Hypervisor function sets

Claim 2

A logically partitioned data processing system, comprising: a plurality of operating systems, each assigned to a separate one of a plurality of logical partitions; a hypervisor for creating and enforcing separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions; wherein the hypervisor includes a plurality of selectable function sets, each function set including a list of hypervisor function calls that are provided by the hypervisor which may be called by any one of the plurality of operating systems to get said hypervisor to perform tasks for the calling one of the plurality of operating systems while maintaining separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions, said hypervisor receiving a selection of one of said plurality of function sets; said selected one of said plurality of function sets being enabled; the hypervisor informs each of the plurality of operating systems of an enabled function set, function calls included within the enabled function set being enabled for use by each of the plurality of operating systems and function calls not included within the enabled function set being disabled for use by each of the plurality of operating systems.

Claim 3

The logically partitioned data processing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the enabled function set from the plurality of function sets may be changed such that a different one of the plurality of function sets becomes the enabled function set.

Claim 4

The logically partitioned data processing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein additional function sets may be added to the plurality of function sets as additional function calls are added to the plurality of function calls provided by the hypervisor.

Claim 5

The logically partitioned data processing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hypervisor is implemented as firmware.

Claim 6

The logically partitioned data processing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of function sets comprises a different group of the plurality of function calls.

Claim 7

The logically partitioned data processing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein optional function calls are omitted from at least one of the plurality of function sets.

Claim 10

The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising: responsive to loading a new version of the hypervisor, the new version of the hypervisor containing additional function calls, reporting the additional function calls to each operating system upon re-initialization.

Claim 11

The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the re-initialization of each operating system is performed by a reboot.

Claim 12

The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the operating system image is initialized by booting.

Claim 13

The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the hypervisor is implemented as firmware.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 7 , further comprising: receiving a selection of said one of said plurality of function sets from a platform included within said data processing system.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 7 , further comprising: during booting of each one of said plurality of operating systems, passing a parameter to each one of said plurality of operating systems that identifies said selected one of said plurality of function sets.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 7 , further comprising: receiving said selection of said one of said plurality of function sets from a user.

Claim 17

A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for identifying hypervisor function calls that are currently available for execution by a hypervisor in a logically partitioned data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for assigning each one of a plurality of operating systems to a separate one of a plurality of logical partitions; instructions for creating and enforcing, by said hypervisor, separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions; instructions for providing, by said hypervisor, a plurality of selectable function sets, each function set including a list of function calls that are provided by the hypervisor that can be called by any one of the plurality of operating systems to get said hypervisor to perform tasks for the calling one of the plurality of operating systems while maintaining separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions; instructions for receiving, within said hypervisor, a selection of one of said plurality of function sets; instructions for enabling said selected one of said plurality of function sets; instructions for informing, by said hypervisor, each one of the plurality of operating systems of an enabled function set, function calls included within the enabled function set being enabled for use by each one of the plurality of operating systems and function calls not included within the enabled function set being disabled for use by each one of the operating systems, wherein hypervisor function calls that are currently available for execution are identified.

Claim 18

A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for identifying hypervisor function calls that are currently available for execution by a hypervisor in a logically partitioned data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for assigning each one of a plurality of operating systems to a separate one of a plurality of logical partitions; instructions for creating and enforcing, by said hypervisor, separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions; instructions for providing, by said hypervisor, a plurality of selectable function sets, each function set including a list of function calls that are provided by the hypervisor that can be called by any one of the plurality of operating systems to get said hypervisor to perform tasks for the calling one of the plurality of operating systems while maintaining separation between each of the plurality of logical partitions; instructions for receiving, within said hypervisor, a selection of one of said plurality of function sets; instructions for enabling said selected one of said plurality of function sets; instructions for informing, by said hypervisor, each one of the plurality of operating systems of an enabled function set, function calls included within the enabled function set being enabled for use by each one of the plurality of operating systems and function calls not included within the enabled function set being disabled for use by each one of the operating systems, wherein hypervisor function calls that are currently available for execution are identified.

Claim 19

The computer program product as recited in claim 15 , further comprising: instructions, responsive to loading a new version of the hypervisor, the new version of the hypervisor containing additional function calls, for reporting the additional function calls to each operating system upon re-initialization.

Claim 20

The computer program product as recited in claim 16 , wherein the re-initialization of each operating system is performed by a reboot.

Claim 21

The computer program product as recited in claim 15 , wherein the operating system image is initialized by booting.

Claim 22

The computer program product as recited in claim 15 , wherein the hypervisor is implemented as firmware.

Claim 25

The system as recited in claim 20 , further comprising: means, responsive to loading a new version of the hypervisor, the new version of the hypervisor containing additional function calls, for reporting the additional function calls to each operating system upon re-initialization.

Claim 26

The system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the re-initialization of each operating system is performed by a reboot.

Claim 27

The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the operating system image is initialized by booting.

Claim 28

The system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the hypervisor is implemented as firmware.