Abstract: A computer-implemented method for distributing computing tasks to individual computer systems from a first pool of first computer systems, characterized by controllers executing a specific firmware with a gateway to receive commands via a network and an orchestration unit, whereby in response to a request to perform a computing task, an available and suitable first computer system is selected. An available second computer system is selected from a second pool. A firmware image corresponding to a requested controller firmware level is selected, using a gateway connector to send commands to the gateways. A network connection is established between the gateway in the controller of the first computer system and the gateway connector in the second computer system. Execution of the firmware image is triggered.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for distributing computing tasks to individual computer systems from a first pool of first computer systems, characterized by controllers executing a specific firmware with a gateway to receive commands via a network and an orchestration unit, whereby in response to a request to perform a computing task, an available and suitable first computer system is selected. An available second computer system is selected from a second pool. A firmware image corresponding to a requested controller firmware level is selected, using a gateway connector to send commands to the gateways. A network connection is established between the gateway in the controller of the first computer system and the gateway connector in the second computer system. Execution of the firmware image is triggered.

Abstract: A method is provided for verifying functional correctness of a device driver for a controller hardware component being emulated in an emulation environment including a virtual processor. The method includes providing a communication device in the emulation environment. The communication device receives at least one execution condition and an error injection command from a communication device driver associated with the communication device. The controller hardware component executes device operation commands received from the device driver. Based on the communication device determining that the at least one execution condition is fulfilled while the device operation commands are executed, the method provides for the communication device to: halt the operation of the virtual processor; inject an error into the controller hardware component by executing the error injection command; and resume the operation of the virtual processor.

Abstract: A method is provided for verifying functional correctness of a device driver for a controller hardware component being emulated in an emulation environment including a virtual processor. The method includes providing a communication device in the emulation environment. The communication device receives at least one execution condition and an error injection command from a communication device driver associated with the communication device. The controller hardware component executes device operation commands received from the device driver. Based on the communication device determining that the at least one execution condition is fulfilled while the device operation commands are executed, the method provides for the communication device to: halt the operation of the virtual processor; inject an error into the controller hardware component by executing the error injection command; and resume the operation of the virtual processor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing system including at least two disk emulators operating in parallel. Each of the at least two disk emulators emulates a disk subsystem and is associated with a respective file in a file system for any data stored on a physical disk. The data processing system further includes a de-duplicator for de-duplicating the data stored in the respective files associated with the at least two disk emulators. The de-duplicator operates in parallel to the disk emulators and is associated with an additional disk emulator emulating an additional disk subsystem. The additional disk emulator is associated with an additional file in a file system configured to store data shared between the respective disk subsystems emulated by the at least two disk emulators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for image deployment in a cloud environment comprising at least two hosts coupled to at least one disk, and at least one virtual machine created in at least one host of the at least two hosts by deploying an additional image to the at least one disk. The method is characterized in that the at least one host for deploying an additional image is selected according to a deployment factor representing a communality relationship between one or more existing base images in the cloud environment and the additional image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for image deployment in a cloud environment comprising at least two hosts coupled to at least one disk, and at least one virtual machine created in at least one host of the at least two hosts by deploying an additional image to the at least one disk. The method is characterized in that the at least one host for deploying an additional image is selected according to a deployment factor representing a communality relationship between one or more existing base images in the cloud environment and the additional image.

Abstract: A caching mechanism is provided in a computer server system including at least one host coupled to at least one disk, one or more virtual machines, one or more images of the one or more virtual machines created in a file system of the disk, and a virtual machine manager for assigning hardware resources of the computer server system to the one or more virtual machines. The mechanism provides a masking cache layer between the one or more virtual machines and the virtual machine manager, the masking cache layer including at least one separate entry for every cacheable data block of the file system to be referenced, collects profiling information related to one or more of the cacheable data blocks (58) and stores the profiling information in the masking cache layer and configures the masking cache layer according to the profiling information, or provides a configuration for the masking cache layer.

Abstract: A caching mechanism is provided in a computer server system including at least one host coupled to at least one disk, one or more virtual machines, one or more images of the one or more virtual machines created in a file system of the disk, and a virtual machine manager for assigning hardware resources of the computer server system to the one or more virtual machines. The mechanism provides a masking cache layer between the one or more virtual machines and the virtual machine manager, the masking cache layer including at least one separate entry for every cacheable data block of the file system to be referenced, collects profiling information related to one or more of the cacheable data blocks (58) and stores the profiling information in the masking cache layer and configures the masking cache layer according to the profiling information, or provides a configuration for the masking cache layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for image deployment in a cloud environment comprising at least two hosts coupled to at least one disk, and at least one virtual machine created in at least one host of the at least two hosts by deploying an additional image to the at least one disk. The method is characterized in that the at least one host for deploying an additional image is selected according to a deployment factor representing a communality relationship between one or more existing base images in the cloud environment and the additional image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing system, comprising at least two disk emulators operating in parallel and emulating a disk subsystem each, the disk emulators each using a file in a file system for any data stored on the respective disk, a separate de-duplicator for de-duplicating the data stored in the files, the de-duplicator operating in parallel to the disk emulators, the de-duplicator further using an additional disk emulator emulating an additional disk subsystem by using an additional file in a file system for storing data shared between the other disk subsystems.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining connectionless location identification information of devices within a server system. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Controller within the server system transmits a location request to a RFID Sensor. The RFID Sensor identifies devices in the server system and returns signal strength and location information of the devices to the Embedded Controller. The Embedded Controller calculates its own current location. Signal strength information is interpreted by the Embedded Controller to calculate location information. After calculating its own current location, the Embedded Controller locally stores the current location. The location information is subsequently transmitted to a Support element. The Support Element calculates a fix IP address for the Embedded Controller based on the location information, and assigns the IP address to the Embedded Controller. The location information is used for later communication with that Embedded Controller.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer usable program code for automatically identifying multiple combinations of operational and non-operational components with a single part number. A non-volatile storage is provided on a part, wherein the part includes a plurality of sub-components. Unavailable sub-components in the plurality of sub-components are identified based on a series of testing to form identified unavailable sub-components. Information of the identified unavailable sub-components is stored into the non-volatile storage.

Abstract: A system and method for an initial boot of a system before adding or removing drawers to a system without requiring an n-level cable. Standby power is applied after all cables have been connected to the system. All available expansion ports for an SMP cable are searched. A unique ID is sent over and received by all plugged SMP cables. A list of each controller and its connected controllers is created, and a master controller is assigned. A plugging table of each controller is sent to the master controller. The master controller compares all received plugging tables to plugging rules. Errors are reported in cable plugging errors and system configuration is reported to platform management service.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer usable program code for automatically identifying multiple combinations of operational and non-operational components with a single part number. A non-volatile storage is provided on a part, wherein the part includes a plurality of sub-components. Unavailable sub-components in the plurality of sub-components are identified based on a series of testing to form identified unavailable sub-components. Information of the identified unavailable sub-components is stored into the non-volatile storage.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of I/O devices being attached to a microprocessor by a special number and type of interfaces is provided. A generic configurable chip is connected to the I/O space of said microprocessor, said generic chip comprising a switch matrix being adapted to assign said special number and type of interfaces to each specific device when initializing said device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coupling a peripheral to a computer system, with the peripheral having a non-volatile memory for storing data representing information describing the peripheral. The method includes the steps of reading the data from the non-volatile memory by the computer system by means of a predefined communication protocol and instantiating a driver object for the computer system on the basis of this data.