Dynamic multiple cluster system reconfiguration
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- terminating a plurality of applications running in an operating system environment that supports dynamic removal of a first processor cluster from a plurality of processor clusters, the first processor cluster including a first plurality of processors and a first interconnection controller interconnected using a point-to-point architecture;
identifying the first processor cluster for removal;
flushing a plurality of caches associated with the first processor cluster;
modifying a plurality of routing tables associated with each processor cluster to reflect removal of the first processor cluster;
disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster, wherein the first processor cluster is disconnected after disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster;
maintaining physical layer communications associated with the first processor cluster to allow connection of a replacement processor cluster.
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Abstract
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to allow dynamic multiple cluster system configuration changes. In one example, processors in the multiple cluster system share a virtual address space. Mechanisms for dynamically introducing and removing processors, I/O resources, and clusters are provided. The mechanisms can be implemented during reset or while a system is operating. Links can be dynamically enabled or disabled.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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terminating a plurality of applications running in an operating system environment that supports dynamic removal of a first processor cluster from a plurality of processor clusters, the first processor cluster including a first plurality of processors and a first interconnection controller interconnected using a point-to-point architecture; identifying the first processor cluster for removal; flushing a plurality of caches associated with the first processor cluster; modifying a plurality of routing tables associated with each processor cluster to reflect removal of the first processor cluster; disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster, wherein the first processor cluster is disconnected after disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster; maintaining physical layer communications associated with the first processor cluster to allow connection of a replacement processor cluster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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means for terminating a plurality of applications running in an operating system environment that supports dynamic removal of a first processor cluster from a plurality of processor clusters, the first processor cluster including a first plurality of processors and a first interconnection controller interconnected using a point-to-point architecture; means for identifying a first processor cluster for removal; means for flushing a plurality of caches associated with the first processor cluster; means for modifying a plurality of routing tables associated with each processor cluster to reflect removal of the first processor cluster; means for disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster, wherein the first processor cluster is disconnected after disabling link layer communications associated with the first processor cluster; means for maintaining physical layer communications associated with the first processor cluster to allow connection of a replacement processor cluster. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification