US 6,647,508 B2Granted

Multiprocessor computer architecture with multiple operating system instances and software controlled resource allocation

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

InventorsStephen H. Zalewski, Andrew H. Mason, Gregory H. Jordan, Karen L. Noel, James R. Kauffman, Paul K. Harter, Jr., Frederick G. Kleinsorge, Stephen F. Shirron

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Abstract

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.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of processors;
a plurality of memory devices coupled to said processors;
a plurality of I/O devices coupled to said processors;
and
a master console program that executes on one of said processors and creates software partitions, each partition configurable to include one or more processors, one or more memory devices and one or more I/O devices;
wherein on initialization, said master console program uses previously stored environment variables to create configuration data which defines said software partitions;
wherein separate operating system instances run on the various software partitions created by said master control program;
wherein each operating system instance running in a partition monitors at least one other operating system instance running in a different partition using a heartbeat scheme to determine whether such other operating system instance is functional;
wherein a big brother—little brother scheme is implemented in which a first operating system instance (“little brother”) selects a second operating system instance to be its big brother operating system instance first (“big brother”), said big brother monitors heartbeats from its little brother to determine whether said little brother is functional;
and
wherein said little brother is also a big brother for a third operating system instance and monitors heartbeats from said third operating system instance, and when said first big brother determines that its little brother is non-functional, said big brother assumes the role of big brother to the third operating system instance.

8 more elements

A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of processors;
a plurality of memory devices coupled to said processors;
a plurality of I/O devices coupled to said processors;
wherein said processors, memory devices and I/O devices are organized into software partitions, each partition configurable upon initialization to correspond to one or more processors, one or more memory devices and one or more I/O devices;
a software mechanism by which said correspondence between a software partition and said processors, memory devices and I/O devices can dynamically be changed during run time after said system has been initialized;
wherein an operating system instance running in one partition uses a heartbeat to determine whether an operating system instance running in another partition is functional;
wherein a big brother—little brother scheme is implemented in which a first operating system instance (“little brother”) selects a second operating system instance to be its big brother operating system instance first (“big brother”), said first big brother monitors heartbeats from its little brother to determine whether said little brother is functional;
and
wherein said little brother is also a big brother for a third operating system instance and monitors heartbeats from said third operating system instance, and when said first big brother determines that its little brother is non-functional, said first big brother assumes the role of big brother to the third operating system instance.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.