Hardware resource arbiter for logical partitions

A computer implemented method for resource arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions, the computer implemented method comprising:

• receiving a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation;
• determining that the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition;
• responsive to a determination that the hardware resource is free, writing to a hardware resource pool data structure the hardware resource as associated with the first logical partition, wherein the hardware resource pool data structure is controlled by a hypervisor;
• presenting the hardware resource to the first logical partition;
• determining that the operation is complete;
• responsive to the determination that the operation is complete, releasing the hardware resource from a hardware resource pool;
• and
• recording all hardware resources as free before receiving the request for the hardware resource.

A computer program product for hardware resource arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions, the computer program product comprising:

• computer readable program code configured to receive a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation;
• computer readable program code configured to determine that the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition, wherein a hardware resource pool data structure is controlled by a hypervisor;
• computer readable program code configured to write to the hardware resource pool data structure the hardware resource as associated with the first logical partition, responsive to a determination that the hardware resource is free;
• computer readable program code configured to present the hardware resource to the first logical partition;
• computer readable program code configured to determine that the operation is complete;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to release the hardware resource from the hardware resource pool, responsive to the determination that the operation is complete.

A computer program product for hardware resource arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage device having computer readable program code stored thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to receive a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation;
• computer readable program code configured to determine that the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition, wherein a hardware resource pool data structure is controlled by a hypervisor;
• computer readable program code configured to write to the hardware resource pool data structure the hardware resource as associated with the first logical partition, responsive to a determination that the hardware resource is free;
• computer readable program code configured to present the hardware resource to the first logical partition;
• computer readable program code configured to determine that the operation is complete;
• computer readable program code configured to release the hardware resource from the hardware resource pool, responsive to the determination that the operation is complete;
• and computer readable program code configured to record all hardware resources as free before receiving the request for the hardware resource.

A data processing system comprising:

• a bus;
• a storage device connected to the bus, wherein computer usable code is located in the storage device;
• a communication unit connected to the bus;
• and
• a processor connected to the bus, wherein the processor executes the computer usable code for arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions;
• the processor further executes the computer usable code to receive a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation;
• determine that the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition, wherein a hardware resource pool data structure is controlled by a hypervisor;
• write to the hardware resource pool data structure the hardware resource as associated with the first logical partition, responsive to a determination that the hardware resource is free;
• present the hardware resource to the first logical partition;
• determine that the operation is complete;
• and
• release the hardware resource from the hardware resource pool, responsive to the determination that the operation is complete.

A data processing system comprising:

• a bus;
• a storage device connected to the bus, wherein computer usable code is located in the storage device;
• a communication unit connected to the bus;
• and
• a processor connected to the bus, wherein the processor executes the computer usable code for arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions;
• the processor further executes the computer usable code to receive a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation;
• determine that the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition, wherein a hardware resource pool data structure is controlled by a hypervisor;
• write to the hardware resource pool data structure the hardware resource as associated with the first logical partition, responsive to a determination that the hardware resource is free;
• present the hardware resource to the first logical partition;
• determine that the operation is complete;
• release the hardware resource from the hardware resource pool, responsive to the determination that the operation is complete;
• and record all hardware resources as free before receiving the request for the hardware resource.