Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interface is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a virtual machine monitor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The virtual machine monitor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interface is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a virtual machine monitor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The virtual machine monitor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interface is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a virtual machine monitor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The virtual machine monitor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interface is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a virtual machine monitor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The virtual machine monitor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interlace is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a hypervisor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The hypervisor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the hypervisor.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for logical partition migration. Responsive to a virtual machine monitor initiating a logical partition migration operation to move a logical partition from a source system to a destination system, the mechanism reallocates a portion of processing resources from the logical partition to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor uses the portion of processing resources to effect the logical partition migration operation. Responsive to completion of the logical partition migration operation, the mechanism returns the portion of processing resources to the logical partition.

Abstract: Provided is a virtual interface, a “Forwarder” and a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The virtual interlace is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from a hypervisor, and a common interface of the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the common interface and converts the commands into a generic I/O format. The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD. The hypervisor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the virtual interface, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder receives the request, converts the request into a form readable by the VBSD and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to a block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the virtual interface with the response from the ABSD. The virtual interface then responds to the hypervisor.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided n a data processing system for logical partition migration. Responsive to a virtual machine monitor initiating a logical partition migration operation to move a logical partition from a source system to a destination system, the mechanism reallocates a portion of processing resources from the logical partition to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor uses the portion of processing resources to effect the logical partition migration operation. Responsive to completion of the logical partition migration operation, the mechanism returns the portion of processing resources to the logical partition.

Abstract: Provided is conduit configured such that a hypervisor does not need to include logic for communicating directly with an I/O storage device. A virtual Asynchronous Service Interface (VASI) is the interface between a Command/Response Queue (CRQ), which receives CRQ commands from the hypervisor, and a Common Data-Link Interface (CDLI) of a Forwarder. The Forwarder receives I/O commands in a format associated with the CDLI and converts the commands into a generic I/O format understood by a Virtual Block Storage Device (VBSD). The reformatted command is transmitted to the VBSD, which issues commands to the native I/O stack. The hypervisor sends a read or write (R/W) request to the VASI, which passes the request to the Forwarder. The Forwarder converts the request and transmits the converted request to the VBSD. The VBSD transmits the request to the block storage device and returns the response to the Forwarder. The Forwarder replies to the request from the VASI with the response from the ABSD.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage connected to the VIOS.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage connected to the VIOS.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage connected to the VIOS.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage connected to the VIOS.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided n a data processing system for logical partition migration. Responsive to a virtual machine monitor initiating a logical partition migration operation to move a logical partition from a source system to a destination system, the mechanism reallocates a portion of processing resources from the logical partition to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor uses the portion of processing resources to effect the logical partition migration operation. Responsive to completion of the logical partition migration operation, the mechanism returns the portion of processing resources to the logical partition.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided n a data processing system for logical partition migration. Responsive to a virtual machine monitor initiating a logical partition migration operation to move a logical partition from a source system to a destination system, the mechanism reallocates a portion of processing resources from the logical partition to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor uses the portion of processing resources to effect the logical partition migration operation. Responsive to completion of the logical partition migration operation, the mechanism returns the portion of processing resources to the logical partition.

Abstract: A mechanism for interfacing block storage devices is disclosed. The mechanism performs operations including receiving communications from an initiator at a block storage device interface, translating the received communications, transmitting the translated communications to a native storage device driver, forwarding the translated communication to a physical adapter, and controlling physical storage devices in response to the communications received from the initiator.

Abstract: In a data processing system having a plurality of virtualized operating system (OS) partitions, a first cluster-aware virtual input/output server (VIOS) is provided within an OS partition by execution of a cluster-aware (CA) OS on a virtual processor resource of the first VIOS. The CA OS establishes the VIOS as a cluster-aware VIOS by registering the first VIOS with a VIOS cluster comprising a second VIOS. Registering the first VIOS to the VIOS cluster enables the first VIOS to receive VIOS cluster configuration data and status data, which provides the first VIOS with information about the other VIOSes within the VIOS cluster. The first VIOS is thus able to communicate with other VIOSes within the VIOS cluster and share I/O resources with the other VIOSes within the VIOS cluster. Relevant cluster information is stored within a local storage of the first VIOS.

Abstract: A method provides input/output (I/O) redundancy within a data processing system having (a) a client logical partition (LPAR) that generates and consumes I/O requests, (b) a plurality of virtual input/output servers (VIOS) that are communicatively inter-connected with each other to form a VIOS cluster and which include virtual I/O adapters for connecting to a fabric that provides access to a block storage. In one embodiment, a first VIOS receives an I/O request from the client LPAR. The first VIOS detects that a problem exists with a fabric connection to the block storage, and the first VIOS responds to the detected connection problem by autonomously propagating the I/O request to a second VIOS to which the first VIOS is connected. Forwarding of the I/O request to the block storage is subsequently completed by the second VIOS.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for sharing an application among multiple server systems. In one embodiment, the application is stored on a fast disk paging device. The paging device is in communication with each of a plurality of servers so that each server may be given access to the application. Virtual real memory (VRM) is allocated to a first virtual client of the first server. A portion of this VRM is allocated to the application. The application is executed by a virtual client of a first server. During execution a condition may occur that requires taking the first server off line. In that event, VRM is allocated to a second virtual client of a second server. A portion of this VRM is allocated to the application. The application is then executed by the second virtual client of the second server.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for providing to a plurality of WPARs private access to physical storage connected to a server through a VIOS are disclosed. In one embodiment, a server is logically partitioned to form a working partition comprising a WPAR manager and individual WPARs. Each WPAR is assigned to a different virtual port. The virtual ports are created by using NPIV protocol, between the WPAR and VIOS. Thereby, each WPAR has private access to the physical storage-connected to the VIOS.