Method for automatically imparting reserve resource to logical partition and logical partitioned computer system

Abstract

A logical partitioned computer system. A hypervisor includes a resource management table for managing resources assigned to the hypervisor and an assigning/collecting unit for assigning and collecting resources to logical partitions. Each logical partition has a guest resource monitoring unit for monitoring the amount of the resource being used out of the amount of the resource assigned to the logical partition and an adding/separating unit for requesting addition and separation of a resource to the assigning/collecting unit based on results of monitoring. In response to the request, assigning/collecting unit searches resource management table, assigns a resource to logical partition when a reserve resource exists in case of an assignment request, and collects a resource as a reserve resource in the resource management table in case of a collection request.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for automatically imparting a reserve resource to a logical partition in a logical partitioned computer system in which one or more logical partitions are provided in one physical computer, and an operating systems is operated in each of the logical partitions, comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring an amount of the resource being used in an amount of the resource being assigned to each of the logical partitions, and requesting assignment or collection of the resource to said physical computer on the basis of a result of monitoring; and    causing said physical computer upon receipt of the request to assign the reserve resource to the logical partition in the case of the assignment request, and to set the resource being assigned to the logical partition as the reserve resource in the case of the collection request.    
     
     
         2 . A logical partitioned computer system in which one or more logical partitions are provided in one physical computer, and an operating system is operated in each of the logical partitions, comprising: 
 a resource managing unit provided in said physical computer for managing the resource being assigned to said physical computer and an assigning/collecting unit provided in said physical computer for effecting the assignment or collection of the resource with respect to each of the logical partitions;    a monitoring unit provided in each of the logical partitions for monitoring an amount of the resource being used in an amount of the resource being assigned and an adding/separating unit provided in each of the logical partitions for requesting said assigning/collecting unit to add or separate the resource on the basis of a result of monitoring by said monitoring unit,    wherein said assigning/collecting unit inquires said resource managing unit in compliance with a request from said adding/separating unit, and assigns the resource to the logical partition when a reserve resource is present in the case of an assignment request, and collects the resource as the reserve resource in said resource managing unit in the case of a collection request.    
     
     
         3 . The logical partitioned computer system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 an external resource adding/separating unit provided in said physical computer,    wherein said external resource adding/separating unit adds or separates the external resource with respect to said resource managing unit in response to an instruction by an operator.    
     
     
         4 . The logical partitioned computer system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a management table provided for each of the logical partitions in said physical computer,    wherein information on assignability of the reserve resource is set in said management table, and when a resource assignment request has been received from said adding/separating unit of the logical partition, whether or not assignment of the reserve resource is to be effected is determined in accordance with the contents of the information on assignability of the reserve resource in said logical partition management table.    
     
     
         5 . The logical partitioned computer system according to  claim 2 , wherein said resource managing unit sets the logical partition to which the reserve resource is assigned for each reserve resource, and upon receipt of the assignment request from said adding/separating unit in the logical partition, said resource managing unit assigns an assignable reserve resource to the logical partition.  
     
     
         6 . A method for automatically imparting a reserve resource to a logical partition in a logical partitioned computer system in which one or more logical partitions are provided in one physical computer, and an operating systems is operated in each of the logical partitions, comprising the steps of: 
 managing by a control program of said physical computer the resource assigned to said physical computer by the use of a resource management table, and effecting the assignment or collection of the resource with respect to each of the logical partitions;    causing an operating system of each of the logical partitions to monitor an amount of the resource being used in an amount of the resource being assigned to each of the logical partitions, and requesting assignment or collection of the resource to said control program on the basis of a result of monitoring; and    causing said control program upon receipt of the request to assign the reserve resource in said resource management table in the case of the assignment request, and to change the resource being assigned, for which the request for collection has been made, in said resource management table to the reserve resource in the case of the collection request.