Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Paul Bouchier

Ronald E Gilbert, Jr

Christine Koerber

Guy Lowell Kuntz

Robert Alan Hasty

Janis Delmonte

Gregg Bernard Lesartre

Gary Belgrave Gostin

Mark Edward Shaw

Craig William Warner

Bryan J Jacquot

Bradley Gordon Culter

Bryan Stephenson

Gerald J Kaufman, Jr

Richard Dickert Powers

John R Diamant

Stephen B Lyle

Arad Rostampour

Todd J Kjos

Brian Matthew Johnson

Vipul Gandhi

Brendan A Voge

Peter M Piotrowski

Ryan Lee Weaver

Jim Darling

Rick A Kato

Glen Edwards

Timothy A Frye

Leon Hong

Scott E Garee

Ronald E Gilbert Jr

A system is operatively coupled to a remote computer via a network. The system comprises service processing logic and a server executing a virtual machine. The service processing logic controls the virtual machine as directed by the remote computer.

Remote control of a plurality of virtual machines using actions facilitated through a graphic user interface

Methods and apparatus for partitioning a computer server system (). A partition management application () residing within firmware on a central service processor () is configured to receive partitioning requests, to formulate partitioning instructions based on the partitioning requests, and to transmit the partitioning instructions to partition instantiation firmware () also residing on the central service processor (). The partition instantiation firmware () is configured to direct server cell firmware () to create one or more partitions based on the partitioning instructions.

Managing hardware resources for soft partitioning

Computer-readable storage media, methods and systems are provided for managing firmware on a plurality of field-replaceable units ('FRU') (). An aspect of installed firmware of the FRU () may be compared to an aspect of a firmware bundle. The firmware bundle may contain one or more images that are expected to be installed on the plurality of FRUs () already or that are intended to be installed. A mismatch indication may be produced where the aspect of the installed firmware does not match the aspect of the firmware bundle.

Firmware management

To control update of content in a programmable read-only memory in a system, the security status associated with the system is determined, where the security status is one of a secure mode and non-secure mode. In response to detecting that the system is in secure mode, a write to the programmable read-only memory is enabled. In response to detecting that the system is in non-secure mode, a write to the programmable read-only memory is disabled.

Controlling update of content of a programmable read-only memory

A system includes a plurality of partitions having respective operating systems, and a resource shared by the partitions. The resource has plural segments, where a first one of the segments is accessed to invoke a first interrupt. An operating system of a first one of the plurality of partitions invokes, in response to the first interrupt, a routine to cause generation of a second interrupt to a second one of the plurality of partitions.

Generating an interrupt in a system having plural partitions that share a resource

The inventive multiple partition computer system allows the reconfiguration of the installed hardware, possibly while the various partitions continue normal operations. This aspect includes adding and removing process cell boards and I/O from partitions which may or may not continue to run. The invention also allows changes to the association between cells, I/O and partitions. The partitions may be able to stay running, or may have to be shut down from the resulting changes. In the invention, multiple copies of the OS are running independently of each other, each in a partition that has its own cell boards with processors and memory and connected I/O. This provides isolation between different applications. Consequently, a fatal error in one partition would not affect the other partitions. A network of micro-controllers connected to a service processor, via a communications link, provides the service processor with information on each of the different cells, as well as a pathway to receive requests for configuration changes, and a pathway to command changes in the different cells or I/O. The combination of the service processor and the micro-controllers support dynamic changes to the partition configuration.

Managing a computer system having a plurality of partitions using a service processor

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for use in a computer system. The method includes: (A) receiving an indication of a first hotplug event for a first operating system executing in the computer system; (B) identifying, among a plurality of hotplug handling methods, a first hotplug handling method associated with the first operating system; and (C) handling the first hotplug event using the first hotplug handling method.

Supporting multiple methods for device hotplug in a single computer

A partitionable computer system and method of operating the same is disclosed. The partitionable computer system has a state machine, a processor, and a device controller. The state machine can be configured to monitor the status of a partition of the partitionable computer system. The information provided by the state machine can be used to provide security within the partitionable computing system.

Security measures in a partitionable computing system

A service processor for a server system includes an event log that, once full, stores recent events by overwriting events of intermediate age so that the information required to diagnose both cascade errors and hangs are preserved. This contrasts with bottom-up buffers that discard recent events when full and with circular buffers that discard the oldest events when full. The event log can be reset by moving an exception region, that is, a region that is not overwritten by recent events. Alternatively, a partial reset can initialize an exception region (e.g., a bottom-up sublog), while a circular region or sublog continues to operate without being reset.

Computer event log overwriting intermediate events

The inventive multiple partition computer system allows the reconfiguration of the installed hardware, possibly while the various partitions continue normal operations. This aspect includes adding and removing process cell boards and I/O from partitions which may or may not continue to run. The invention also allows changes to the association between cells, I/O and partitions. The partitions may be able to stay running, or may have to be shut down from the resulting changes. In the invention, multiple copies of the OS are running independently of each other, each in a partition that has its own cell boards with processors and memory and connected I/O. This provides isolation between different applications. Consequently, a fatal error in one partition would not affect the other partitions. A network of micro-controllers connected to a service processor, via a communications link, provides the service processor with information on each of the different cells, as well as a pathway to receive requests for configuration changes, and a pathway to command changes in the different cells or I/O. The invention allows system control features such as power on/off, status display, etc. for multiple cabinets under control of the service processor.

Managing operations of a computer system having a plurality of partitions

In one embodiment, the system includes a host processor and a plurality of devices connected to the host processor via a USB interface. Each of the devices includes at least a processor and USB controller hardware. The host processor includes message handling logic and each of the devices also include message handling logic that is configured to cooperate with the device to prepend a communication protocol header to a message that one of the devices desires to send to the host or to another of the devices. The host processor and each of the devices are peers with respect to each other. A router located in the host processor analyzes the communication protocol header to determine whether the message is destined for the host processor or for one of the other devices.

Method and system for using a universal serial bus (USB) as a peer-to-peer network

System and method for managing a computer system having a plurality of partitions

A method of managing power in an electronic device having at least one connectable component includes determining a total power requirement for the at least one connectable component. The available power level for a power supply connected to the electronic device is determined. The total power requirement is compared with the available power level. The at least one connectable component may draw power from the power supply if the total power requirement is not greater than the available power level.

Growing community of inventors

Little Elm, TX, United States of America

Paul Bouchier