Abstract: A low-level logical partitioning function associates partitions, partitionable entities, and location codes. Partitionable entities are hardware components, not necessarily individually replaceable. The location code reflects the physical topology of the system packaging. It is preferably a string of concatenated elements, each element representing a device in a hierarchical level of devices which may contain other devices. A respective location code is likewise associated with each of multiple physical indicators. The location code of partitionable entities allocated to a partition is compared with the indicator's location code to determine whether a process executing within a partition can access the indicator. Preferably, each partition has a virtual indicator corresponding to a physical indicator, the state of the physical indicator being derived as a function of the states of multiple virtual indicators for multiple partitions.

Abstract: A computer system independently maintains states of multiple condition indicators as logical state data, each indicator for a different respective condition and having at least an active and inactive state. Multiple condition indicators share a single human-perceptible physical indicator having at least (N+1) states, where N is the number of condition indicators, the physical indicator states including a state for all conditions inactive, and a respective separate state for each respective condition active. Preferably, the conditions comprise a fault condition and an identify condition, and the physical indicator is a light which is off if neither condition is active, is constant on if the fault condition is active, and is flashing if the identify condition is active.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing maintenance on a multiple-slot device having multiple adapters in a computer system including a peripheral interface having a plurality of device connection slots. The invention includes determining that a selected slot on the peripheral interface is associated with an adapter of a multiple-slot device, identifying a further slot associated with the multiple-slot device based on the selected slot, and providing power to, or removing power from, the selected slot and the identified further slot. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A computer system independently maintains states of multiple condition indicators as logical state data, each indicator for a different respective condition and having at least an active and inactive state. Multiple condition indicators share a single human-perceptible physical indicator having at least (N+1) states, where N is the number of condition indicators, the physical indicator states including a state for all conditions inactive, and a respective separate state for each respective condition active. Preferably, the conditions comprise a fault condition and an identify condition, and the physical indicator is a light which is off if neither condition is active, is constant on if the fault condition is active, and is flashing if the identify condition is active.

Abstract: A low-level logical partitioning function associates partitions, partitionable entities, and location codes. Partitionable entities are hardware components, not necessarily individually replaceable. The location code reflects the physical topology of the system packaging. It is preferably a string of concatenated elements, each element representing a device in a hierarchical level of devices which may contain other devices. A respective location code is likewise associated with each of multiple physical indicators. The location code of partitionable entities allocated to a partition is compared with the indicator's location code to determine whether a process executing within a partition can access the indicator. Preferably, each partition has a virtual indicator corresponding to a physical indicator, the state of the physical indicator being derived as a function of the states of multiple virtual indicators for multiple partitions.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing maintenance on a multiple-slot device having multiple adapters in a computer system including a peripheral interface having a plurality of device connection slots. The invention includes determining that a selected slot on the peripheral interface is associated with an adapter of a multiple-slot device, identifying a further slot associated with the multiple-slot device based on the selected slot, and providing power to, or removing power from, the selected slot and the identified further slot. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual PCI adaptor slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an PCI adaptor slot when transferring control of the PCI adaptor slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the PCI adaptor from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an PCI adaptor slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that PCI adaptor slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager includes a power on/power off mechanism that is used to assure a hardware resource is powered down when control of the resource is removed from a logical partition, and to assure the hardware resource is powered up when control of the hardware resource is transferred to a logical partition. In the alternative, the resource and partition manager may simply place the hardware resource in a power on reset state when the hardware resource is transferred to a logical partition. In this manner, when made available to a partition, the hardware resource is in a power-on reset state, which is the state typically expected by the logical partition.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual hardware resources. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on a hardware resource when transferring control of the hardware resource to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the hardware resource from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of a hardware resource from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that hardware resource or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for detecting and powering off unused I/O slots in a computer system. For each of the I/O slots, the current slot is checked to determine if the slot is powered on and unlocked. When the current slot is powered on and unlocked, the current slot is checked to determine if the current slot is a candidate for being powered off. When the current slot is determined to be a candidate for being powered off, then the current slot is powered off and the checking continues with a next one of the I/O slots. Recording the slot as a candidate for being powered off before the slot is actually powered off ensures a proper delay to avoid powering off a slot that is about to be locked, which could cause slot power cycles in quick succession.

Abstract: An apparatus, clustered computer system, program product and method assist in the distribution of configuration data such as VPD for a switchable resource to multiple nodes within a clustered computer system. Program code operating as a resource manager is used to enroll a node to receive updates to a switchable resource in the clustered computer system, and, in response to an update to the switchable resource, to notify each enrolled node of the update. Moreover, configuration data is communicated along with the notification to each enrolled node, such that any data required to initiate acquisition of functional ownership of a switchable resource by any such node will be locally available to such node.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method of replacing a failed hardware device in a computer each rely solely on program code and/or other computer facilities that are ensured of being available in the computer during a concurrent maintenance operation, so that, even in the event that a failure occurs in such a hardware device, successful performance of the concurrent maintenance operation is ensured. For example, the initiation of power up and power down functions necessary to permit replacement of a failed device may be performed through a control panel or other similar facility in a computer that is continuously available when a computer is in a fully or partially active and powered-on state.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for detecting and powering off unused I/O slots in a computer system. For each of the I/O slots, the current slot is checked to determine if the slot is powered on and unlocked. When the current slot is powered on and unlocked, the current slot is checked to determine if the current slot is a candidate for being powered off. When the current slot is determined to be a candidate for being powered off, then the current slot is powered off and the checking continues with a next one of the I/O slots. Recording the slot as a candidate for being powered off before the slot is actually powered off ensures a proper delay to avoid powering off a slot that is about to be locked, which could cause slot power cycles in quick succession.