Method for trading resources between partitions of a data processing system

In a data processing system configured to include multiple logical partitions, wherein resources of said system are selectively allocated among respective partitions, a computer program product in a computer readable medium comprising:

• first instructions for evaluating the allocation of resources to each of said partitions at a particular time, in order to select a partition having at least one resource considered to be of low desirability due to its level of locality with respect to said selected partition;
• second instructions for identifying each of the other partitions that has a resource matching said resource of low desirability;
• third instructions for determining the overall benefit of said system that would result from trading said resource of low desirability for the matching resource of each of said identified partitions;
• and
• fourth instructions for reallocating said resources to trade said resource of low desirability for the matching resource of the identified partition that is determined to provide the greatest overall benefit for said system, provided that at least some overall system benefit will result from said reallocation.

In a data processing system configured to include multiple logical partitions, wherein resources of said system are selectively allocated among respective partitions, an apparatus comprising:

• a first processing component for evaluating the allocation of resources to each of said partitions at a particular time, in order to select a partition having at least one resource considered to be of low desirability due to its level of locality with respect to said selected partition;
• a second processing component for identifying each of the other partitions that has a resource matching said resource of low desirability;
• a third processing component for determining the overall benefit of said system that would result from trading said resource of low desirability for the matching resource of each of said identified partitions;
• and
• a fourth processing component for reallocating said resources to trade said resource of low desirability for the matching resource of the identified partition that is determined to provide the greatest overall benefit for said system, provided that at least some overall system benefit will result from said reallocation.