Apparatus and method of allowing multiple partitions of a partitioned computer system to use a single network adapter

• US 20030145122A1
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vallabhaneni, Vasu, Banerjee, Dwip N., Brown, Deanna Lynn Quigg
• Application Number:
  US10/059,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for allowing a single network adapter to be used by a plurality of partitions of a logically partitioned computer system (LPAR) are provided. Each partition assigns a different IP address to the network adapater. The different IP addresses are stored in a table. The table cross-references each IP address with its partition. When a piece of data is received by the computer system, the data is examined to find out the IP address associated with the data. Once done, the table is consulted to determine to which one of the plurality of partitions the data is to be forwarded. The data is then forwarded to the partition.

Claims

1. A method of using one network adapter to service a plurality of partitions of an LPAR computer system comprising the steps of:

correlating each IP address with a partition;

storing the correlated IP address into a table; and

consulting the table to determine to which partition a piece of received data is to be forwarded.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is reassigned to the requesting partition only if the device is currently idle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if the device is not idle the requesting partition is notified that the device is not idle.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein after the requesting partition has terminated using the device, it indicates so.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein upon indication that the requesting device has terminated using the device, the device is reassigned to the partition it was originally assigned.

6. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for allowing a device to be shared among partitions of a logically partitioned system comprising:

code means for determining whether a requesting partition has permission to use a device, said device not having been originally assigned to the requesting partition; and

code means for automatically reassigning the device to the requesting partition if the requesting partition has permission to use the device.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein the device is reassigned to the requesting partition only if the device is currently idle.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein if the device is not idle the requesting partition is notified that the device is not idle.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein after the requesting partition has terminated using the device, it indicates so.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein upon indication that the requesting device has terminated using the device, the device is reassigned to the partition it was originally assigned.

11. An apparatus for allowing a device to be shared among partitions of a logically partitioned system comprising:

means for determining whether a requesting partition has permission to use a device, said device not having been originally assigned to the requesting partition; and

means for automatically reassigning the device to the requesting partition if the requesting partition has permission to use the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the device is reassigned to the requesting partition only if the device is currently idle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein if the device is not idle the requesting partition is notified that the device is not idle.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein after the requesting partition has terminated using the device, it indicates so.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein upon indication that the requesting device has terminated using the device, the device is reassigned to the partition it was originally assigned.

16. A computer system for allowing a device to be shared among partitions of a logically partitioned system comprising:

at least one memory device for storing code data; and

at least one processor for processing the code data to determine whether a requesting partition has permission to use a device, said device not having been originally assigned to the requesting partition, and to automatically reassign the device to the requesting partition if the requesting partition has permission to use the device.

17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein the device is reassigned to the requesting partition only if the device is currently idle.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein if the device is not idle the requesting partition is notified that the device is not idle.

19. The computer system of claim 17 wherein after the requesting partition has terminated using the device, it indicates so.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein upon indication that the requesting device has terminated using the device, the device is reassigned to the partition it was originally assigned.