Logical Partition Assignment to Named Processor Pools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional logical partitioning in computing systems is limited by a single shared pool of CPUs, leading to high total cost of ownership, reduced configuration options, and resource conflicts among organizational departments, as software licenses are purchased for every CPU in the pool regardless of actual usage.
Innovation Solution
Assigning physical processors to multiple named processor pools allows for finer granularity in resource allocation, enabling system administrators to allocate logical partitions based on functionality and departmental needs, reducing licensing costs and enhancing flexibility by separating resources for production, development, and testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shared pool of CPUs is used for logical partitioning, then the system structure is simple and easy to manage, but the total cost of ownership increases and configuration options are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single shared CPU pool into multiple named processor pools (e.g., production pool, development pool, testing pool). Each pool is independently managed and can be assigned to specific logical partitions based on functional requirements. This segmentation allows organizations to allocate resources more efficiently and reduce software licensing costs by only purchasing licenses for CPUs in the production pool, rather than licensing all CPUs in a single monolithic pool.
2Ease of operation
If a single shared pool of CPUs is used, then resource allocation is straightforward, but organizational departments experience resource conflicts and lack of flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the CPU pool into multiple named pools that can be independently allocated to different organizational departments and functional areas. For example, the production pool can be dedicated to production logical partitions, while development and testing pools serve their respective departments. This segmentation resolves resource conflicts by providing isolated resource pools for different departments while maintaining ease of management through named pool identification and standardized allocation procedures.
3Device complexity
If all micropartitions in a CPU belong to a single pool, then the system is simple to manage, but software licensing costs increase as licenses must be purchased for every CPU in the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CPU pool into multiple named processor pools, allowing organizations to distinguish between production CPUs and non-production CPUs (development, testing). Software licenses can then be purchased only for the production pool CPUs, rather than licensing all CPUs in a single undifferentiated pool. This segmentation directly reduces software licensing costs while maintaining manageable complexity through named pool identification and independent resource assignment.
4Device complexity
If a single shared pool is used, then the system architecture is simple, but finer granularity accounting of processing resources among departments is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the CPU pool into multiple named pools, enabling precise tracking and accounting of processing resources allocated to different organizational departments and functions. Each named pool can be independently monitored and accounted for, providing the measurement precision needed for departmental resource allocation while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through standardized pool management interfaces and named pool identification.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for assigning logical partitions to multiple named processor pools. Sets of physical processors are assigned to predefined processor sets. Named processor pools with unique pool names are defined. The processor sets are assigned to the named processor pools so that each processor set is assigned to a unique named processor pool. A first set of logical partitions is assigned to a first named processor pool and a second set of logical partitions is assigned to a second named processor pool. A first processor set is assigned to the first named processor pool and a first set of physical processors is assigned to the first processor set. Similarly, a second processor set is assigned to the second named processor pool and a second set of physical processors is assigned to the second processor set.