US5784702A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for dynamically performing resource reconfiguration in a logically partitioned data processing system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-02-27
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Granted: 1998-07-21
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Expires: 2017-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic reconfiguration request for a change in a system's physical configuration is transmitted from a configuration controller to a hypervisor controlling operating systems executing in one or more partitions of the system. The hypervisor translates the physical reconfiguration request into a request for reconfiguration of logical resources known to the operating systems, first verifying it against an installation policy, and passes the requests to the operating systems in the partitions. The operating systems perform logical reconfiguration, then request physical reconfiguration of the hypervisor. The hypervisor initiates the physical reconfiguration through the configuration controller.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Gregory Greenstein
- 👤 Richard Roland Guyette
- 👤 John Ted Rodell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; G06F9/4401; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5061; G06F9/5077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said method comprising the steps of: processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing memory reconfiguration requests, said incapability arising from the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; identifying a second area of memory, said second area of memory being used by a second logical partition of said data processing system, said second logical partition being capable of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; passing a second memory reconfiguration request to said second logical partition such that said second memory reconfiguration request is processed by said second logical partition and said second area of memory is freed; and substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said method comprising the steps of: processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing memory reconfiguration requests, said incapability arising from the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; identifying a second area of memory, said second area of memory being used by a second logical partition of said data processing system, said second logical partition being capable of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; passing a second memory reconfiguration request to said second logical partition such that said second memory reconfiguration request is processed by said second logical partition and said second area of memory is freed; and substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claim 1, wherein said second area of memory is the same size as said first area of memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, after said substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first partition, said first partition continues operation using said second area of memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the steps of determining, identifying and passing are hardware-initiated generally independent of the first and second partitions by using an initiation path originating at a processor controller element and continuing through a hypervisor managing the first and second logical partitions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said system comprising: means for processing a first memory configuration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; means for identifying a second area of memory, said second area of memory being used by a second logical partition of said data processing system, said second logical partition being capable of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; means for passing a second memory reconfiguration request to said second logical partition such that said second memory reconfiguration request is processed by said second logical partition and said second area of memory is freed; and means for substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said system comprising: means for processing a first memory configuration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; means for identifying a second area of memory, said second area of memory being used by a second logical partition of said data processing system, said second logical partition being capable of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; means for passing a second memory reconfiguration request to said second logical partition such that said second memory reconfiguration request is processed by said second logical partition and said second area of memory is freed; and means for substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said second area of memory is the same size as said first area of memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 5, wherein, after said substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first partition, said first partition continues operation using said second area of memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 7, wherein the means for determining, identifying and passing are included in a means for hardware-initiation generally independent of the first and second partitions, said means for hardware-initiation using an initiation path originating at a processor controller element and continuing through a hypervisor managing the first and second logical partitions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said method comprising: processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; identifying a second, available area of memory; and substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said method comprising: processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said second logical partition; identifying a second, available area of memory; and substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said second area of memory is the same size as said first area of memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, after said substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first partition, said first partition continues operation using said second area of memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of determining and identifying are hardware-initiated generally independent of the first partition by using an initiation path originating at a processor controller element and continuing through a hypervisor managing the first partition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said system comprising: means for processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; means for identifying a second, available area of memory; and means for substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for dynamically reconfiguring memory resources in a logically partitionable data processing system wherein each such logical partition is capable of having a unique control program running therein, said system comprising: means for processing a first memory reconfiguration request for a first area of memory used by a first logical partition of said data processing system, said first logical partition continuing to function yet being incapable of processing said first memory reconfiguration request as a result of the nature of the control program running in said first logical partition; means for identifying a second, available area of memory; and means for substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first logical partition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said second area of memory is the same size as said first area of memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 13 wherein, after substituting said second area of memory for said first area of memory in a manner transparent to said first partition, said first partition continues operation using said second area of memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the means for determining and identifying are included in a means for hardware-initiation generally independent of the first partition, said means for hardware-initiation using an initiation path originating at a processor controller element and continuing through a hypervisor managing the first partition.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of operating a data processing system having logical partitions so that logical partitions lacking memory reconfiguration processing capability as a result of the nature of the control program running in those logical partitions are nonetheless operated in a continuing manner by providing transparent memory substitution by another operating logical partition that does have the capability of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the reconfiguration capability of the control program running in that other logical partition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of operating a data processing system having logical partitions so that logical partitions lacking memory reconfiguration processing capability as a result of the nature of the control program running in those logical partitions are nonetheless operated in a continuing manner by providing transparent memory substitution by another operating logical partition that does have the capability of processing memory reconfiguration requests as a result of the reconfiguration capability of the control program running in that other logical partition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |