Supporting Virtual Input/Output (I/O) Server (VIOS) Active Memory Sharing in a Cluster Environment
First Claim
1. In a data processing system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, at least one input/output (I/O) adapter that enables connection to an external network with a shared storage repository, and a virtualization management component executing within the data processing system to generate a plurality of operating system (OS) partitions including one or more virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS) and one or more client logical partitions (LPAR), a method comprising:
- providing, by a first VIOS, a virtual memory space of a distributed storage repository, wherein the virtual memory space is actively shared by two or more client LPARs;
the first VIOS receiving a paging file request from an application running on a first client LPAR of the two or more client LPARs, wherein the paging file request indicates a minimum required capacity, and wherein the minimum required capacity is a minimum amount of paging file storage required by the application;
determining if an existing logical unit (LU) of a plurality of LUs within the distributed storage repository has an available amount of storage equal to or greater than the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized for I/O processing by a VIOS;
in response to determining that the existing LU has an available amount of storage that is at least equal to the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized, assigning the existing LU to the first LPAR as a shared paging file, andthe first VIOS autonomously directing all subsequent paging file requests of the application to available storage within the existing LU.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product provide a shared virtual memory space via a cluster-aware virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS). The VIOS receives a paging file request from a first LPAR and thin-provisions a logical unit (LU) within the virtual memory space as a shared paging file of the same storage amount as the minimum required capacity. The VIOS also autonomously maintains a logical redundancy LU (redundant LU) as a real-time copy of the provisioned/allocated LU, where the redundant LU is a dynamic copy of the allocated LU that is autonomously updated responsive to any changes within the allocated LU. Responsive to a second VIOS attempting to read a LU currently utilized by a first VIOS, the read request is autonomously redirected to the logical redundancy LU. The redundant LU can be utilized to facilitate migration of a client LPAR to a different computing electronic complex (CEC).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a data processing system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, at least one input/output (I/O) adapter that enables connection to an external network with a shared storage repository, and a virtualization management component executing within the data processing system to generate a plurality of operating system (OS) partitions including one or more virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS) and one or more client logical partitions (LPAR), a method comprising:
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providing, by a first VIOS, a virtual memory space of a distributed storage repository, wherein the virtual memory space is actively shared by two or more client LPARs; the first VIOS receiving a paging file request from an application running on a first client LPAR of the two or more client LPARs, wherein the paging file request indicates a minimum required capacity, and wherein the minimum required capacity is a minimum amount of paging file storage required by the application; determining if an existing logical unit (LU) of a plurality of LUs within the distributed storage repository has an available amount of storage equal to or greater than the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized for I/O processing by a VIOS; in response to determining that the existing LU has an available amount of storage that is at least equal to the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized, assigning the existing LU to the first LPAR as a shared paging file, and the first VIOS autonomously directing all subsequent paging file requests of the application to available storage within the existing LU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computing electronic complex comprising:
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a processor; an input/output (I/O) interface coupled to an external network; and a memory coupled to said processor, wherein said memory includes; a hypervisor; a plurality of operating system (OS) partitions; and at least one virtual input/output (I/O) server (VIOS) processing logic executing on the processor for enabling the computing electronic complex to perform the functions of; providing, by a first VIOS, a virtual memory space of a distributed storage repository, wherein the virtual memory space is actively shared by two or more client LPARs; the first VIOS receiving a paging file request from an application running on a first client LPAR of the two or more client LPARs, wherein the paging file request indicates a minimum required capacity, and wherein the minimum required capacity is a minimum amount of paging file storage required by the application; determining if an existing logical unit (LU) of a plurality of LUs within the distributed storage repository has an available amount of storage equal to or greater than the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized for I/O processing by a VIOS; in response to determining that the existing LU has an available amount of storage that is at least equal to the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized, assigning the existing LU to the first LPAR as a shared paging file, and the first VIOS autonomously directing all subsequent paging file requests of the application to available storage within the existing LU. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium; and program code on said computer storage medium that when executed by a processor within a cluster-aware data processing system provides a plurality of functions comprising; providing, by a first VIOS, a virtual memory space of a distributed storage repository, wherein the virtual memory space is actively shared by two or more client LPARs; the first VIOS receiving a paging file request from an application running on a first client LPAR of the two or more client LPARs, wherein the paging file request indicates a minimum required capacity, and wherein the minimum required capacity is a minimum amount of paging file storage required by the application; determining if an existing logical unit (LU) of a plurality of LUs within the distributed storage repository has an available amount of storage equal to or greater than the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized for I/O processing by a VIOS; in response to determining that the existing LU has an available amount of storage that is at least equal to the minimum required capacity and is not currently being utilized, assigning the existing LU to the first LPAR as a shared paging file, and the first VIOS autonomously directing all subsequent paging file requests of the application to available storage within the existing LU. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification