OS agnostic resource sharing across multiple computing platforms

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for sharing resources across a plurality of computing platforms. Firmware provided on each platform is loaded for operating system runtime availability. Shared resources are presented to operating systems running on the platforms as local resources, while in reality they are generally hosted by other platforms. An operating system resource access request is received by a requesting platform and rerouted to another platform that actually hosts a target resource used to service the resource access request. Global resource maps are employed to determine the appropriate host platforms. Communications between the platforms is enabled via an out-of-band (OOB) communication channel or network. A hidden execution mode is implemented to effectuate data rerouting via the OOB channel such that the method is performed in a manner that is transparent to operating systems running on the platforms. The shared resources include storage, input, and video devices. The method can be used to support shared KVM resources, and shared disk storage.

1 . A method for sharing resources across a plurality of computing platforms, comprising: 
 receiving a resource access request to access a shared resource at a first computing platform;    determining a second computing platform via which the shared resource may be accessed;    sending the resource access request to the second computing platform; and    accessing the shared resource via the second computing platform.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of computing platforms comprise a plurality of server blades operating in a blade server environment.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in a manner that is transparent to operating systems running on the plurality of computing platforms.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is facilitated by firmware running on each of the plurality of computing platforms.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource access request is sent to the second computing platform via an out-of-band (OOB) communication channel.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the OOB communication channel comprises one of a system management bus, an Ethernet-based network, or a serial communication link.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the target resource comprises a storage device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the resource access request comprises a storage device write request, and the method further comprises sending data corresponding to the storage device write request via the OOB communication channel.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the resource access request comprises a storage device read request, and the method further comprises: 
 retrieving data corresponding to the read request from the shared resource; and    sending the data that are retrieved back to the first computing platform via the OOB communication channel.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 maintaining global resource mapping data identifying which resources are accessible via which computing platforms; and    employing the global resource mapping data to determine which computing platform to use to access the shared resource.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a local copy of the global resource mapping data is maintained on each of the plurality of computing platforms.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the global resource mapping data is maintained by a central global resource manager.  
   
   
       13 . A method for sharing a plurality of storage devices across a plurality of computing platforms, comprising: 
 configuring the plurality of storage devices as a virtual storage volume;    maintaining a global resource map that maps input/output (I/O) blocks defined for the virtual storage volume to corresponding storage devices that actually host the I/O blocks;    receiving a data access request identifying an I/O block from which data are to be accessed via the virtual storage volume;    identifying a computing platform via which a target storage device that actually hosts the I/O block may be accessed through use of the global resource map;    routing the data access request to the computing platform that is identified; and    accessing the I/O block on the target storage device via the computing platform that is identified.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 configuring the plurality of storage devices as at least one RAID (redundant array of independent disks) storage volume;    maintaining RAID configuration mapping information that maps input/output (I/O) blocks defined for said -at least one RAID virtual storage volume to corresponding storage devices that actually host the I/O blocks; and    employing the RAID configuration mapping information to access appropriate storage devices in response to read and write access requests.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the RAID virtual storage volume is configured in accordance with the RAID- 1  standard.  
   
   
       16 - 26 . (Canceled).  
   
   
       27 . A blade server system, comprising: 
 a chassis, including a plurality of slots in which respective server blades may be inserted;    an interface plane having a plurality of connectors for mating with respective connectors on inserted server blades and providing communication paths between the plurality of connectors to facilitate in out of band (OOB) communication channel; and    a plurality of server blades, each including a processor and firmware executable thereon to perform operations including: 
 receive a resource access request from an operating system running on a requesting server blade to access a shared resource hosted by at least one of the plurality of server blades;  
 determining a target resource host from among the plurality of server blades that hosts a target resource that may service the resource access request;  
 sending the resource access request to the target resource host; and  
 accessing the target resource via the target resource host to service the resource access request.  
   
   
   
       28 . The blade server system of  claim 27 , wherein the operations are performed in a manner that is transparent to operating systems that may be run on the plurality of server blades.  
   
   
       29 . The blade server system of  claim 27 , wherein communications between the plurality of server blades is facilitated by an out-of-band OOB communication channel.  
   
   
       30 . The blade server system of  claim 29 , wherein each processor supports a hidden execution mode that is employed for facilitating communication via the OOB channel.