, the gears [start] turning in his head. He will come up with a solution to fit the customer's need-usually a couple of different ways to fulfill that need He has a positive 'can do' attitude, and he works very well with other people. He also works closely with AMD, providing product feedback to improve their products' reliability and performance.." Brian successfully balances his work and personal life through hobbies such as golf, motorcycles, radio-controlled sailplanes, and coaching his son's (Colin) Name: Brian Purcell baseball team. But his most interesting hobby is playing trombone in the HP Title: Hardware Architect - Industry Houston Jazz Band. Brian has played in the Jazz Band since 1996. Brian's wife of 12 years, Sharon, plays saxophone and directs the band. They also play in their church orchestra. But there's more-Brian has two brothers (Mike and Bill) who also work for HP. Below are excerpts from an interview with Brian. Standard Servers, Technology Solutions Group Years at HP: 14 University/Degree • Texas A&M University, BS in Computer Why did you decide to become an engineer? Engineering (May 1994) • Engineering Scholars Program Brian: While growing up, my curiosity led me to disassemble electrical devices U.S. Patents: 9 such as Walkmans, radios, etc. My father always told me, "If you break it, you'd better know how to fix it!" When I was eleven, we got our first computer. I quickly learned how to use it, and I developed my programming skills. At fourteen, I developed an algorithm to generate magic squares (in multiples of four). As computer programming became second nature to me, I decided that a blended degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science would be perfect! What is your most interesting research? Brian: Modifying and applying my father's principle into our system architectures. "If [it breaks], you'd better know [what went wrong and] how to fix it." I am a huge proponent of embedding logic analyzer functionality within our CPLDs (complex programmable logic devices) to help engineering and service teams quickly determine the source of system behaviors and faults. As a normal part of our system validation and margin testing, we occasionally encounter power and/or thermal faults. It is often difficult or time-consuming to repeat the failure; thus, it is very important that we catch and log the failure on the first occurrence. This is especially important when our servers have multiple PCAs,where each PCA has multiple, independent voltage regulators. We have to be able to indicate the exact failing PCA or replaceable voltage regulator module. When we can identify the exact component that failed, it improves customer satisfaction. The embedded logic analyzer functionality has matured significantly over the past few product generations, and it continues to be successfully employed by multiple platforms across both the ISS and Business Critical Solutions (BCS) server teams. The current architecture improves the fault detection capabilities and provides a very detailed system status "snapshot" at the time of failure. 3