Abstract: A method and system for migrating at least one critical resource during a migration of an operative portion of a computer system are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) sending first information constituting a substantial copy of a first of the at least one critical resource via at least one intermediary between a source component and a destination component. The method further includes (b) transitioning a status of the destination component from being incapable of receiving requests to being capable of receiving requests, and (c) re-programming an abstraction block to include modified addresses so that at least one incoming request signal is forwarded to the destination component rather than to the source component.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving one or more protected regions within a computer system having multiple partitions are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the system includes an intermediary device for use within the computer system having the multiple partitions. The intermediary device includes a fabric device, and a first firewall device capable of limiting communication of a signal based upon at least one of a source of the signal and an intended destination of the signal, the first firewall device being at least indirectly coupled to the fabric device. The intermediary device further includes a first conversion device that is one of integrated with the first firewall device and distinct from the first firewall device, and that is capable of converting between a processor address and a fabric address for use by the fabric device. In some embodiments, the various devices each include Control and Status Registers (CSRs).

Abstract: A system and method for efficient data access are described. A method for efficient remote data access for use by server management applications, includes transferring server schema from a service processor on a server to an application machine, receiving a request for server data on application machine, processing the request for server data on application machine, and forming, in a self-describing format, a single, consolidated query to obtain information not obtained from the server schema on the application machine. Processing the request obtains server data from the server schema on the application machine and the consolidated query is formatted in self-describing format. The method further includes transferring the consolidated query to the service processor, the service processor: processing the consolidated query, obtaining the requested data, and forming a response with the requested data in the self-describing format. The method transmits the formatted, retrieved data to application machine.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allocating a plurality of resources on a chip to a plurality of partitions in a partitionable computer system. In one embodiment, a resource allocated to a first partition generates a physical address in an address space allocated to the first partition. A partition identification value identifies the first partition. The first partition identification value is stored in the first physical address to produce a partition-identifying address, which may be transmitted to a system fabric. In another embodiment, a transaction is received which includes a source terminus identifier identifying a source device which transmitted the transaction. It is determined, based on the source terminus identifier, whether the source device is allocated to the same partition as any of the plurality of resources. If the source device is so allocated, the transaction is transmitted to a resource that is allocated to the same partition as the source device.

Abstract: To control update of content in a programmable read-only memory in a system, the security status associated with the system is determined, where the security status is one of a secure mode and non-secure mode. In response to detecting that the system is in secure mode, a write to the programmable read-only memory is enabled. In response to detecting that the system is in non-secure mode, a write to the programmable read-only memory is disabled.

Abstract: A system for controlling a computer system uses a management controller having sensor data record objects in a sensor data record repository. Sensor data record objects contain data from a plurality of sensors, and at least one sensor data record object contains a property descriptor. The property descriptor references a property data object readable and writeable by a controlling computer through the management controller, and provides a way to control at least one feature of the computer system.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of cache agents, a computing entity coupled to the cache agents, and a programmable mask accessible to the computing entity. The programmable mask is indicative of, for at least one memory address, those cache agents that can receive a snoop request associated with a memory address. Based on the mask, the computing entity transmits snoop requests, associated with the memory address, to only those cache agents identified by the mask as cache agents that can receive a snoop request associated with the memory address.

