Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for managing memory. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to methods for managing memory across a plurality of partitions. A first method is disclosed which allocates memory across a plurality of partitions and includes the steps of: establishing a pool of free memory 27; allocating some of the free memory 30 to a target partition when required; identifying memory 40 within one or more source partitions to replace the allocated free memory; cleaning 42 the identified memory; and adding the cleaned memory to the pool 50. A second method for allocating memory across a plurality of partitions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided of managing hardware triggered hotplug operations of one or more input/output (I/O) cards of a computer system. The method comprises receiving hardware triggers, each of which relates to a hotplug operation to be carried out on an I/O card associated with a card slot, placing the hardware triggers in a queue, and processing the queue of hardware triggers. The method further comprises processing one or more of said hardware triggers. This comprises analysing a hardware trigger to determine the card slot to which said hardware trigger relates, and consulting a hotplug operation policy to determine whether hotplug operations are enabled for said card slot. If hotplug operations are not enabled for said card slot, this further comprises ignoring said hardware trigger, and if hotplug operations are enabled for said card slot, this further comprise querying said slot to determine whether it contains a card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for managing storage used by a processor when processing instructions in which an estimate of register usage for program procedures or functions is generated and used to control the storage of the register bank in memory.