Abstract: A multiprocessor system having a plurality of CPUs that can be dynamically reconfigured between online and offline without system shutdown. The multiprocessor system includes a dynamic reconfiguration subsystem for reconfiguration without shutdown. The dynamic reconfiguration subsystem includes a service processor having a feature file for identifying a current online number corresponding to a current number of online CPUs, a current offline number corresponding to a current number of offline CPUs and an update number corresponding to changes to be made in the current online number and the current offline number.