Method and apparatus for performing system resource partitioning

• US 5,574,914 A
• Filed: 09/08/1994
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Lebahn, Lonny R., Sandelands, Robert T., Hepburn, Ian R., Miller, John A., Hancock, Peter J., Mikkelsen, Hans C., Torgerson, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,381
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 395/650, 395/700
• US Class Current: 712/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455

Abstract

An apparatus and method for managing a number of data processing resources to produce one or more independent and separate data processing partitions. Each partition is defined as a proper subset of the total inventory of available data processing resources. Each partition is controlled by a system control facility. All system control facilities communicate with a site configuration management system, which defines and redefines the composition of each partition. The site configuration management system can move resources from one partition to another as required. Preferably, the system control facilities and the site configuration management system are industry standard personal computers which communicate via a local area network.

Claims

1. A method of having a computer device dynamically partition a plurality of data processing resources among a number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, each of the number of separate and autonomous data processing systems having a corresponding system control facility for controlling the plurality of data processing resources dynamically partitioned thereto, comprising:

a. making an inventory of the plurality of data processing resources; and

b. dynamically partitioning selected ones of the plurality of data processing resources among the number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, said dynamic partitioning step being performed by the computer device wherein the computer device uses said inventory to select the selected ones of the plurality of data processing resources.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. adding a first one of the plurality of data processing resources to said inventory of said plurality of data processing resources; and

b. adding said first one of the plurality of data processing resources to a selected one of said number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, whereby said first one of the plurality of data processing resources is controlled by a corresponding system control facility.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. deleting a second one of the plurality of data processing resources from a one of said number of separate and autonomous data processing systems; and

b. deleting said second one of the plurality of data processing resources from said inventory of the plurality of data processing resources.

4. A method for dynamically adding one of a plurality of resources having predefined characteristics to one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a digital computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding system control facility, the one of the plurality of resources having a corresponding status and a corresponding identity, comprising:

a. adding the one of the plurality of resources to an inventory table within a centralized site configuration management system;

b. setting the status associated with the one of the plurality of resources to an inactive state;

c. storing the identity of the one of the plurality of resources within a centralized site configuration management system;

d. selecting one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

e. adding the one of the plurality of resources to a partition file, wherein the partition file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

f. storing the predefined characteristics of the one of the plurality of resources in an operations file, wherein the operations file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

g. generating a notification after the storing step (f) is complete;

h. transferring the information contained in the operations file, the partition file and the notification to a system control facility associated with the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

i. adding the transferred information contained in the operations file, partition file and notification to a data base contained within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions; and

j. reporting to the system control facility within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions when the adding step (i) is complete.

5. A method for dynamically deleting one of a plurality of resources having predefined characteristics from one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a digital computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding system control facility and a corresponding partition file, the corresponding partition file being part of a centralized site configuration management data base, comprising:

a. deleting the one of the plurality of resources from partition file, wherein the corresponding partition file corresponds to the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions in which the one of the plurality of resources is currently assigned;

b. notifying the corresponding system control facility that the one of the plurality of resources is no longer available;

c. notifying the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions via the corresponding system control facility that the one of the plurality of resources is no longer available;

d. verifying that the one of the plurality of resources is not being used by the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step c is complete;

e. deleting the one of the plurality of resources from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (c) when the verification step (d) is complete; and

f. providing status information from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (c) to the corresponding system control facility thereby indicating to the corresponding system control facility that the one of the plurality of resources has been deleted from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.

6. An apparatus for having a computer device dynamically partition a plurality of data processing resources among a number of separate and autonomous data processing partitions, comprising:

a. a plurality of system control facility elements, each of said plurality of system control facility elements coupled to a corresponding one of the number of separate and autonomous data processing partitions; and

b. a centralized site configuration management element coupled to each of said plurality of system control facility elements, whereby said centralized site configuration management element dynamically partitions said plurality of data processing resources among said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions via said plurality of system control facility elements.

7. A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein said centralized site configuration management element further comprises dynamic repartitioning means for dynamically repartitioning the plurality of data processing resources among the plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions via said plurality of system control facility elements.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means responsively coupled to said centralized site configuration management element for adding a one of the plurality of data processing resources to said plurality of data processing resources.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means responsively coupled to said centralized site configuration management element for deleting a one of the plurality of resources from said plurality of data processing resources.

10. A data processing system according to claim 9 wherein said centralized site configuration management element comprises:

a. inventory identifying means for identifying an inventory of said plurality of data processing resources; and

b. dynamic partitioning means coupled to said inventory identifying means for dynamically partitioning said plurality of data processing resources identified by said inventory identifying means, among the plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions.

