Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing operating systems. A request from an operating system is received in the multi-partitioned data processing system to register for access to hardware in the multi-partitioned data processing system. The request includes a key code for the operating system. A determination is made as to whether the operating system is an authorized operating system using the key code in response to receiving the request. The operating system is registered if the operating system is the authorized operating system. Otherwise, the operating system is terminated.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing operating systems. A request from an operating system is received in the multi-partitioned data processing system to register for access to hardware in the multi-partitioned data processing system. The request includes a key code for the operating system. A determination is made as to whether the operating system is an authorized operating system using the key code in response to receiving the request. The operating system is registered if the operating system is the authorized operating system. Otherwise, the operating system is terminated.

Abstract: A method for managing operating systems. A request from an operating system is received in the multi-partitioned data processing system to register for access to hardware in the multi-partitioned data processing system. The request includes a key code for the operating system. A determination is made as to whether the operating system is an authorized operating system using the key code in response to receiving the request. The operating system is registered if the operating system is the authorized operating system. Otherwise, the operating system is terminated.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for preserving trace data in a logical partitioned data processing system. A call is received from a partition in a plurality of partitions to register a buffer in the partition for the trace data. The call includes a pointer to the buffer. The buffer is associated with a trace routine in platform firmware. The trace routine stores the trace data for calls made by the partition to the platform firmware in the buffer.

Abstract: A interrupt is generated for all processors in a multiprocessor system when a critical datapath experiences an error. Serialization code in the interrupt handling routine for that interrupt suspends all processors except one and places the suspended processors in a waiting queue while the one processor handles the error. After the error has been handled, the remaining processors are allow to execute the interrupt handler, which simply exits detecting no error.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for handling errors or other events in a logical partition (LPAR) data processing system is disclosed. When an operating system is initialized in a logical partition, it registers its capabilities for handling particular errors or other events with management software. When an error or other event affecting that logical partition occurs, the management software checks to see if the particular error or event is one that the operating system is capable of handling. If so, the operating system is notified. Otherwise, the management software directs the operating system to take other appropriate action, such as termination of the operating system and/or partition.

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: In a computer system having a logical-partitioned server, each partition of the server is provided with its own separate lock and access corridor, in addition to a global lock. When the locking of a partition lock is followed by the locking of the global lock, the system is serialized. The partition locks are controlled by system firmware on behalf of an OS isolating each partition; however, the global lock is controlled by the system firmware to be unlocked independent of the lock/unlock status of the partition locks. In this manner, the ability or inability of an OS that issued a machine check interrupt to unlock its partition lock after the machine check analysis is complete is irrelevant; once the machine check analysis is complete, the system firmware unlocks the global lock, giving other partitions access to shared system resources to run their own machine checks.

Abstract: A logical partition management apparatus and method for handling system reset interrupts (SRIS) are provided. The apparatus and method provide a SRI handler in the hypervisor that is capable of handling SRIs which may occur at any time during the operation of the multiprocessor computing system. The apparatus and method allow a hypervisor call to be completed before an SRI is handled. In this way, the SRI does not cause a processor of the symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system to indefinitely hold a lock on a system resource and thus, other processors are not starved due to an inability to access the system resource.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for debugging partition management firmware from an existing operating system debugger. The partition management firmware is also called a hypervisor. The data processing system is logically partitioned and includes an operating system debugger and hypervisor software. An operating system and the operating system debugger are stored in one of the logical partitions. Extensions are included within the operating system debugger. The extensions are then utilized by the existing operating system debugger to debug the hypervisor.

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 and apparatus preserve the data structures established in the earliest stage of initial power load, rather than each system firmware component rediscovering the hardware components of the system. Thus, the data structure is available at later stages for other firmware components. In a logical partitioning machine, the open firmware partition manager can utilize the data structure to support the partition's open firmware device tree construction. The partition manager customizes the copies of these data structures residing in the partition's memory. For hardware devices in the system but not belonging to the partition, the device information is cleared and marked invalid. After the data structures are established and updated by the earliest firmware I/O configuration component, the addresses of these structures are provided to the open firmware component. The open firmware copies these data structures to its internally safe working area and uses the copies for its normal operation.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for displaying a graphical depiction of the system configuration of the data processing system. Execution of a boot process of the data processing system is started. Prior to a completion of the boot process, a configuration of the data processing system is determined by the system itself. A graphical depiction of the configuration is then generated. The graphical depiction is then graphically displayed utilizing a display screen which is included in the data processing system. The graphical depiction illustrates each device included in the system as well as how the devices are interconnected. Thereafter, the execution of the boot process is completed. The steps of determining a configuration, generating a graphical depiction, and graphically displaying the graphical depiction are completed prior to completing the booting the data processing system, and thus prior to an operating system being executed by the data processing system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enforcing logical partitioning of input/output slots within a data processing system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a hypervisor and at least one DMA address checking component. The hypervisor receives non-direct-memory-access requests for access to input/output slots and prohibits devices within one logical partition from accessing the input/output slots assigned to a different logical partition. The DMA address checking component receives direct-memory-access requests and prohibits requests for addresses not within the same logical partition as the requesting device from being completed. Requests with addresses corresponding to the same logical partition as the requesting device are placed on the primary PCI bus by the DMA address checking component for delivery to the system memory.

Abstract: In a computer system having a logical-partitioned server, each partition of the server is provided with its own separate lock and access corridor, in addition to a global lock. When the locking of a partition lock is followed by the locking of the global lock, the system is serialized. The partition locks are controlled by system firmware on behalf of an OS isolating each partition; however, the global lock is controlled by the system firmware to be unlocked independent of the lock/unlock status of the partition locks. In this manner, the ability or inability of an OS that issued a machine check interrupt to unlock its partition lock after the machine check analysis is complete is irrelevant; once the machine check analysis is complete, the system firmware unlocks the global lock, giving other partitions access to shared system resources to run their own machine checks.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for handling errors or other events in a logical partition (LPAR) data processing system is disclosed. When an operating system is initialized in a logical partition, it registers its capabilities for handling particular errors or other events with management software. When an error or other event affecting that logical partition occurs, the management software checks to see if the particular error or event is one that the operating system is capable of handling. If so, the operating system is notified. Otherwise, the management software directs the operating system to take other appropriate action, such as termination of the operating system and/or partition.

Abstract: A interrupt is generated for all processors in a multiprocessor system when a critical datapath experiences an error. Serialization code in the interrupt handling routine for that interrupt suspends all processors except one and places the suspended processors in a waiting queue while the one processor handles the error. After the error has been handled, the remaining processors are allow to execute the interrupt handler, which simply exits detecting no error.

Abstract: A method for locating a defective component in a data processing system during system startup is disclosed. Each component within the data processing system is assigned a location code. Then, a progress code is associated with a location code and a function being loaded to, tested, or executed in a component. After supplying power to the data processing system, the components of the data processing system are initialized and tested to establish a configuration. During the initialization and testing, a location code of a component and a corresponding progress code are displayed on a display panel. In response to a system hang, a defective component can be identified utilizing the location code and the progress code displayed on the display panel.

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 logical partition management apparatus and method for handling system reset interrupts (SRIS) are provided. The apparatus and method provide a SRI handler in the hypervisor that is capable of handling SRIs which may occur at any time during the operation of the multiprocessor computing system. The apparatus and method allow a hypervisor call to be completed before an SRI is handled. In this way, the SRI does not cause a processor of the symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system to indefinitely hold a lock on a system resource and thus, other processors are not starved due to an inability to access the system resource.