Logical Partition Suspend Resume for Ghost Packet Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In logically partitioned computer systems, I/O reconfiguration can lead to 'ghost packets' due to incomplete suspension of logical partitions, causing potential data integrity issues, as prior art methods do not adequately prevent interpreting reconfiguration artifacts as valid data.

Innovation Solution

A partition manager with an I/O reconfiguration mechanism and a logical partition suspend/resume mechanism is used to autonomically suspend affected logical partitions during I/O reconfiguration, ensuring that any ghost packets are ignored by not being interpreted as valid data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If logical partitions are kept running during I/O reconfiguration, then system productivity is maintained, but data integrity is compromised due to ghost packets being interpreted as valid data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem productivityVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary suspension of affected logical partitions before initiating I/O reconfiguration. This preliminary action ensures that no logical partition is active when ghost packets are generated, preventing misinterpretation of reconfiguration artifacts as valid data while maintaining the ability to resume partitions quickly after reconfiguration completes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If logical partitions are suspended during I/O reconfiguration, then data integrity is protected by preventing ghost packet interpretation, but system productivity decreases due to partition suspension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidsystem productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by suspending only the specific logical partitions affected by the I/O reconfiguration rather than suspending all logical partitions. This selective suspension protects data integrity for the affected partitions while allowing other partitions to continue executing, thereby minimizing overall productivity impact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If I/O reconfiguration is performed without suspending logical partitions, then system operation continuity is maintained, but harmful ghost packets are generated that may be interpreted as valid data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation continuityVSAvoidghost packets

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by suspending affected logical partitions before I/O reconfiguration to prevent the harmful effect of ghost packets being interpreted as valid data. This preemptive measure counteracts the potential harm before it can occur, allowing the reconfiguration to proceed safely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS8055838B2Apparatus and method for autonomically suspending and resuming logical partitions when I/O reconfiguration is required

Publication Date: 2011.11.08 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A partition manager includes an I/O reconfiguration mechanism and a logical partition suspend/resume mechanism that work together to perform autonomic I/O reconfiguration in a logically partitioned computer system. When I/O reconfiguration is required, the affected logical partitions are suspended, the I/O is reconfigured, and the affected logical partitions are resumed. Because the logical partitions are suspended during I/O reconfiguration, any ghost packet that may occur when the I/O is reconfigured is ignored.