Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Stephen H Zalewski

Karen Lee Noel

Andrew Halstead Mason

Gregory H Jordan

James R Kauffman

Stephen F Shirron

Paul Karl Harter, Jr

Frederick G Kleinsorge

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 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.

Method and apparatus for migrating resources in a multi-processor computer system

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Nashua, NH, United States of America

Stephen H Zalewski