Transparent update of adapter firmware for self-virtualizing input/output device
US8418166B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2201/815
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A firmware update process for a self-virtualizing IO resource such as an SRIOV adapter is incorporated into a platform firmware update process to systematically update the resource firmware in a manner that is for the most part transparent to the logical partitions sharing the adapter. In particular, resource firmware associated with a self-virtualizing IO resource is bundled with firmware for at least one adjunct partition associated with that self-virtualizing IO resource within a common firmware image so that, upon restart of the adjunct partition to use the updated firmware image, the resource firmware is also updated, with a logical partition that uses the self-virtualizing IO resource maintained in an active state during the restart, and without requiring the self-virtualizing IO resource to be deconfigured from the logical partition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.