Abstract: A method for use in a computer system includes a first revision compatibility descriptor identifying a first plurality of compatible combinations of field-programmable unit codes. The method includes steps of: (A) determining whether the first revision compatibility descriptor identifies first field-programmable unit code for use in a first field-programmable unit as being compatible with the computer system; and (B) if the first revision compatibility descriptor does not identify the first field-programmable unit code as being compatible with the computer system, performing a step of updating the first revision compatibility descriptor to identify the first field-programmable unit code as being compatible with the computer system.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with external virtualization are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an emulation logic located external to an integrated circuit to which it may be operably connected. The example emulation logic may include a virtualization logic that is configured to virtualize a portion of a function performed by the integrated circuit. The portion may be identifiable by an address associated with the portion. The example emulation logic may also include a data store that is operably connected to the virtualization logic and that is configured to store a state data associated with virtualizing the portion of the function.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allocating a plurality of resources on a chip to a plurality of partitions in a partitionable computer system. In one embodiment, a resource allocated to a first partition generates a physical address in an address space allocated to the first partition. A partition identification value identifies the first partition. The first partition identification value is stored in the first physical address to produce a partition-identifying address, which may be transmitted to a system fabric. In another embodiment, a transaction is received which includes a source terminus identifier identifying a source device which transmitted the transaction. It is determined, based on the source terminus identifier, whether the source device is allocated to the same partition as any of the plurality of resources. If the source device is so allocated, the transaction is transmitted to a resource that is allocated to the same partition as the source device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allocating a plurality of resources on a chip to a plurality of partitions in a partitionable computer system. In one embodiment, a resource allocated to a first partition generates a physical address in an address space allocated to the first partition. A partition identification value identifies the first partition. The first partition identification value is stored in the first physical address to produce a partition-identifying address, which may be transmitted to a system fabric. In another embodiment, a transaction is received which includes a source terminus identifier identifying a source device which transmitted the transaction. It is determined, based on the source terminus identifier, whether the source device is allocated to the same partition as any of the plurality of resources. If the source device is so allocated, the transaction is transmitted to a resource that is allocated to the same partition as the source device.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with externally trapping transactions are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an external virtualization logic configured to be operably connected to a processor that does not include internal virtualization support. The example system may include a data store for storing a trappable memory address and a transaction that causes the external virtualization logic to produce a trap.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient data access are described. A method for efficient remote data access for use by server management applications, includes transferring server schema from a service processor on a server to an application machine, receiving a request for server data on application machine, processing the request for server data on application machine, and forming, in a self-describing format, a single, consolidated query to obtain information not obtained from the server schema on the application machine. Processing the request obtains server data from the server schema on the application machine and the consolidated query is formatted in self-describing format. The method further includes transferring the consolidated query to the service processor, the service processor: processing the consolidated query, obtaining the requested data, and forming a response with the requested data in the self-describing format. The method transmits the formatted, retrieved data to application machine.

Abstract: A method and system for migrating at least one critical resource during a migration of an operative portion of a computer system are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) sending first information constituting a substantial copy of a first of the at least one critical resource via at least one intermediary between a source component and a destination component. The method further includes (b) transitioning a status of the destination component from being incapable of receiving requests to being capable of receiving requests, and (c) re-programming an abstraction block to include modified addresses so that at least one incoming request signal is forwarded to the destination component rather than to the source component.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving one or more protected regions within a computer system having multiple partitions are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the system includes an intermediary device for use within the computer system having the multiple partitions. The intermediary device includes a fabric device, and a first firewall device capable of limiting communication of a signal based upon at least one of a source of the signal and an intended destination of the signal, the first firewall device being at least indirectly coupled to the fabric device. The intermediary device further includes a first conversion device that is one of integrated with the first firewall device and distinct from the first firewall device, and that is capable of converting between a processor address and a fabric address for use by the fabric device. In some embodiments, the various devices each include Control and Status Registers (CSRs).

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of cache agents, a computing entity coupled to the cache agents, and a programmable mask accessible to the computing entity. The programmable mask is indicative of, for at least one memory address, those cache agents that can receive a snoop request associated with a memory address. Based on the mask, the computing entity transmits snoop requests, associated with the memory address, to only those cache agents identified by the mask as cache agents that can receive a snoop request associated with the memory address.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with a system configured with a trap mode register, multiple interrupt vector address registers, and multiple interrupt vector tables are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a logic for initializing the trap mode register, for initializing interrupt vector address registers, and for initializing interrupt vector tables. When a trap occurs in a computer configured with the exemplary system, the trap mode register may select, based, for example, on the trap type or a trap data, an associated interrupt vector address register to provide an address of an interrupt vector table through which a trap handler can be invoked.

Abstract: A system for controlling a computer system uses a management controller having sensor data record objects in a sensor data record repository. Sensor data record objects contain data from a plurality of sensors, and at least one sensor data record object contains a property descriptor. The property descriptor references a property data object readable and writeable by a controlling computer through the management controller, and provides a way to control at least one feature of the computer system.