Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for improving isolation of I/O errors in logical partitioned data processing systems. A machine check is generated that indicates that an I/O error has occurred in the system. The PCI host bridge (PHB) that generated the machine check is identified. The system includes multiple PHBs, each with its own set of slots. Some of these slots may be enabled for enhanced error handling while others of them are not. The adapters that are not enabled for enhanced error handling and that are coupled to the PHB that generated the machine check are identified. It is then determined that the I/O error occurred in at least one of these slots that are not enabled for enhanced error handling.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for controlling power in a data processing system having a plurality of logical partitions. Responsive to receiving a request to turn off the power for a logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions in the data processing system, a determination is made as to whether an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system. The power is turned off in the data processing system in response to a determination an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is absent in the data processing system. The logical partition is shut down in response to a determination that an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system. The mechanism of the present invention also provides for rebooting logical partitions. A request is received to reboot a logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for recovering terminated partitions in a logical partitioned data processing system. A termination of a partition in a set of partitions associated with a host bridge in the logical partitioned data processing system is detected. The state of other partitions within the set of partitions is checked in response to detecting the termination. A recovery process is initiated if all partitions in the set of partitions have terminated. Input/output slots associated with the host bridge are reset to a normal state if the recovery process is successful. The set of partitions is rebooted after resetting the input/output slots associated with the host bridge without rebooting the logical partitioned data processing system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing error logs. A request is received from a partition within a plurality of partitions in the logical partitioned data processing system to access error information. A determination is made as to whether the error information is located in a buffer. The error information is retrieved from a non-volatile memory in response to the error information being absent in the buffer. The retrieved error information retrieved from the non-volatile memory is stored in the buffer. This error information is stored in the buffer only for a selected period of time. After that period of time, this error information is deleted or removed from the buffer. In this manner, outdated error information is not returned to the plurality of partitions.

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.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a set of processors. In response to a request to deallocate a processor assigned to a partition within the logical partitioned data processing system, the processor in the set of processors, is stopped. In response to stopping the processor, the processor is placed in an isolated state in which the processor is isolated from the partition. The processor is then placed in a pool of resources for later reassignment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing memory blocks. In response to a request to deallocate a memory block from a partition, all processes are prevented from using the memory block. The memory block is isolated from the partition in response to preventing use of the memory block. The memory block is deallocated to form a free memory block.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing slots. In response to a request to deallocate a slot assigned to a partition within the logical partitioned data processing system, resources used for accessing the slot are disabled when the slot is unused in which a state of the slot changes to an isolated state when the resources are deallocated. The resources and ownership of the slot are unassigned from the partition when the slot is in the isolated state to place the slot in an unallocated state.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for halting input/output error propagation in the logically partitioned data processing system. All components associated with the bridge are identified to form a set of failed components in response to detecting an error state in a bridge within a set of bridges in the logical partitioned data processing system. An identification of the failed components is stored in which the identification is used by each partition during a boot process.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enforcing logical partitioning of a shared device to which multiple partitions within a data processing system have access is provided. In one embodiment, a firmware portion of the data processing system receives a request from a requesting device, such as a processor assigned to one of a plurality of partitions within the data processing system, to access (i.e., read from or write to) a portion of the shared device, such as an NVRAM. The request includes a virtual address corresponding to the portion of the shared device for which access is desired. If the virtual address is within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware provides access to the requested portion of the shared device to the requesting device. If the virtual address is not within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware denies the request.

Abstract: A method, system, and product within a logically partitioned computer system including multiple, different partitions are disclosed for booting a partition using one of multiple, different firmware images. These multiple, different firmware images are stored in the computer system. One of the partitions is rebooted utilizing one of the firmware images without rebooting other ones of the partitions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing and recovering from soft errors in computer array with a parity error checking design in a data processing system. In response to an occurrence of a parity error, processor status information is stored to form stored processor information. A determination is made as to whether the parity error is a recoverable parity error using the stored processor information. In response to the parity error being a recoverable parity error, a recovery action is performed. The specific action taken varies depending on the type of error.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for isolating failing hardware in a data processing system. In response to detecting a recovery attempt from an error, an indication of the attempt is stored. A hardware component associated with the error is placed in an unavailable state in response to the error exceeding a threshold for errors.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enforcing logical partitioning of a shared device to which multiple partitions within a data processing system have access is provided. In one embodiment, a firmware portion of the data processing system receives a request from a requesting device, such as a processor assigned to one of a plurality of partitions within the data processing system, to access (i.e., read from or write to) a portion of the shared device, such as an NVRAM. The request includes a virtual address corresponding to the portion of the shared device for which access is desired. If the virtual address is within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware provides access to the requested portion of the shared device to the requesting device. If the virtual address is not within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware denies the request.

Abstract: A logical partition (LPAR) computer system for managing partition configuration data is disclosed, which includes a nonvolatile memory, and a plurality of logical partitions, each running independently from the other logical partitions. The system also includes a console coupled to the computer system for accepting logical partition configuration data input by an operator. The configuration data entered by the operator specifies the processors, I/O, and memory allocated to each logical partition defined for the system. The system further includes a set of tables maintained in the nonvolatile memory for storing the logical partition configuration data, such that the logical partition configuration data is persistent across system power cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for managing a set of objects for a plurality of terminals. The set of objects are stored in a memory, such as a nonvolatile random access memory in a data processing system. The set of objects are used to configure logical partitions within the data processing system. Access to the set of objects is provided to the plurality of terminals through a service processor.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for providing a plurality of terminals access to a service processor located within the data processing system. A first indication is returned if the service processor is unlocked in response to receiving a request from a terminal to provide a terminal within the plurality of terminals sole access to access the service processor. The service processor is locked to provide the terminal sole access to service processor in response to receiving a request to provide a terminal sole access to access the service processor. In response to receiving a request to provide a terminal sole access to access the service processor, a second indication is returned if the service processor is locked.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for controlling power in a data processing system having a plurality of logical partitions. Responsive to receiving a request to turn off the power for a logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions in the data processing system, a determination is made as to whether an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system. The power is turned off in the data processing system in response to a determination an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is absent in the data processing system. The logical partition is shut down in response to a determination that an additional partition within the plurality of logical partitions is present in the data processing system. The mechanism of the present invention also provides for rebooting logical partitions. A request is received to reboot a logical partition within the plurality of logical partitions.

Abstract: A method of handling errors in the C bit of a storage key by modifying the INSERT STORAGE KEY (ISK) and the RESET REFERENCE BIT (RRB) instructions. If an error is found in the C bit during the execution of these instructions, microcode is instructed to refresh the C bit. The C bit is interrogated a second time to determine if the refreshed C bit is still in error. If the refreshed C bit is not in error a second time, then the first error was caused by a soft or transient error, and the instruction is continued. If the refreshed C bit is in error a second time then the first and second errors were caused by a permanent error such as a stuck bit, and a system recovery machine check error is generated. The handling of C bit errors is thus done in a dynamic fashion as the instructions are executed.