Applying firmware updates in a system with zero downtime by selectively offlining and onlining hardware using a scale-up hypervisor layer
US9851996B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2009/4557
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method includes running a scale-up hypervisor on a server complex including at least one server and running a single operating system and at least one application on top of the scale-up hypervisor. The method further includes identifying a firmware update available for a first hardware component within the server complex. The scale-up hypervisor removes all workload from the first hardware component, and the identified firmware update is applied to the first hardware component while the first hardware component is idle and the hypervisor continues running the single operating system and the at least one application. Preferably, the method may be used to sequentially apply firmware updates to various hardware components across the plurality of servers without ever shutting down the entire plurality of servers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.