Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080235430 | Creation and Management of Routing Table for PCI Bus Address Based Routing with Integrated DID - A method is provided for creating and managing tables for routing packets through an environment that includes multiple hosts and shared PCI switches and adapters. A Destination Identification (DID) field in the PBA is appended to a transaction packet dispatched through the PCI switches, wherein a particular DID is associated with a particular host or system image, and thus identifies the physical or virtual end point of its packet. In one embodiment, packets are routed through PCI switches in a distributed computer system comprising multiple root nodes, wherein each root node includes one or more hosts. The embodiment includes the step of creating a table or like data structure in a specified one of the switches. When a particular host of one of the root nodes becomes connected to the specified switch, a PCI Configuration Master (PCM), residing in one of the root nodes, is operated to enter a destination identifier or DID into the table. The DID is then appended as an address component, to packets directed through the specified switch from the particular host to one of the adapters. The destination identifier is also used to determine that a PCI packet, routed through the specified switch from one of the adapters, is intended for the particular root node. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235431 | Method Using a Master Node to Control I/O Fabric Configuration in a Multi-Host Environment - A method is directed to use of a master root node, in a distributed computer system provided with multiple root nodes, to control the configuration of routings through an I/O switched-fabric. One of the root nodes is designated as the master root node or PCI Configuration Manager (PCM), and is operable to carry out the configuration while each of the other root nodes remains in a quiescent or inactive state. In one useful embodiment pertaining to a system of the above type, that includes multiple root nodes, PCI switches, and PCI adapters available for sharing by different root nodes, a method is provided wherein the master root node is operated to configure routings through the PCI switches. Respective routings are configured between respective root nodes and the PCI adapters, wherein each of the configured routings corresponds to only one of the root nodes. A particular root node is enabled to access each of the PCI adapters that are included in any configured routing that corresponds to the particular root node. At the same time, the master root node writes into a particular root node only the configured routings that correspond to the particular root node. Thus, the particular root node is prevented from accessing an adapter that is not included in its corresponding routings. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235785 | Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Routing Packets Utilizing a Unique Identifier, Included within a Standard Address, that Identifies the Destination Host Computer System - A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing environment that includes host computer systems that are coupled to adapters utilizing a switched fabric for routing packets between the host computer systems and the adapters. A unique destination identifier is assigned to one of the host computer systems. A portion of a standard format packet destination address is selected. Within a particular packet, the portion is set equal to the unique identifier that is assigned to the host computer system. The particular packet is then routed through the fabric to the host computer system using the unique destination identifier. | 09-25-2008 |
20080244313 | Overriding Daughterboard Slots Marked with Power Fault - Having detected an anomalous fault in a peripheral I/O slot, a processor entity may need to perform some remedial action, wherein the peripheral slot may have a fault line. First a voltage may be detected on the slot. Processor entity may set a fault if a voltage is found. A hotplug controller which may provide outputs that the processing entity may store as a fault syndrome word. The service processor or operating system, either during initial program load, or at another time, may detect that the fault could be a false fault depending on a set of predefined conditions and following the mechanism described here can then clear the fault earlier set. If an action from a previous device list is set, then there may be a clearing of the voltage fault based on determining that the action is set. | 10-02-2008 |
20080270853 | Method of Routing I/O Adapter Error Messages in a Multi-Host Environment - A method and apparatus is provided for routing error messages in a distributed computer system comprising multiple root nodes, and further comprising one or more PCI switches and one or more I/O adapters, wherein each root node includes one or more system images. In one useful embodiment, a method is provided for routing I/O error messages to root nodes respectively associated with the errors contained in the messages. The method includes detecting occurrence of an error at a specified one of the adapters, wherein the error affects one of the system images, and generating an error message at the specified adapter. The method further comprises routing the error message from the specified adapter to the particular root node that includes the affected system image. The error message is then selectively processed at the particular root node, in order to identify the affected system image. Usefully, the step of routing the error message includes using a bus/device/function number associated with the error, together with a routing table located in one of the PCI switches, to route the error message to the correct root node and system image. | 10-30-2008 |
20080307116 | Routing Mechanism in PCI Multi-Host Topologies Using Destination ID Field - Method and system for address routing in a distributed computing system, such as a distributed computing system that uses PCI Express protocol to communicate over an I/O fabric. A destination identifier is provided to identify a physical or virtual host or end point. When a physical or virtual host or end point receives a PCI data packet it compares a list of source identifiers with destination identifiers to determine if a source identifier included in the transaction packet is associated with a destination identifier included in the transaction packet to determine if the transaction packet has a valid association. If the transaction packet has a valid association, it is routed to the target device. The present invention enables each host that attaches to PCI bridges or switches and shares a set of common PCI devices to have its own PCI 64-bit address space and enables the routing of PCI transaction packets between multiple hosts and adapters, through a PCI switched-fabric bus using a destination identifier. | 12-11-2008 |
20090064163 | Mechanisms for Creation/Deletion of Linear Block Address Table Entries for Direct I/O - The present invention provides mechanisms that enable application instances to pass block mode storage requests directly to a physical I/O adapter without run-time involvement from the local operating system or hypervisor. In one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided for handling user space creation and deletion operations for creating and deleting allocations of linear block addresses of a physical storage device to application instances. For creation, it is determined if there are sufficient available resources for creation of the allocation. For deletion, it is determined if there are any I/O transactions active on the allocation before performing the deletion. Allocation may be performed only if there are sufficient available resources and deletion may be performed only if there are no active I/O transactions on the allocation being deleted. | 03-05-2009 |
20090100204 | Method, Apparatus, and Computer Usable Program Code for Migrating Virtual Adapters from Source Physical Adapters to Destination Physical Adapters - A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code are disclosed for migrating a virtual adapter from a source physical adapter to a destination physical adapter in a data processing system where multiple host computer systems share multiple adapters and communicate with those adapters through a PCI switched-fabric bus. The virtual adapter is first caused to stop processing transactions. All in-flight transactions that are associated with the virtual adapter are then captured. The configuration information that defines the virtual adapter is moved from the source physical adapter to the destination physical adapter. The in-flight transactions are then restored to their original locations on the destination virtual adapter. The virtual adapter is then restarted on the destination physical adapter such that the virtual adapter begins processing transactions. | 04-16-2009 |
20090119551 | Broadcast of Shared I/O Fabric Error Messages in a Multi-Host Environment to all Affected Root Nodes - A method, mechanism and computer usable medium is provided for distributing I/O fabric errors to the appropriate root nodes in a multi-root environment. The case where the I/O fabric is attached to more than one root node and where each root can potentially share with the other roots the I/O adapter (IOA) resources which are attached to the I/O is addressed. Additionally, a method, mechanism and computer usable medium is provided by which errors detected in an I/O fabric may be routed to all root nodes which may be affected by the error, while not being reported to the root nodes that will not be affected by those errors. In particular, distributed computing system which uses the PCI Express protocol to communicate over the I/O fabric is addressed. | 05-07-2009 |
20090265044 | Preemptive Thermal Control by Processor Throttling in a Modular Computing System - A modular computing housing includes a housing structure having a plurality of component slots that each can receive one of a plurality of components, where at least one of the components includes a processor having an operating frequency. A cooling system provides airflow through each of said component slots. A thermal control system can be communicably connected to each of the component slots and each of the received component processors. When the thermal control system receives configuration data from each of the component slots, retrieves throttle data corresponding to the configuration data and directs at least one received component processors to reduce its operating frequency in accordance with the throttle data. | 10-22-2009 |