Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Gregory H Jordan

Karen Lee Noel

Andrew Halstead Mason

Stephen H Zalewski

James R Kauffman

Paul Karl Harter, Jr

Thomas R Benson

Stephen F Shirron

Frederick G Kleinsorge

Wendell B Fisher, Jr

Christian Moser

A method and system of determining by a first program an attribute of a first functional unit by referencing a virtual memory address (the first functional unit comprising a first processor and a random access memory (RAM) coupled to the first processor in a computer system, and the first program executing in the first functional unit), determining by a second program an attribute of a second functional unit by referencing the virtual memory address (the second functional unit comprising a second processor and a RAM coupled to the second processor in the computer system, and the second program executing in the second functional unit), wherein referencing the virtual memory address by the first program provides a pointer to an attribute stored in the RAM of the first functional units, and wherein referencing the virtual memory address by the second program provides a pointer to an attribute stored in the RAM of the second functional unit.

Method and system of determining attributes of a functional unit in a multiple processor computer system

Multiple instances of operating systems execute cooperatively in a single multiprocessor computer wherein all processors and resources are electrically connected together. The single physical machine with multiple physical processors and resources is subdivided by software into multiple partitions, each with the ability to run a distinct copy, or instance, of an operating system. At different times, different operating system instances may be loaded on a given partition. Resources, such as CPUs and memory, can be dynamically assigned to different partitions and used by instances of operating systems running within the machine by modifying the configuration. The partitions themselves can also be changed without rebooting the system by modifying the configuration tree.

Multiprocessor computer architecture with multiple operating system instances and software controlled resource allocation

Multiple instances of operating systems execute cooperatively in a single multiprocessor computer wherein all processors and resources are electrically connected together. The single physical machine with multiple physical processors and resources is subdivided by software into multiple partitions, each running a distinct copy, or instance, of an operating system. Each of the partitions has access to its own physical resources plus resources designated as shared. The partitioning is performed by assigning all resources with a configuration tree. None, some, or all, resources may be designated as shared among multiple partitions. Each individual operating instance will generally be assigned the resources it needs to execute independently and these resources will be designated as &ldquo;private.&rdquo; Other resources, particularly memory, can be assigned to more than one instance and shared. Shared memory is cache coherent so that instances may be tightly coupled, and may share resources that are normally allocated to a single instance. This allows previously distributed user or operating system applications which usually must pass messages via an external interconnect to operate cooperatively in the shared memory without the need for either an external interconnect or message passing. Examples of application that could take advantage of this capability include distributed lock managers and cluster interconnects. Newly-added resources, such as CPUs and memory, can be dynamically assigned to different partitions and used by instances of operating systems running within the machine by modifying the configuration.

Software partitioned multi-processor system with flexible resource sharing levels

Multiple instances of operating systems execute cooperatively in a single multiprocessor computer wherein all processors and resources are electrically connected together. The single physical machine with multiple physical processors and resources is subdivided by software into multiple partitions, each with the ability to run a distinct copy, or instance, of an operating system. At different times, different operating system instances may be loaded on a given partition. Resources, such as CPUs and memory, can be dynamically assigned to different partitions and used by instances of operating systems running within the machine by modifying the configuration. The partitions themselves can also be changed without rebooting the system by modifying the configuration tree. A grouping of partitions, a community, shares memory. Memory may be private to a particular partition or may be shared by partitions within a community. When a community is formed the creating instance reads a configuration tree and builds management structures for the shared memory owned by the community. A single system may have one or more communities, each with their own representation within the configuration tree.

Method and apparatus for dynamically sharing memory in a multiprocessor system

Multiple instances of operating systems execute cooperatively in a single multi-processor computer wherein a single physical machine is subdivided by software into multiple partitions, each with the ability to run a distinct copy, or instance, of an operating system. Each individual instance has the resources it needs to execute independently, but instances cooperate to migrate resources from one partition to another. The migration can be initiated and carried out under control of the operating system instances &ldquo;on the fly&rdquo; without intervention of the system administrator. Alternatively, a system administrator can reconfigure the system. Resource migration is carried out under a &ldquo;push&rdquo; model in which resources are controlled by an owning partition and must be released by that partition before they can be migrated to another partition. In accordance with this model, a first operating system instance which requires a resource must first request the resource from a second instance. In response to this request, the second instance determines whether it can spare the resource, and if so, begins to bring the resource into an idle state. The resource is actually transferred when the second instance stops using the resource.

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Hollis, NH, United States of America

Gregory H Jordan