Method and apparatus for maintaining profiles for terminals in a configurable data processing system

• US 7,039,692 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Willoughby, David R., McLaughlin, Charles Andrew, Lipp, Walter Manfred, Foster, Robert Kimberlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farooq, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/798,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/221
• 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

The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for managing a set of objects for a plurality of terminals. The set of objects are stored in a memory, such as a nonvolatile random access memory in a data processing system. The set of objects are used to configure logical partitions within the data processing system. Access to the set of objects is provided to the plurality of terminals through a service processor.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for managing a set of objects for a plurality of terminals, the method comprising:

storing the set of objects in nonvolatile memory, wherein the set of objects are used to configure a plurality of logical partitions within the data processing system;

wherein the plurality of logical partitions includes operating systems that are executing simultaneously;

providing access to the set of objects to the plurality of terminals through a service processors;

responsive to a change in the set of objects made by a terminal within the plurality of terminals, sending notification of the change to the plurality of terminals, wherein the plurality of terminals request objects from the set of objects in response to receiving the notification; and

sending the change to the plurality of terminals in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a nonvolatile random access memory connected to the service processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of objects is a set of profiles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the change is a change to an object within the set of objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change is an addition of another object to the set of objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminals is a plurality of hardware system consoles.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of storing and providing arc executed by a service processor and wherein to plurality of hardware system consoles communicate wit to service processor through an input/output unit.

8. A system comprising:

a service processor;

an input/output unit connected to the service processor, wherein the input/output unit sends and receives data; and

a nonvolatile memory connected to the service processor, wherein a set of objects are stored in to nonvolatile memory, the set of objects being used by a plurality of terminals to configure logical partitions, and wherein responsive to a change in the set of objects made by terminal within the plurality of terminals, sending notification of to change to the plurality of terminals, wherein the plurality of terminals request objects from to set of objects in response to receiving the notification, and sending the change to the plurality of terminals in response to the request.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the input/output unit is connected to the service processor by a bus.

10. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a plurality of processors;

a communications unit connected to the bus system, wherein data is sent and received using the communications unit;

a nonvolatile memory connected to the bus system, wherein a set of instructions are located in the nonvolatile memory; and

a service processor unit connected to the bus system, wherein the service processor unit executes the set of instructions to store objects for configuring logical partitions within the data processing system, provide access to the objects to a terminal in communication with the service processor unit, send notification of a change in the set of objects to the plurality of terminals in response to a change in the set of objects made by a terminal within the plurality of terminal, wherein the plurality of terminals request objects from the set of objects in response to receiving the notification, and send the change to the plurality of terminals in response to the request.

11. The data processing system claim 10, wherein communications between the service processor and the terminal are facilitated by an input/output unit connected to the service processor.

12. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the bus system includes a primary bus and a secondary bus.

13. The data processing system claim 10, wherein the communications unit is an Ethernet adapter.

14. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the input/output unit is at least one of a serial port, an Ethernet adapter, and a modem.

15. A data processing system in a data processing system for managing a set of objects for a plurality of terminals, the data processing system comprising:

storing means for storing the set of objects in nonvolatile memory, wherein the set of objects arc used to configure a plurality of logical partitions within the data processing system;

wherein the plurality of logical partitions includes operating systems that are executing simultaneously;

providing means for providing access to the set of objects to the plurality of terminals through a service processor;

sending means for sending notification of a change in the set of objects to the plurality of terminals in response to a change in the set of objects made by a terminal within the plurality of terminals, wherein the plurality of terminals request objects from the set of objects in response to receiving the notification; and

sending means for sending the change to the plurality of terminals in response to the request.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a nonvolatile random access memory connected to the service processor.

17. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the set of objects is a set of profiles.

18. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the change is a change to an object within the set of objects.

19. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the change is an addition of another object to the set of objects.

20. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of terminals is a plurality of hardware system consoles.

21. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein the storing means and providing means are located in a service processor and wherein the plurality of hardware system consoles communicate with the service processor through an input/output unit.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable storage medium for use managing a set of objects for a plurality of terminals, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for storing the set of objects in nonvolatile memory, wherein the set of objects are used to configure a plurality of logical partitions within the data processing system;

wherein the plurality of logical partitions includes operating systems that are executing simultaneously;

second instructions for providing access to the set of objects to the plurality of terminals through a service processor

third instructions for sending notification of a change in the set of objects in response to a change in the set of objects made by a terminal within the plurality of terminals, wherein the plurality of terminals request objects from the set of objects in response to receiving the notification; and

fourth instructions for sending the change to the plurality of terminals in response to the request.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a nonvolatile random access memory connected to the service processor.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the set of objects is a set of profiles.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the change is a change to an object within the set of objects.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the change is an addition of another object to the set of objects.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the plurality of terminals is a plurality of hardware system consoles.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the first instructions and the second instructions are executed by a service processor and wherein the plurality of hardware system consoles communicate with the service processor through an input/output unit.