Dynamic data collection communication between adapter functions

• US 9,552,324 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cardona, Omar, De Leon, Baltazar III, Grande, Marcus B., Hart, Brian W., Sethi, Vikramjit
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh G
• Application Number:
  US14/826,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20150347347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/30 with priority control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/364 using independent requests or grants, e.g. using separated request and grant lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/404 with address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247

Abstract

An approach is provided that collects data from a multi-function adapter that is used by multiple functions. In the approach, a master function is dynamically selected from the group of functions. The approach further allows the master function to perform a disruptive adapter data collection while inhibiting performance of disruptive adapter data collection processes by the other (non-master) functions.

Claims

1. A method, implemented by an information handling system that includes one or more processors and a memory, that collects data from a multi-function adapter utilized by a plurality of functions, the method comprising:

dynamically determining a master function selected from the plurality of functions;

allowing performance of a disruptive adapter data collection process by the master function; and

inhibiting performance of disruptive adapter data collection processes by the non-master functions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of functions to be the master function.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the selecting comprises a first broadcast message operation from a first of the plurality of functions to the other functions, wherein the first broadcast message operation is performed before a second broadcast operation is performed by a second of the plurality of functions, and wherein the first function is selected to be the master function.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

relinquishing a master role assumed by the master function after collecting data from the multi-function adapter, wherein each of the plurality of functions has a non-master function role after the relinquishing.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

directing each of the non-master functions to perform a non-disruptive data collection process, wherein the directing is performed by the master function;

collecting data from the multi-function adapter using the non-disruptive data collection process by each of the non-master functions; and

collecting data from the multi-function adapter using a disruptive data collection process by the master function.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

prior to collecting the data, determining, by the master function, whether the collection of data is urgent;

in response to determining that the collection of data is non-urgent, waiting a short time interval before collecting the data from the multi-function adapter using the disruptive data collection process, wherein the short time interval allows the non-master functions to complete one or more operations before the disruptive data collection process occurs; and

in response to determining that the collection of data is urgent, immediately collecting the data from the multi-function adapter using the disruptive data collection process.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein one or more of the functions are PCI functions, and wherein the method further comprises:

collecting, by each of the plurality of functions, adapter related data stored in a host memory separate from the multi-function adapter;

determining, by the master function, that the disruptive data collection process has completed and that each of the non-master functions has completed collecting the data from the adapter using the non-disruptive data collection process;

signaling, by the master function, to each of the non-master functions that normal operations can commence in response to the determination; and

relinquishing a master function role previously assumed by the master function so that the master function becomes a non-master function and resumes normal operations, wherein the relinquishing is performed after the determination.