Computer system serialization control method involving unlocking global lock of one partition, after completion of machine check analysis regardless of state of other partition locks
US6886064B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 26, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99938
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a computer system having a logical-partitioned server, each partition of the server is provided with its own separate lock and access corridor, in addition to a global lock. When the locking of a partition lock is followed by the locking of the global lock, the system is serialized. The partition locks are controlled by system firmware on behalf of an OS isolating each partition; however, the global lock is controlled by the system firmware to be unlocked independent of the lock/unlock status of the partition locks. In this manner, the ability or inability of an OS that issued a machine check interrupt to unlock its partition lock after the machine check analysis is complete is irrelevant; once the machine check analysis is complete, the system firmware unlocks the global lock, giving other partitions access to shared system resources to run their own machine checks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.