Apparatus and method for specifying maximum interactive performance in a logical partition of a computer system independently from the maximum interactive performance in other partitions

• US 6,681,240 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Armstrong, William Joseph, Scheel, Jeffrey Jay, McMahon, Lynn Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/314,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 709/102, 709/103, 709/202, 709/100, 709/226, 709/1, 709/101, 709/104, 395/670, 395/674, 395/650, 395/673, 395/500.48, 395/161, 364/146, 712/13, 713/100
• US Class Current: 718/104
• 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

A partitioner for creating logical partitions allows a user to specify maximum interactive performance in one partition independently of maximum interactive performance of other partitions to arrive at logical partitions that may be much different than the maximum overall interactive performance percentage of the computer system itself. First, the maximum interactive performance for a computer system is specified, and resources are allocated accordingly. Next, logical partitions may be created, which initially reflect the maximum interactive performance for the computer system as a whole. Finally, the maximum interactive performance can be specified for a partition independently of the interactive performance in other partitions. In this manner a computer system that is configured as a server system with low interactive and high batch performance can have two different partitions, one that has very low interactive performance and the other that balances interactive and batch processing. In this manner two partitions that have greatly different performance attributes can be defined within the limitations of the specified interactive and batch performance for the computer system as a whole.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus, each logical partition including a portion of the at least one processor and a portion of the memory, each logical partition specifying a maximum interactive performance; and

a partitioner that specifies the maximum interactive performance of one of the plurality of logical partitions independently of the interactive performance of other of the plurality of logical partitions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the partitioner specifies the maximum interactive performance of the plurality o logical partitions when the plurality of logical partitions are initially created and configured.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the partitioner dynamically specifies the maximum interactive performance of the plurality of logical partitions at run-time.

4. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus, each logical partition specifying a maximum interactive performance;

a first of the plurality of logical partitions having a first maximum interactive performance specification; and

a second of the plurality of logical partitions having a second maximum interactive performance specification that is different than the first maximum interactive performance specification.

5. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus, each logical partition including a portion of the at least one processor and a portion of the memory, each logical partition specifying a maximum interactive performance; and

means for specifying the maximum interactive performance of one of the plurality of logical partitions independently of the interactive performance of other of the plurality of logical partitions.

6. A computer-implemented method for creating at least one logical partition on a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a first logical partition that specifies a first maximum interactive performance specification;

creating a second logical partition that specifies a second maximum interactive performance specification that is different than the first maximum interactive performance specification.

7. A program product comprising:

a partitioner that specifies maximum interactive performance of one of a plurality of logical partitions independently of interactive performance of other of the plurality of logical partitions; and

signal bearing media bearing the partitioner.

8. The program product of claim 7 wherein the signal bearing media comprises recordable media.

9. The program product of claim 7 wherein the signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

10. The program product of claim 7 wherein the partitioner specifies the maximum interactive performance of the plurality logical partitions when the plurality of logical partitions are initially created and configured.

11. The program product of claim 7 wherein the partitioner dynamically specifies the maximum interactive performance of the plurality of logical partitions at run-time.