Abstract: Automatic machine methods and apparatus for determining which components of an I/O configuration are shared by other components of the configuration. The information can be obtained through the use of existing self-description facilities and unique identifiers. By noting which channel paths are used to obtain configuration-data records and examining the unique identifiers provided for each I/O items it can be determined which I/O devices are accessible through the same control unit, and which control units provide access to the same I/O device. Furthermore, by examining the unique identifiers provided, it can be determined which I/O subsystems and which control units or channel subsystems are accessible through the same dynamic switch and which dynamic switches provide access to the same I/O subsystem of channel subsystem.

Abstract: An access method and system in a logically partitioned data processing system having a plurality of logical partitions. A requesting logical partition requests information pertaining to a resource of the data processing system as the resource relates to a requested logical partition of the system. The requesting logical partition is given access to the information when the requesting and requested logical partitions are authorized to access the resource. Thus, access to logical partition information is provided on a per resource basis. Additionally, access is limited such that the requesting logical partition can access information relating to less than all of the logical partitions of the logically partitioned data processing system.