Multiprocessor servers with controlled numbered of CPUs

• US 6,453,344 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amdahl Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Amdahl Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Ellsworth, Robert Scott, Nolting, Jonathan Russell, Philipp, Keith Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US09/282,829
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 713/191, 709/221, 709/220, 712/30, 712/11, 712/23, 712/20, 711/173, 710/1, 710/8, 710/14
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17 using an input/output type connection, e.g. channel, I/O port

Abstract

A multiprocessor system having a total number of available CPUs partitioned into one or more smaller pools of CPUs called servers where the number of CPUs available to a server is reduced below the total number of available CPUs. Software licensing costs are thereby reduced because the number of CPUs available to run the operating system or ISV software has been reduced to the number of CPUs in the pool of the server rather than the total number of available CPUs in the multiprocessor system. In order to enforce the isolation of CPUs required by software licensing, separate identification codes, CPUIDs, that contain unique system serial numbers are assigned to each server in the multiprocessing system. The multiprocessor system has multiple CPUIDs, one for each server (each pool of CPUs that can execute operating systems and ISV software).

Claims

1. A multiprocessor system having a plurality of CPUs operable in different modes, including a user mode for processing user programs and a system mode for processing system programs unavailable to users, said multiprocessor system having a dynamic configuration subsystem for operation in the system mode comprising:

a service processor having a feature file for identifying a current online number of CPUs and for identifying one or more server numbers of CPUs where each server number is less than said online number,

a configuration control unit for configuring CPUs in the multiprocessor system,

store means for storing code in response to the feature file including storing said online number and said server numbers,

system state execution means for executing the code to form configuration control information,

decoder means for decoding the control information to partition said CPUs into servers, each server having a number of CPUs equal to a corresponding one of said server numbers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a sum of said server numbers is less than or equal to said online number.

3. The system of claim 1 including means for assigning domains to each of said servers.

4. The system of claim 3 including means for assigning logical processors to each of said domains.

5. The system of claim 1 including means for assigning a unique identification number to each of said servers.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each identification number includes an indication of the server number for identifying how many CPUs are in the server and a unique serial number for the server.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said multiprocessor system executes software limited for use on pools of CPUs not exceeding an authorized number of CPUs and wherein said software is enabled to run on one of said servers having a server number not exceeding said authorized number and is not enabled to run on any server having a server number exceeding said authorized number.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said software includes means for checking the server number of servers enabled to run the software to determine if the server number is less than or equal to the authorized number.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the identification number is CPUID and wherein the multiprocessor system includes one or more CPUIDs, one for each server.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of CPUs includes offline CPUs.

11. The system of claim 1 capable of being shutdown to terminate operation, and wherein,

said service processor identifies in said feature file a current offline number corresponding to a current number of offline CPUs and an update number corresponding to changes to be made in the current online number and the current offine number,

said configuration control unit reconfigures CPUs in the multiprocessor system without being shutdown through operation of said decoder means decoding the control information to change the current number of online CPUs and the current number of offline CPUs by the update number.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the reconfiguration is an upgrade to add to the current number of online CPUs.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the reconfiguration is an downgrade to subtract from the current number of online CPUs.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said service processor identifies in said feature file different pools of CPUs including said servers.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said different pools of CPUs include coupling control code CPUs.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said different pools of CPUs include spare CPUs.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said service processor identifies in said feature file different pools of CPUs including said servers, including coupling control CPUs and including spare CPUs.

18. A multiprocessor system having a plurality of CPUs operable in different modes, including a user mode for processing user programs limited for use on pools of CPUs not exceeding an authorized number of CPUs and a system mode for processing system programs unavailable to users, said multiprocessor system having a dynamic configuration subsystem for operation in the system mode comprising:

a service processor having a feature file for identifying a current online number of CPUs and for identifying one or more server numbers of CPUs where each server number is less than said online number,

means for assigning a unique identification number to each of said servers, each identification number including an indication of the server number for identifying how many CPUs can used by the server for execution of said user programs,

a configuration control unit for configuring CPUs in the multiprocessor system,

store means for storing code in response to the feature file including storing said online number and said server numbers,

system state execution means for executing the code to form configuration control information,

decoder means for decoding the control information to partition said CPUs into servers, each server having a number of CPUs equal to a corresponding one of said server numbers,

means to enable said user programs to run on one of said servers having a server number not exceeding said authorized number and means to inhibit said user programs to run on any server having a server number exceeding said authorized number.