11. A data processing system according to claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of data processing partitions has a corresponding available device list.

12. A data processing system according to claim 11 wherein said centralized site configuration management element notifies a deactivating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions via said corresponding one of said plurality of system control facility elements when said dynamic repartitioning means of said centralized site configuration management element dynamically repartitions a deactivated one of said plurality of data processing resources from said deactivating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions;

said notification indicating to said deactivating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions to deactivate said deactivating one of said plurality of data processing resources from said deactivating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions and to remove said deactivated one of said plurality of data processing resources from said corresponding available device list of said deactivating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions.

13. A data processing system according to claim 12 wherein said centralized site configuration management element further notifies an activating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions via said corresponding one of said plurality of system control facility elements when said dynamic repartitioning means of said centralized site configuration management element dynamically repartitions an activated one of said plurality of data processing resources from said activating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions;

said notification indicating to said activating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions to activate said activated one of said plurality of data processing resources into said activating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions and to add said activated one of said plurality of data processing resources from said available device list of said activating one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions.

14. A data processing system according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said plurality of data processing resources comprises an instruction processor.

15. A data processing system according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said plurality of data processing resources comprises a memory module.

16. A data processing system according to claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of data processing resources comprises an input/output controller.

17. A data processing system according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said plurality of data processing resources comprises a peripheral device.

18. A data processing system according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of data processing resources comprises a computer program.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a. a plurality of data processing resources;

b. a centralized control element coupled to each of said plurality of data processing resources;

said centralized control element having an inventory table, said inventory table indicating which of said plurality of data processing resources are available;

c. dynamic partitioning means coupled to said centralized control element for dynamically partitioning the available ones of said plurality of data processing resources into a plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions;

d. adding means coupled to said centralized control element and further coupled to said plurality of data processing resources for adding a predetermined one of said plurality of data processing resources to a predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions; and

e. storing means coupled to said predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions for storing a predefined set of characteristics of said predetermined one of the plurality of data processing resources.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a. a plurality of data processing resources;

b. a centralized control element coupled to each of said plurality of data processing resources;

said centralized control element having an inventory table, said inventory table indicating which of said plurality of data processing resources are available;

c. dynamic partitioning means coupled to said centralized control element for dynamically partitioning the available ones of said plurality of data processing resources into a plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions; and

d. deleting means coupled to said centralized control element and further coupled to said plurality of data processing resources for deleting a predetermined one of said plurality of data processing resources from a predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions.

21. A method for adding a resource having predefined characteristics to one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a digital computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding system control facility, the resource having a corresponding status and a corresponding identity, comprising:

a. adding the resource to an inventory table within a centralized site configuration management system;

b. selecting one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

c. adding the resource to a partition file, wherein the partition file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

d. storing the predefined characteristics of the resource in an operations file, wherein the operations file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

e. transferring the information contained in the operations file, the partition file and the notification to a system control facility associated with the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions; and

f. adding the transferred information contained in the operations file, partition file and notification to a data base contained within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.

22. A method for deleting a resource having predefined characteristics from one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a digital computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding system control facility and a corresponding partition file, the corresponding partition file being part of a centralized site configuration management data base, comprising:

a. deleting the resource from the corresponding partition file, wherein the corresponding partition file corresponds to the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions in which the resource is currently assigned;

b. notifying the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions via the corresponding system control facility that the resource is no longer available;

c. deleting the resource from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (b); and

d. providing status information from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (b) to the corresponding system control facility thereby indicating to the corresponding system control facility that the resource has been deleted from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.

23. A method of having a site data facility personal computer partition a plurality of data processing resources among a number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, each of the number of separate and autonomous data processing systems having a corresponding one of a plurality system console personal computers coupled to the site data facility personal computer for controlling the plurality of data processing resources partitioned thereto, comprising:

a. making an inventory of the plurality of data processing resources; and

b. partitioning selected ones of the plurality of data processing resources among the number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, said partitioning step being performed by the site data facility personal computer wherein the site data facility personal computer uses said inventory to select the selected ones of the plurality of data processing resources.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

a. adding a first one of a plurality of resources to said inventory of said plurality of data processing resources; and

b. adding said first one of a plurality of resources to a selected one of said number of separate and autonomous data processing systems, whereby said first one of a plurality of resources is controlled by a corresponding one of a plurality of system console personal computers.

25. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

a. deleting a second one of a plurality of resources from a one of said number of separate and autonomous data processing systems; and

b. deleting said second one of a plurality of resources from said inventory of said plurality of data processing resources.

26. A method for adding one of a plurality of resources having predefined characteristics to one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a site data facility personal computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding one of a plurality of system console personal computers, the site data facility personal computer being coupled to the plurality of system console personal computers, the one of the plurality of resources having a corresponding status and a corresponding identity, comprising:

a. adding the one of the plurality of resources to an inventory table within the site data facility personal computer;

b. setting the status associated with the one of the plurality of resources to an inactive state;

c. storing the identity of the one of the plurality of resources within the site data facility personal computer;

d. selecting one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

e. adding the one of the plurality of resources to a partition file, wherein the partition file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

f. storing the predefined characteristics of the one of the plurality of resources in an operations file, wherein the operations file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

g. generating a notification after the storing step (f) is complete;

h. transferring the information contained in the operations file, the partition file and the notification to the one of the plurality of system console personal computers associated with the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

i. adding the transferred information contained in the operations file, partition file and notification to a data base contained within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions; and

j. reporting to the one of the plurality of system console personal computers within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions when the adding step (i) is complete.

27. A method for deleting one of a plurality of resources having predefined characteristics from one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions using a site data facility personal computer, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding one of a plurality of system console personal computers and a corresponding partition file, the corresponding partition file being part of a site data facility personal computer, the site data facility personal computer being coupled to the plurality of system console personal computers, comprising:

a. deleting the one of the plurality of resources from the corresponding partition file, wherein the corresponding partition file corresponds to the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions in which the one of the plurality of resources is currently assigned;

b. notifying the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers that the one of the plurality of resources is no longer available;

c. notifying the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions via the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers that the one of the plurality of resources is no longer available;

d. verifying that the one of the plurality of resources is not being used by the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step c is complete;

e. deleting the one of the plurality of resources from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (c) when the verification step (d) is complete; and

f. providing status information from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (c) to the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers thereby indicating to the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers that the one of the plurality of resources has been deleted from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a. a plurality of data processing resources;

b. a personal computer coupled to each of said plurality of data processing resources;

said personal computer having an inventory table, said inventory table indicating which of said plurality of data processing resources are available;

c. partitioning means coupled to said personal computer for partitioning the available ones of said plurality of data processing resources into a plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions;

d. adding means coupled to said personal computer and further coupled to said plurality of data processing resources for adding a predetermined one of said plurality of data processing resources to a predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions; and

e. storing means coupled to said predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions for storing a predefined set of characteristics of said predetermined one of the plurality of data processing resources.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a. a plurality of data processing resources;

b. a personal computer coupled to each of said plurality of data processing resources;

said personal computer having an inventory table, said inventory table indicating which of said plurality of data processing resources are available;

c. partitioning means coupled to said personal computer for partitioning the available ones of said plurality of data processing resources into a plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions; and

d. deleting means coupled to said personal computer and further coupled to said plurality of data processing resources for deleting a predetermined one of said plurality of data processing resources from a predetermined one of said plurality of separate and autonomous data processing partitions.

30. A method for adding a resource having predefined characteristics to one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding one of a plurality of system console personal computers, the resource having a corresponding status and a corresponding identity, comprising:

a. adding the resource to an inventory table within a site data facility personal computer, the site data facility personal computer being coupled to the plurality of system console personal computers;

b. selecting one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

c. adding the resource to a partition file, wherein the partition file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

d. storing the predefined characteristics of the resource in an operations file, wherein the operations file corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions;

e. transferring the information contained in the operations file, the partition file and the notification to the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers associated with the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions; and

f. adding the transferred information contained in the operations file, partition file and notification to a data base contained within the selected one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.

31. A method for deleting a resource having predefined characteristics from one of a plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions, each of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions having a corresponding one of a plurality of system console personal computers and a corresponding partition file, the corresponding partition file being part of a site data facility personal computer, the site data facility personal computer coupled to the plurality of system console personal computers, comprising:

a. deleting the resource from the corresponding partition file, wherein the corresponding partition file corresponds to the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions in which the resource is currently assigned;

b. notifying the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions via the corresponding one of the plurality of system console personal computers that the resource is no longer available;

c. deleting the resource from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (b); and

d. providing status information from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions notified in step (b) to the corresponding system console personal computer thereby indicating to the corresponding system console personal computer that the resource has been deleted from the one of the plurality of separate and independent data processing partitions.