Abstract: EEH methods are used during the boot process to actively disable a defective PCI adapter, thereby allowing the system boot to continue without disruption. This allows faulty adapters to be present in the machine without interrupting the boot process. The slots appear to be empty and the devices/adapters residing therein can be actively “hot swapped” out without altering the rest of the machine state.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer instructions for handling exception vectors by firmware. An exception vector is identified to form an identified exception vector when control is passed from an operating system to the firmware. The identified exception vector is saved to form a saved exception vector. The identified exception vector is then replaced with a substitute vector; and the saved exception vector is restored when control is returned to the operating system to form a restored exception vector. At that point, the restored exception vector is again used to perform error and debugging processes.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for prohibiting unauthorized access to a protected region of memory. A protected region of memory and a trusted region of memory are both specified. A call to access a location within the protected region of memory is received. An origination location of the call is then determined. In response to a determination that the origination location is within the trusted region, the call is permitted to access the protected region of memory. In response to a determination that the origination location is outside of the trusted region, the call is prohibited from accessing the protected region of memory.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for executing a reliable warm reboot of one of multiple partitions included in a logically partitioned data processing system. The data processing system includes partition hardware. A request to reboot a particular partition is received within the partition where the particular partition includes multiple processors. Prior to executing the reboot request, the partition hardware is set to a predetermined state. The reboot request is then executed within the particular partition. The predetermined state is preferably achieved by resetting the partition hardware to a predetermined state.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for updating partition firmware in a logical partitioned data processing system. A first module in the partition firmware for a partition within a set of partitions is loaded. The first module provides an interface for receiving calls from an operating system in the partition. A second module in the partition firmware for the partition is loaded. The second module is loaded by the first module, and the second module provides a plurality of functions. Calls received at the interface of the first module are routed to the second module. The second module executes functions in response to the calls. A new second module may be loaded while the original second module continues to execute. Thereafter, the new second module may begin execution with the original second module being terminated.

Abstract: EEH methods are used during the boot process to actively disable a defective PCI adapter, thereby allowing the system boot to continue without disruption. This allows faulty adapters to be present in the machine without interrupting the boot process. The slots appear to be empty and the devices/adapters residing therein can be actively “hot swapped” out without altering the rest of the machine state.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for prohibiting unauthorized access to a protected region of memory. A protected region of memory and a trusted region of memory are both specified. A call to access a location within the protected region of memory is received. An origination location of the call is then determined. In response to a determination that the origination location is within the trusted region, the call is permitted to access the protected region of memory. In response to a determination that the origination location is outside of the trusted region, the call is prohibited from accessing the protected region of memory.

Abstract: In a computer system, upon the occurrence of a reboot command, RunTime Abstraction Services (RTAS) microcode is loaded onto a first host processor. The service processor, upon request from the RTAS microcode, then issues a command to reset all host processors other than the first host processor on which the RTAS microcode resides, and then the RTAS microcode issues a series of commands to reset all I/O adapters. Once the host processors and I/O adapters have been reset, they are initialized to a predetermined, known state. Only after the host processors and I/O adapters have been reset and initialized is the reboot request executed. By resetting all but the first host processor and the I/O adapters before executing the reboot request, all activity originating from the host processors and from the I/O drawers is terminated, so that when the reboot request is executed, the host processors and I/O drawers are ready for initialization.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for executing a reliable warm reboot of one of multiple partitions included in a logically partitioned data processing system. The data processing system includes partition hardware. A request to reboot a particular partition is received within the partition where the particular partition includes multiple processors. Prior to executing the reboot request, the partition hardware is set to a predetermined state. The reboot request is then executed within the particular partition. The predetermined state is preferably achieved by resetting the partition hardware to a predetermined state.