Kent L Hofer

Title: Kent L. Hofer: Innovator in Computer Partitioning Technology

Introduction

Kent L. Hofer is a notable inventor based in Lake City, MN (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of computer partitioning technology, holding a total of 7 patents. His work focuses on automating the configuration and management of hardware and software resources in logically-partitioned computer systems.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is titled "Utilizing partition resource requirements from workload estimation to automate partition software configuration and validation." This invention describes a method and apparatus for utilizing partition resource requirements to automate computer partition configuration. The partition resource requirements collected by a workload estimator include the type and version of software to be run on each partition, as well as the minimum hardware resources needed for each partition. These requirements are included in a system plan that is passed to other tools for system configuration.

Another significant patent is "Apparatus and method for automatically defining, deploying and managing hardware and software resources in a logically-partitioned computer system." This invention features a partition wizard that allows for the automatic definition of a solution profile from a set of system requirements. This profile defines a combination of hardware and software in multiple logical partitions to meet performance objectives. The solution profile can be utilized by an order processing system to generate orders for target computer systems and manage the installation of operating systems and software.

Career Highlights

Kent L. Hofer is currently employed at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), where he continues to innovate in the field of computer systems. His work has had a profound impact on how computer resources are managed and optimized.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Kent has collaborated with notable coworkers such as Mark Linus Bauman and Bob Richard Cernohous. These collaborations have contributed to the advancement of technology in the field of computer partitioning.

Conclusion

Kent L. Hofer is a distinguished inventor whose work in computer partitioning technology has led to significant advancements in the automation of system configuration and management. His contributions continue to influence the industry and improve the efficiency of computer systems.