Apparatus and method for controlling resource transfers using locks in a logically partitioned computer system

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• a plurality of PCI adapter slots coupled to the at least one processor;
• a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus;
• a plurality of PCI adapter slot locks residing in the memory, wherein each of the plurality of PCI adapter slots has a corresponding PCI adapter slot lock;
• a PCI slot lock mechanism that controls access to each PCI adapter slot by the plurality of logical partitions by requiring exclusive ownership of the corresponding PCI adapter slot lock before transferring control of the corresponding PCI adapter slot to one of the plurality of logical partitions and before allowing one of the plurality of logical partitions to access the corresponding PCI adapter slot;
• at least one PCI host bridge coupled to the at least one processor;
• at least one primary PCI bus that couples the at least one PCI host bridge to at least one PCI to PCI bridge;
• a plurality of secondary PCI busses, where each secondary PCI bus couples one of the PCI to PCI bridges to a corresponding PCI adapter slot;
• wherein each PCI to PCI bridge includes:
• a power on/power off slot mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the power on/power off slot mechanism powering off a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions and powering on the selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions.

A computer-implemented method for managing a plurality of hardware resources in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining a plurality of locks, wherein each of the plurality of hardware resources has a corresponding lock;
• and
• controlling access to each hardware resource by the plurality of logical partitions by requiring exclusive ownership of the corresponding lock before transferring control of the corresponding hardware resource to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• and
• powering off a selected hardware resource when control of the selected hardware resource is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• and
• powering on the selected hardware resource when control of the selected hardware resource is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions.

A computer-implemented method for managing a plurality of PCI adapter slots in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining a plurality of PCI adapter slot locks residing in the memory, wherein each of the plurality of PCI adapter slots has a corresponding PCI adapter slot lock;
• controlling access to each PCI adapter slot by the plurality of logical partitions by requiring exclusive ownership of the corresponding PCI adapter slot lock before transferring control of the corresponding PCI adapter slot to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• powering off a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• powering on the selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• unbinding all memory and virtual address bindings and preventing the establishment of new bindings to an adapter in a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions if the memory and virtual address bindings have not been previously unbound;
• resetting a PCI to PCI bridge corresponding to a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• enabling memory and virtual address bindings to an adapter in a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• transferring control of a selected PCI adapter slot to one of the plurality of logical partitions when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to the one logical partition;
• and
• initializing the PCI to PCI bridge corresponding to a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions.

A computer readable program product comprising:

• a lock mechanism that defines a plurality of locks, wherein each of a plurality of hardware resources has a corresponding lock, the lock mechanism controlling access to the plurality of hardware resources in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions by requiring exclusive ownership of the corresponding lock before transferring control of the corresponding hardware resource to one of the plurality of logical partitions and before allowing one of the plurality of logical partitions to access the corresponding hardware resource;
• a power on/power off mechanism residing on the computer readable signal bearing media that powers off a selected hardware resource when control of the selected hardware resource is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions and powers on the selected hardware resource when control of the selected hardware resource is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• and
• computer readable recordable signal bearing media bearing the lock mechanism.

A computer readable program product comprising:

• (A) a PCI slot lock mechanism that defines a plurality of PCI adapter slot locks, wherein each of a plurality of PCI adapter slots has a corresponding PCI adapter slot lock, the PCI slot lock mechanism controlling access to the plurality of PCI adapter slots in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions by requiring exclusive ownership of the corresponding PCI adapter slot lock before transferring control of the corresponding PCI adapter slot to one of the plurality of logical partitions and before allowing one of the plurality of logical partitions to access the corresponding PCI adapter slot;
• (B) a power on/power off slot mechanism that powers off a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions and powers on the selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• (C) a mechanism for unbinding all memory and virtual address bindings and preventing the establishment of new bindings to a PCI adapter in a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is removed from one of the plurality of logical partitions if the memory and virtual address bindings have not been previously unbound;
• (D) a mechanism for enabling memory and virtual address bindings to a PCI adapter in a selected PCI adapter slot when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to one of the plurality of logical partitions;
• (E) a mechanism for transferring control of a selected PCI adapter slot to one of the plurality of logical partitions when control of the selected PCI adapter slot is transferred to the one logical partition;
• and
• (G) computer readable recordable signal bearing media bearing (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).