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Merging scalable nodes into single-partition merged system using service processors of nodes

Merging scalable nodes into single-partition merged system using service processors of nodes description/claims

The present patent application is a continuation of the previously filed patent application also entitled “merging scalable nodes into single-partition merged system using service processors of nodes,” filed on Jun. 25, 2003, and assigned Ser. No. 10/603,516.

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to merging scalable nodes of a system into a single-partition merged system running a single instance of an operating system (OS), and more particularly to the control of such merging by using the service processors of the nodes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As computing needs for organizations have increased, one common way to obtain greater computing power is to merge a number of scalable multiple-processor and/or single-processor nodes of a system so that the nodes function as a single-partition merged system. This is known as hardware partitioning. Such a system typically runs a single instance of an operating system (OS). The resources of all the nodes are thus conceptually combined, so that in effect the user experiences a single, more powerful computing system functioning as one scaled up node, instead of a number of less powerful nodes.

A traditional approach to combining multiple nodes of a system into a single-partition merged system running a single instance of an OS is to manually configure each node. An administrator interacts directly with each node, configuring each node with the proper partition configuration information, and specifying one of the nodes as the primary, or boot node, and the other nodes as secondary nodes to the primary node. This approach is cumbersome, however, especially where there are more than a few nodes to manually configure, and is prone to user data entry error.

Another approach is to have dedicated hardware that is responsible for configuring the nodes as a single-partition merged system running a single instance of an OS. An administrator interacts with the dedicated hardware, which may be, for instance, a dedicated management console. The hardware is then responsible for ensuring that the nodes operate as a single-partition merged system. However, this approach requires the addition of potentially costly hardware, and may require modification to preexisting systems that do not allow for the addition of such functionality.

A third approach is to have a luck-of-the-draw or timing-based approach programmed into the nodes of the system. When a node boots up, it determines whether a single-partition merged system is already running, and if so, joins the system. If the node does not find a preexisting system to join, it starts one, and becomes the primary node for the new system. The node thus becomes the primary node due to timing issues and the luck of the draw. Such an approach, however, can be complex, and does not provide the administrator with control over which node becomes the primary node.

For these and other reasons, therefore, there is a need for the present invention.

The invention relates to merging nodes into a single-partition merged system using the service processors of the nodes. A method of the invention includes a user communicating with a service processor of a predetermined boot node to enter partition configuration information for the single-partition merged system. The partition configuration information is stored by the service processor of the boot node, and transmitted from the service processor of the boot node to the service processors of predetermined secondary nodes. The service processor of each secondary node then stores the partition configuration information.

A single-partition merged system on which a single instance of an operating system (OS) is runnable includes at least one predetermined secondary node and a predetermined boot node. Each secondary node has a service processor to manage startup and shutdown of the secondary node. The boot node has a service processor to manage reset, startup, and/or shutdown of the boot node, and to supervise reset, startup, and/or shutdown of the at least one secondary node by sending reset, startup, and/or shutdown commands to the at least one secondary node.

An article of manufacture of the invention includes a computer-readable medium and means in the medium. The means is for transmitting partition configuration information for a single-partition merged system of a plurality of nodes from a service processor of a boot node to a service processor of each of at least one secondary node, and for storing the partition configuration by the service processor of the boot node. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for merging nodes into a single-partition merged system running a single instance of an operating system (OS), according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and is suggested for printing on the first page of the patent.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a single-partition merged system having a number of nodes and running a single instance of an OS, according to an embodiment of the invention.

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