Event Queue in a Logical Partition

Abstract

An information processing system is provided which includes a plurality of system resources, and an event queue having a predetermined number of entries. An event recording mechanism of the information processing system is operable to make entries regarding events in the event queue, wherein the entries are limited to a predetermined number of active entries in the event queue per each type of event per each of the system resources. In a particular embodiment, the number of entries per each type of event for each of the system resources is limited to one.

1 . An information processing system comprising: 
 a plurality of system resources;    a first event queue;    a second event queue; and    an event recording mechanism operable in a first mode to make first entries regarding first types of events in said first event queue, and operable in a second mode to make second entries in said second event queue, said second event queue preserving a time order in which said first types of events are record as occurring, said event recording mechanism operating in said first mode limiting making said entries regarding said first type of events to no more than a predetermined number of active entries for each event type for each system resource.    
   
   
       2 . The information processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined number is 1, thereby limiting said predetermined number of entries to no more than 1 active entry for an event type for a system resource.  
   
   
       3 . The information processing system according to  claim 2 , wherein said event recording mechanism is operable to make an entry in said event queue only when no valid entry already exists in said event queue regarding an identical type of event for an identical one of said system resources.  
   
   
       4 . The information processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of privileged resources and a privileged resource controller operable to control an allocation of said privileged resources, wherein said first event queue is assigned for recording events related to said privileged resources.  
   
   
       5 . The information processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hypervisor operable to monitor a plurality of global events, said event queue being a global event queue dedicated to recording said global events, said hypervisor including a global event handler operable to monitor entries of said global event queue to handle said global events.  
   
   
       6 . The information processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an event handler operable to handle said event by referring to said entries of said first event queue in an order in which said entries are recorded in said event queue by said event recording mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The information processing system according to  claim 6 , wherein said event recording mechanism is operable to utilize a first pointer to said first event queue for making entries in said first event queue and said event handler is operable to independently utilize a second pointer for handling entries recorded in said first event queue.  
   
   
       8 . The information processing system according to  claim 7 , wherein said entry of said first event queue includes information identifying an active or inactive state of said entries.  
   
   
       9 . The information processing system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a completion queue containing entries regarding events handled by said event handler, wherein said event handler is further operable to reset an active state of an entry in said completion queue upon completing handling of an event recorded by said completion queue entry, and said event recording mechanism is further operable to record a new entry in a third event queue for an identical type of event as said completion queue entry and for an identical one of said system resources as said completion queue entry only after said active state has been reset.  
   
   
       10 . A method of processing events in an information processing system, the method comprising: 
 an event recording mechanism, in a first mode, making first entries regarding first types of events in said first event queue;    the event recording mechanism, in a second mode, making second entries in said second event queue;    said second event queue preserving a time order in which said first types of events are recorded as occurring; and    said event recording mechanism operating in said first mode limiting making said entries regarding said first type of events to no more than a predetermined number of active entries for each event type for each system resource.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said predetermined number is 1, thereby limiting said predetermined number of entries to no more than 1 active entry for an event type for a system resource.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said event making first entries step comprises making a first entry in said first event queue only when no valid entry already exists in said first event queue regarding an identical type of event for an identical one of said system resources.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of privileged resources and a privileged resource controller, the privileged resource controller controlling an allocation of said privileged resources, wherein said first event queue is assigned for recording events related to said privileged resources.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a hypervisor monitoring a plurality of global events, said first event queue being a global event queue dedicated to recording said global events, said hypervisor including a global event handler; and    the global event handler monitoring entries of said global event queue to handle said global events.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising an event handler handling said first event by referring to said entries of said first event queue in an order in which said entries are recorded in said first event queue by said event recording mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said event recording mechanism is operable to utilize a first pointer to said first event queue for making entries in said first event queue and said event handler is operable to independently utilize a second pointer for handling entries recorded in said first event queue.  
   
   
       17 . method according to  claim 16 , wherein said entry of said first event queue includes information identifying an active or inactive state of said entries.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising a completion queue containing entries regarding events handled by said event handler, wherein said event handler performs the further steps of: 
 reseting an active state of an entry in said completion queue upon completing handling of an event recorded by said completion queue entry;    said event recording mechanism is recording a new entry in a third event queue for an identical type of event as said completion queue entry and for an identical one of said system resources as said completion queue entry only after said active state has been reset.