Managing operations of a computer system having a plurality of partitions

• US 6,684,343 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bouchier, Paul H., Gilbert, Ronald E. Jr., Koerber, Christine, Delmonte, Janis, Hasty, Robert Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/561,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,368 Days
• Field of Search: 710/305-306, 710/311, 710/312, 710/313, 710/316, 710/317, 710/8, 710/10, 710/15, 710/16, 710/19, 710/300-304, 710/62-64, 709/201-203, 709/216-219, 714/2, 714/10, 714/4, 714/23, 714/43, 714/48, 714/11, 713/324-340, 713/200-201
• US Class Current: 714/4.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources

Abstract

The inventive multiple partition computer system allows the reconfiguration of the installed hardware, possibly while the various partitions continue normal operations. This aspect includes adding and removing process cell boards and I/O from partitions which may or may not continue to run. The invention also allows changes to the association between cells, I/O and partitions. The partitions may be able to stay running, or may have to be shut down from the resulting changes. In the invention, multiple copies of the OS are running independently of each other, each in a partition that has its own cell boards with processors and memory and connected I/O. This provides isolation between different applications. Consequently, a fatal error in one partition would not affect the other partitions. A network of micro-controllers connected to a service processor, via a communications link, provides the service processor with information on each of the different cells, as well as a pathway to receive requests for configuration changes, and a pathway to command changes in the different cells or I/O. The invention allows system control features such as power on/off, status display, etc. for multiple cabinets under control of the service processor.

Claims

1. A multi-partition computer system, comprising:

a plurality of cell boards, with each cell board including at least one main processor; and

a service processor that is connected to each of the cell boards;

wherein each partition includes at least one cell board, and the service processor manages operations of the partitions, and each partition is prevented from accessing memory of a different partition, and the service processor maintains security for the computer system to limit access to authorized users.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

each partition is running an operating system that is independent of the other partitions.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor communicates with the cell boards via at least one USB format bus.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

each cell board may be replaced while the computer system is on-line.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor manages configuration of the partitions.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor can command the operations of the cell boards.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor can command the operations of the partitions.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor monitors power requirements and determines whether a new component may be added to the system based upon the power required for the new component.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor facilitates JTAG scan testing of the computer system.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor monitors log events.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor displays selected log events to a user.

12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor monitors status of the cells.

13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor displays the status of the cells to a user.

14. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor updates firmware resident in the cells.

15. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

the service processor monitors environmental condition of the cells.

16. The computer system of claims 7, wherein:

the service processor can reset a partition.

17. A method for operating a computer system having a plurality of partitions and a plurality of cell boards, with each cell board including at least one main processor, wherein each partition includes at least one cell board, the method comprising:

providing a service processor that is connected to each of the cell boards;

managing operations of the partitions via the service processor;

preventing each partition from accessing memory of a different partition, and

facilitating JTAG scan testing of the computer system by the service processor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

running an operating system on each partition that is independent of the other partitions.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

using at least one USB format bus to provide communications between the service processor and the cell boards.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

replacing at least one cell board while the computer system is on-line.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

managing the configuration of the partitions via the service processor.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein:

maintaining security for the computer system via the service processor;

wherein the service processor limits access to authorized users.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

commanding the operations of the cell boards via the service processor.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

commanding the operations of the partitions via the service processor.

25. The method of claims 17, further comprising:

resetting at least one partition via the service processor.

26. The method of claim 17;

further comprising;

monitoring the power requirements via the service processor; and

determining, via the service processor, whether a new component may be added to the system based upon the power required for the new component.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

monitoring log events via the service processor.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising

displaying selected log events to a user, via the service processor.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

monitoring the status of the cells via the service processor.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the status of the cells to a user via the service processor.

31. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

updating firmware resident in the cells via the service processor.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

monitoring the environmental condition of the cells via the service processor.