Multiprocessing system with automated propagation of changes to centrally maintained configuration settings

A method for managing configuration settings in a multiprocessing system that includes:

• a configuration manager having a storage containing:
• multiple reference characteristics and multiple reference profiles, each profile identifying one or more of the reference characteristics;
• a subscription list identifying one or more subscribing managed units and associating each identified subscribing managed unit with one or more reference profiles;
• at least one subscribing managed unit having a record of operating characteristics, where the subscribing managed unit operates in accordance with contents of the record of operating characteristics;
• the method comprising:
• a subscription operation, comprising:
• one or more subscribing managed units receiving input identifying one or more reference profiles;
• each subscribing managed unit subscribing by transmitting a subscription message specifying the identified reference profiles to the configuration manager;
• and
• the configuration manager receiving the subscription messages, and in response, representing each subscribing managed unit in association with its subscribed profiles on the subscription list;
• an update propagation operation, comprising:
• the configuration manager and the subscribing managed unit identifying any updates present in (1) reference profiles stored by the configuration manager with respect to corresponding reference profiles as subscribed-to by the subscribing managed unit, and (2) operating characteristics stored by the configuration manager with respect to corresponding reference characteristics stored by the subscribing managed unit;
• the configuration manager transmitting the identified updates to the subscribing managing unit;
• and
• only the subscribing managed unit receiving the updates and amending the record of operating characteristics accordingly.

A method for operating a managed unit in a multiprocessing system that includes a configuration manager and at least one managed unit, the managed unit functioning according to contents of a record of operating parameters stored by the managed unit, the configuration manager maintaining a record of reference parameters, the method comprising:

• at least one subscribing managed unit subscribing to selected ones of the reference parameters by performing operations comprising, for each subscribing managed unit:
• identifying the selected reference parameters to the configuration manager;
• and
• copying the selected reference parameters into the record of operating parameters;
• only for each subscribing managed unit subscribing to one or more updated reference parameters, the subscribing managed unit obtaining any updates to those reference parameters from the configuration manager, and the subscribing managed unit updating its record of operating parameters to incorporate the updates.

A method for operating a configuration manager in a multiprocessing system that includes the configuration manager and at least one managed unit, the managed unit functioning according to contents of a record of operating parameters stored by the managed unit, the method comprising:

• the configuration manager maintaining a record of reference parameters;
• the configuration manager receiving subscription requests from one or more subscribing managed units, each subscription request identifying selected ones of the reference parameters;
• in response to each subscription request, the configuration manager transmitting the selected reference parameters to the subscribing managed unit;
• the configuration manager receiving updates to the reference parameters;
• and
• only for each subscribing managed unit subscribing to one or more updated reference parameters, the configuration manager sending the subscribing managed unit all updates to those reference parameters.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform configuration management operations in a multiprocessing system that includes a configuration manager and at least one managed unit, the configuration management operations comprising:

• the configuration manager maintaining a record of reference parameters;
• the configuration manager receiving subscription requests from one or more subscribing managed units, each subscription request identifying selected ones of the reference parameters;
• in response to each subscription request, the configuration manager transmitting the selected reference parameters to the subscribing managed unit;
• the configuration manager receiving updates to the reference parameters;
• and
• only for each subscribing managed unit subscribing to one or more updated reference parameters, the configuration manager sending the subscribing managed unit all updates to those reference parameters.

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations of running a managed unit in a multiprocessing system that includes a configuration manager and at least one managed unit, the managed unit functioning according to contents of a record of operating parameters stored by the managed unit, the configuration manager maintaining a record of reference parameters, the operations comprising:

• the managed unit subscribing to selected ones of the reference parameters by performing operations comprising:
• identifying the selected reference parameters to the configuration manager;
• and
• copying the selected reference parameters into the record of operating parameters;
• only the subscribing managed unit obtaining any updates to those reference parameters from the configuration manager, and the subscribing managed unit updating its record of operating parameters to incorporate the updates.

A multi-node computing system, comprising:

• a configuration manager, comprising:
• a storage containing:
• a record of multiple reference characteristics;
• multiple reference profiles, each reference profile identifying one or more of the reference characteristics;
• a subscription list identifying one or more subscribing managed units and associating each subscribing managed unit with one or more reference profiles;
• a processor, programmed to:
• from the subscribing managing units, receive subscriptions comprising elections of reference profiles, and in response, represent each subscribing managed unit in the subscription list in association with its elected profiles;
• transmit any changed reference characteristics to all subscribing managed units subscribing to profiles identifying the changed operating characteristics;
• and
• transmit any changed reference profiles to all subscribing managed units subscribing to the changed profiles;
• multiple subscribing managed units, each including:
• a storage containing a record of operating characteristics;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• operate the subscribing managed unit according to contents of the record of current operating characteristics;
• manage the record of operating characteristics by:
• receiving one or more subscription requests identifying one or more reference profile;
• transmitting subscription messages to the configuration manager to subscribe to the identified profiles;
• initially receiving all reference characteristics identified by the subscribed-to profiles from the configuration manager and storing the reference characteristics in the record of operating characteristics, and thereafter receiving changes to any reference characteristics identified by the subscribed-to profiles from the configuration manager and storing the changes in the record of operating characteristics.

A configuration manager for use in a multiprocessing system including multiple subscribing managed units, comprising:

• a storage containing:
• a record of multiple reference characteristics;
• multiple reference profiles, each reference profile identifying one or more of the reference characteristics;
• a processor, programmed to:
• receive subscription requests from one or more subscribing managed units, each subscription request identifying selected ones of the reference parameters to subscribe to;
• in response to each subscription request, transmit the selected reference parameters to the subscribing managed unit;
• receive updates to the reference parameters;
• and
• for each subscribing managed unit subscribing to one or more updated reference parameters, send the subscribing managed unit all updates to those reference parameters.

A managed unit for use in a multiprocessing system including a configuration manager, comprising:

• a storage containing a record of operating parameters;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• subscribe to selected ones of the reference parameters by performing operations comprising:
• identifying the selected reference parameters to the configuration manager;
• and
• copying the selected reference parameters into the record of operating parameters;
• for each managed unit subscribing to one or more updated reference parameters, obtain any updates to those reference parameters received at the configuration manager, and update the record of operating parameters to incorporate the updates.