Dynamic processor redistribution between partitions in a computing system

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• two or more logical partitions defined on the apparatus, wherein each of the two or more logical partitions owns portions of a shared processing resource;
• and
• a dynamic processor allocation mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, wherein the dynamic processor allocation mechanism performs the steps of:
• 1) determining a current utilization of the shared processing resource for each of the two or more logical partitions and a current utilization of the shared processing resource for the apparatus as a whole;
• 2) comparing the current utilization of the shared processing resource for each of the two or more logical partitions and the current utilization of the shared processing resource for the apparatus as a whole;
• and
• 3) reallocating the shared processing resource from logical partitions having a relatively lower current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource to logical partitions having a relatively high current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource.

A computer-implemented method for managing a shared processing resource in a computer system that includes two or more logical partitions that each own portions of the shared processing resource, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a current utilization of the shared processing resource for each of the two or more logical partitions and a current utilization of the shared processing resource for the computer system as a whole;
• comparing the current utilization of the shared processing resource for each of the two or more logical partitions and a current utilization of the shared processing resource for the computer system as a whole;
• and
• reallocating the shared processing resource from logical partitions having a relatively lower current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource to logical partitions having a relatively high current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource.

A program product comprising:

• (A) a dynamic processor allocation mechanism that performs the steps of:
• 1) determining a current utilization of a shared processing resource for each of two or more logical partitions in a computer system and a current utilization of the shared processing resource for the computer system as a whole;
• 2) comparing the current utilization of the shared processing resource for each of the two or more logical partitions and the current utilization of the shared processing resource for the computer system as a whole;
• and
• 3) reallocating the shared processing resource from logical partitions having a relatively lower current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource to logical partitions having a relatively high current utilization of their owned portion of the shared processing resource;
• and
• (B) computer readable signal bearing media bearing the dynamic processor allocation mechanism.