Reserved device access contention reduction

• US 7,908,403 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bendyk, Mark P, Casper, Daniel F, Kalos, Matthew L., Hardy, Clint A., Yudenfriend, Harry M., Huang, Catherine C., Flanagan, John R., Ricci, Louis W., Hathorn, Roger G., Sittmann, Gustav E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz; Tariq
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS-TAYLOR, DAYTON A.
• Application Number:
  US12/030,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/122 where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]

Abstract

A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method that includes receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system, including an I/O operation command for a device. A device busy indicator is received, indicating that a second operating system has reserved the device. The command message is queued on a device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator. The control unit monitors for a device end indicator. The device busy queue is serviced to perform the I/O operation command in response to the device end indicator.

Claims

1. A computer program product for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the computer program product comprising:

a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation command for a device in communication with the control unit;

receiving a device busy indicator from the device, wherein the device busy indicator notifies the control unit that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

queuing the command message on a device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator;

initiating a device busy timer in response to queuing the command message on the device busy queue;

monitoring the device for a device end indicator, wherein the device end indicator notifies the control unit that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation command;

servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command in response to the device end indicator;

reading a value of the device busy timer in response to servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command, the reading performed by the control unit; and

outputting the value of the device busy timer in a transport response information unit message to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operation commands at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operation commands.

3. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a first in first out (FIFO) servicing, the FIFO servicing outputting the additional command messages in order of queuing on the device busy queue.

4. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a priority based servicing, the priority based servicing outputting the additional command messages from the device busy queue in order of a higher priority command message before a lower priority command message.

5. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a round robin servicing, the round robin servicing outputting the additional command messages from the device busy queue on a per operating system basis.

6. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device end indicator has not been received within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device end indicator has not been received within a command timeout period.

7. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.

8. An apparatus for reducing reserved device access contention, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the control unit configured to perform a method comprising;

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation command for a device in communication with the control unit;

receiving a device busy indicator from the device, wherein the device busy indicator notifies the control unit that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

queuing the command message on a device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator;

initiating a device busy timer in response to queuing the command message on the device busy queue;

monitoring the device for a device end indicator, wherein the device end indicator notifies the control unit that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation command;

servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command in response to the device end indicator;

reading a value of the device busy timer in response to servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command; and

outputting the value of the device busy timer in a transport response information unit message to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the control unit further performs:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operation commands at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operation commands.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a first in first out (FIFO) servicing, the FIFO servicing outputting the additional command messages in order of queuing on the device busy queue.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a priority based servicing, the priority based servicing outputting the additional command messages from the device busy queue in order of a higher priority I/O command message before a lower priority I/O command message.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as a round robin servicing, the round robin servicing outputting the additional command messages to perform from the device busy queue on a per operating system basis.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the control unit further performs:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device end indicator has not been received within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device end indicator has not been received within a command timeout period.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.

15. A method for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the method comprising:

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation command for a device in communication with the control unit;

receiving a device busy indicator from the device, wherein the device busy indicator notifies the control unit that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

queuing the command message on a device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator;

initiating a device busy timer in response to queuing the command message on the device busy queue;

monitoring the device for a device end indicator, wherein the device end indicator notifies the control unit that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation command;

servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command in response to the device end indicator;

reading a value of the device busy timer in response to servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation command, the reading performed by the control unit; and

outputting the value of the device busy timer in a transport response information unit message to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operation commands at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operation commands, wherein the servicing of the device busy queue is performed as one of a first in first out (FIFO) servicing, a priority based servicing, and a round robin servicing.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device end indicator has not been received within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device end indicator has not been received within a command timeout period.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.

19. A computer program product for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the computer program product comprising:

a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation for a device in communication with the control unit;

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is busy, performing a) through f) by the control unit, the device being busy indicating that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

a) queuing the I/O operation on a device busy queue;

b) initiating a device busy timer;

c) determining that the device is no longer busy, the device no longer being busy indicating that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation;

d) servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation in response to the determination that the device is no longer busy;

e) reading a value of the device busy timer in response to the servicing the device busy queue; and

f) outputting the value of the device busy timer to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is not busy, performing a) through b) by the control unit;

a) not queuing the I/O operation on the device busy queue; and

b) performing the I/O operation.

21. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operations at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the determination that the device is busy; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operations.

22. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device is busy within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device is busy within a command timeout period.

23. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.

24. An apparatus for reducing reserved device access contention, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit configured to communicate with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the control unit configured to communicate with a device, the control unit configured to perform a method comprising;

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation for the device in communication with the control unit;

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is busy, performing a) through f), the device being busy indicating that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

a) queuing the I/O operation on a device busy queue;

b) initiating a device busy timer;

c) determining that the device is no longer busy, the device no longer being busy indicating that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation;

d) servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation in response to the determination that the device is no longer busy;

e) reading a value of the device busy timer in response to the servicing the device busy queue; and

f) outputting the value of the device busy timer to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising one or more devices communicatively coupled to said control unit, the apparatus configured to perform the I/O operation utilizing the one or more devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is not busy, performing a) through b) by the control unit;

a) not queuing the I/O operation on the device busy queue; and

b) performing the I/O operation.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operations at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the determination that the device is busy; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operations.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device is busy within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device is busy within a command timeout period.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.

30. A method for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels, the method comprising:

receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system of the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels, wherein the command message includes an I/O operation for a device in communication with the control unit;

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is busy, performing a) through f) by the control unit, the device being busy indicating that the device is reserved by a second operating system of the plurality of operating systems;

a) queuing the I/O operation on a device busy queue;

b) initiating a device busy timer;

c) determining that the device is no longer busy, the device no longer being busy indicating that the device is ready to receive a new I/O operation;

d) servicing the device busy queue to perform the I/O operation in response to the determination that the device is no longer busy;

e) reading a value of the device busy timer in response to the servicing the device busy queue; and

f) outputting the value of the device busy timer to the first operating system via the one or more channels.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to determining by the control unit that the device is not busy, performing a) through b) by the control unit;

a) not queuing the I/O operation on the device busy queue; and

b) performing the I/O operation.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional command messages including additional I/O operations at the control unit from the plurality of operating systems via the one or more channels;

queuing the additional command messages on the device busy queue in response to the determination that the device is busy; and

servicing the device busy queue to perform the additional I/O operations.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a device busy message in response to one or more of;

receiving an additional command message at the control unit while the device busy queue is full;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit while the device is busy within a device busy timeout period;

receiving the additional command message at the control unit within an operating system timeout recovery period; and

determining that the device is busy within a command timeout period.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the command message is a transport command information unit message, including a transport command control block (TCCB) holding the I/O operation command, and configured to hold a plurality of commands, as part of a transport control word (TCW) channel program.