Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream.

Abstract: An on-demand allocation of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is provided. A determination is made as to whether an operation request requires that a set of virtual I/O service partitions have a required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters. If a required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is required, a determination is made as to whether the set of virtual I/O service partitions have the required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters. Responsive to a failure to have the required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters, a set of new virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is defined in partition management firmware and in the set of virtual I/O service partitions. The set of new virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is configured in the set of virtual I/O service partitions and the operation is issued to the set of virtual I/O service partitions.

Abstract: Controlled partition shut-down is provided within a shared memory partition data processing system including a shared memory partition, a paging service partition, a hypervisor and a shared memory pool within physical memory. The hypervisor manages access to logical pages within the pool and page-out of pages from the pool to external paging storage via the paging service partition. A respective paging service stream exists between the paging service partition and hypervisor for each shared memory partition, with each stream including a stream state. The control method includes: responsive to a shut-down initiating event, notifying the paging service partition to shut down, and determining whether a shared memory partition is currently active, and if so, signaling the hypervisor to complete paging activity for the active memory partition and waiting for its stream state to enter a suspended or a completed state before automatically shutting down the paging service partition.

Abstract: A method for controlling input and output of a virtualized computing platform is disclosed. The method can include creating a device interface definition, assigning an identifier to a paging device and configuring commands useable by a virtual input output server. The commands can be sent to the input output server and can be converted by the input output server into paging device commands. A hypervisor can assist in facilitating the communication configuration. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: In response to a hypervisor page fault for memory that is not resident in a shared memory pool, an I/O paging request is sent to an external storage paging space. In response to a paging service partition encountering an I/O paging error, a paging failure indication is sent to the hypervisor. A simulated machine check interrupt instruction is sent from the hypervisor to the shared memory partition and a machine check handler obtains control. The machine check handler performs data analysis utilizing an error log in an attempt to isolate the I/O paging error to a process or a set of processes in the shared memory partition. The process or set of processes associated with the I/O paging error, or the shared memory partition itself, may be terminated. Finally, the shared memory partition may clear or initialize the page associated with the I/O paging error.

Abstract: A method and system that enable system firmware to efficiently boot an operating system (OS) and/or client program from a network-connected Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) device. The method generally comprises: (1) defining the firmware representation of the iSCSI device within the hierarchical data structure that represents the system hardware; and (2) extending the network support package to accommodate additional boot arguments that allow system firmware to acquire the information required for booting from the network-connected iSCSI device, while utilizing one of the existing discovery protocols.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to establish at least one paging partition in a data processing system. The virtualization control point (VCP) reserves up to the subset of physical memory for use in the shared memory pool. The VCP configures at least one logical partition as a shared memory partition. The VCP assigns a paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP determines whether a user requests a redundant assignment of the paging partition to the shared memory pool. The VCP assigns a redundant paging partition to the shared memory pool, responsive to a determination that the user requests a redundant assignment. The VCP assigns a paging device to the shared memory pool. The hypervisor may transmit at least one paging request to a virtual asynchronous services interface configured to support a paging device stream.

Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports use of one or more command keywords, each identifying a specific type of support package utilized to retrieve the boot image. When the srp keyword is provided, an SRP protocol is used to access the storage boot device and retrieve the boot file. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.

Abstract: A mechanism is added to a network support package to enable/allow the specification of additional boot discovery protocols and additional network address formats. The mechanism defines qualifier keywords that are added to the boot arguments and processed by the network support package. The qualifier keywords modify the boot arguments associated with a bootstrap method by specifying a way to acquire the arguments (i.e., a specific boot discovery protocol), the format of the arguments, and other parameters associated with the arguments. Multiple qualifier keywords may be added to the boot arguments at a time, and the keywords can be applied in their order within the arguments.

Abstract: An on-demand allocation of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is provided. A determination is made as to whether an operation request requires that a set of virtual I/O service partitions have a required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters. If a required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is required, a determination is made as to whether the set of virtual I/O service partitions have the required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters. Responsive to a failure to have the required number of virtual asynchronous services interface adapters, a set of new virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is defined in partition management firmware and in the set of virtual I/O service partitions. The set of new virtual asynchronous services interface adapters is configured in the set of virtual I/O service partitions and the operation is issued to the set of virtual I/O service partitions.

Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports keywords identifying a network support package or a Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) support package. When the first keyword is provided, the IPoIB network protocol is used to access the boot server and retrieve the boot file. When the second keyword is provided, the IB network boot method is implemented, whereby the SDP network protocol is used to access the boot device. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.

Abstract: Controlled partition shut-down is provided within a shared memory partition data processing system including a shared memory partition, a paging service partition, a hypervisor and a shared memory pool within physical memory. The hypervisor manages access to logical pages within the pool and page-out of pages from the pool to external paging storage via the paging service partition. A respective paging service stream exists between the paging service partition and hypervisor for each shared memory partition, with each stream including a stream state. The control method includes: responsive to a shut-down initiating event, notifying the paging service partition to shut down, and determining whether a shared memory partition is currently active, and if so, signaling the hypervisor to complete paging activity for the active memory partition and waiting for its stream state to enter a suspended or a completed state before automatically shutting down the paging service partition.

Abstract: A method for controlling input and output of a virtualized computing platform is disclosed. The method can include creating a device interface definition, assigning an identifier to a paging device and configuring commands useable by a virtual input output server. The commands can be sent to the input output server and can be converted by the input output server into paging device commands. A hypervisor can assist in facilitating the communication configuration. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: In response to a hypervisor page fault for memory that is not resident in a shared memory pool, an I/O paging request is sent to an external storage paging space. In response to a paging service partition encountering an I/O paging error, a paging failure indication is sent to the hypervisor. A simulated machine check interrupt instruction is sent from the hypervisor to the shared memory partition and a machine check handler obtains control. The machine check handler performs data analysis utilizing an error log in an attempt to isolate the I/O paging error to a process or a set of processes in the shared memory partition. The process or set of processes associated with the I/O paging error, or the shared memory partition itself, may be terminated. Finally, the shared memory partition may clear or initialize the page associated with the I/O paging error.