Abstract: A mechanism for changing ownership over the physical power to a blade server in a blade center chassis that prevents a malfunctioning blade from jeopardizing other components in the chassis. When the management module is not present, control over power to the blade is switched to a service processor on the blade. This arbitration of control over power to a blade is accomplished by implementing a watchdog timer mechanism. The management module is responsible for tickling the watchdog timer when the present in the chassis and operating normally. This mechanism provides the management module with control over power.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic for activating in an end node of an IP network an IP configuration suitable for IP communications between the end node and another end node upon the detection of a direct IP connection of the end node to another end node. In some embodiments, the other end node may have a direct IP connect only to the end node. In some embodiments, the suitable IP configuration may involve a static IP address which has been published. In some embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection with another node may be accomplished by detecting a crossed-over Ethernet connection. In alternate embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection to another node may be accomplished by use of a spanning tree algorithm. In some embodiments, an operating system device driver may activate the suitable IP configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to dynamic computing resource allocation, and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic resource allocation for disparate application performance requirements. In one embodiment of the invention, a resource allocation data processing system can include a shared resource pool including resources and a resource configurator coupled to the shared resource pool. The system further can include a service processor coupled to the resource configurator, wherein the service processor can include an application programming interface (API) exposing methods for commanding the resource configurator to configure the resources in the shared resource pool.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling the allocation of power to a plurality of computers whose supply of power is managed by a common power manager by assigning by a workload manager a power priority to each computer in dependence upon application priorities of computer software applications assigned for execution to the computer and providing, by the workload manager to the power manager, the power priorities of the computers. Controlling the allocation of power to a plurality of computers whose supply of power is managed by a common power manager may include allocating by the power manager power to the computers in dependence upon the power priorities of the computers.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for receiving digital instructions at devices or controllers sharing an identity. A first controller receives a digital instruction instance over a communications medium. The digital instruction instance maybe a firmware instance. The first controller has ownership of the communications medium and shares the communications medium and a common identity with a second controller. An ownership module transfers ownership of the communications medium from the first controller to the second controller. The ownership module may transfer ownership in response to the first controller successfully receiving the digital instruction instance. A request module requests a retransmission of the digital instruction instance, and may request the retransmission in response to the transfer of ownership of the communications medium. The second controller receives the retransmitted digital instruction instance in response to the retransmission request.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for distributing configuration parameters. The present invention includes one or more storage devices configured to store data, a first DHCP server configured to process DHCP messages and redirect communications regarding configuration parameters for the storage devices to a second DHCP server, and a configuration datastore configured to store configuration parameters for the storage devices. The second DHCP server may be configured to process DHCP messages and retrieve configuration parameters for the storage devices from the configuration datastore. In certain embodiments, each storage initiator communicates with the DHCP servers, receives the configuration parameters such as iSCSI parameters, and provides the configuration parameters to one or more storage devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for deploying sensitive communication parameters to a diskless computing device. A parameter structure module is included to store one or more Internet Small Computer System Interface (“iSCSI”) communication parameters in an extendable data structure configured to store a set of basic parameter settings and a set of extended parameter settings. A link module is included to establish a secure link to a diskless computing device over a physically secure connection. A deployment module is included to deploy the extendable data structure over the secure connection to a non-volatile memory in the diskless computing device. The non-volatile memory is configured to provide sensitive iSCSI communication parameters provided by the extendable data structure to a CPU of the diskless computing device during a boot sequence.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to enable and control over-subscription in a blade/chassis system and to provide the capability to recover in the event of the loss of a redundant power supply. An over-subscription policy is determined by a system administrator and is set in the chassis management module. Information regarding the maximum power allocation needed for each blade being powered by the power supply system is identified by the blade and stored in its VPD or otherwise made available to the chassis management module. The management module of the chassis in which the blades and power supplies are located uses this information to manage the subscription of blades and the over-subscription of blades when appropriate. If throttling is required, the system also allows a predetermined blade priority to be used to identify which blades will be reduced in power.

Abstract: A mechanism for changing ownership over the physical power to a blade server in a blade center chassis that prevents a malfunctioning blade from jeopardizing other components in the chassis. When the management module is not present, control over power to the blade is switched to a service processor on the blade. This arbitration of control over power to a blade is accomplished by implementing a watchdog timer mechanism. The management module is responsible for tickling the watchdog timer when the present in the chassis and operating normally. This mechanism provides the management module with control over power. If the management module malfunctions or is removed, control over power is switched to the local service processor on the blade server as soon as the watchdog timer is not tickled.

Abstract: A method for routing traffic in a server system and a computer system utilizing the same is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises sensing a first condition in a server of a plurality of servers and adjusting traffic to the server in response to the first condition. In a second aspect, a computer system comprises a plurality of servers, wherein each of the plurality of servers comprising a monitoring mechanism for sensing a first condition in a server, a plurality of switch modules coupled to the plurality of servers, a management module, and a traffic control mechanism coupled to the management module, wherein the traffic control mechanism causes each of the plurality of switch modules to adjust traffic to the server when the first condition is sensed in the server.