Method, system and computer program product for transitioning network traffic between logical partitions in one or more data processing systems

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for transitioning network traffic between logical partitions in one or more data processing systems are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of logical partitions with respect to one or more processing units of one or more data processing systems and dynamically reallocating resources from a second partition to a first partition among the plurality of logical partitions. Packets awaiting processing are transferred from the second partition to the first partition and processed on the first partition.

1 . A method for transitioning network traffic between logical partitions in one or more data processing systems, said method comprising: 
 defining a plurality of logical partitions with respect to one or more processing units of one or more data processing systems;    dynamically reallocating resources from a second partition to a first partition among said plurality of logical partitions;    transferring packets awaiting processing from said second partition to said first partition; and    processing said packets on said first partition.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring step further comprises: 
 communicating outgoing packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition;    holding said outgoing packets and outgoing packets generated on said first logical partition until said communicating step has completed; and    transmitting said outgoing packets.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring step further comprises: 
 communicating incoming packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reallocating step further comprises said second partition discovering network information relating to said first partition.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reallocating step further comprises a virtual Ethernet adapter of said first partition assuming a MAC address of a virtual Ethernet adapter of said second partition.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to transferring said packets, suspending activity of said second partition by reallocating all resources of said second partition.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, designating said first partition as a recipient of all packets designated for said first partition and said second partition.  
   
   
       8 . A system for transitioning network traffic between logical partitions in one or more data processing systems, said system comprising: 
 means for defining a plurality of logical partitions with respect to one or more processing units of one or more data processing systems;    means for dynamically reallocating resources from a second partition to a first partition among said plurality of logical partitions;    means for transferring packets awaiting processing from said second partition to said first partition; and    means for processing said packets on said first partition.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said transferring means further comprises: 
 means for communicating outgoing packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition;    means for holding said outgoing packets and outgoing packets generated on said first logical partition until said communicating step has completed; and    means for transmitting said outgoing packets.    
   
   
       10 . The system for of  claim 8 , wherein said transferring means further comprises: 
 means for communicating incoming packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said reallocating means further comprises means for said second partition discovering network information relating to said first partition.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said reallocating means further comprises means for a virtual Ethernet adapter of said first partition assuming a MAC address of a virtual Ethernet adapter of said second partition.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising means, in response to transferring said packets, for suspending activity of said second partition by reallocating all resources of said second partition.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising means for designating said first partition as a recipient of all packets designated for said first partition and said second partition.  
   
   
       15 . A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for transitioning network traffic between logical partitions in one or more data processing systems, said computer program product comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium;    instructions on the computer-readable medium for defining a plurality of logical partitions with respect to one or more processing units of one or more data processing systems;    instructions on the computer-readable medium for dynamically reallocating resources from a second partition to a first partition among said plurality of logical partitions;    instructions on the computer-readable medium for transferring packets awaiting processing from said second partition to said first partition; and    instructions on the computer-readable medium for processing said packets on said first partition.    
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said transferring instructions further comprises: 
 instructions on the computer-readable medium for communicating outgoing packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition;    instructions on the computer-readable medium for holding said outgoing packets and outgoing packets generated on said first logical partition until said communicating step has completed; and    instructions on the computer-readable medium for transmitting said outgoing packets.    
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said transferring instructions further comprise: 
 instructions on the computer-readable medium for communicating incoming packets from said second logical partition to said first logical partition.    
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said reallocating instructions further comprise instructions on the computer-readable medium for said second partition discovering network information relating to said first partition.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said reallocating instructions further comprise instructions on the computer-readable medium for a virtual Ethernet adapter of said first partition assuming a MAC address of a virtual Ethernet adapter of said second partition.  
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions, in response to transferring said packets, suspending activity of said second partition by reallocating all resources of said second partition.