Method for scheduling launch a computer system based upon a time of timed power-on partition of logical partitions

Abstract

Methods, systems, and media for timed power-on in a logically partitioned environment are disclosed. Embodiments may disclose determining a time period based upon a time to launch a partition and a time of day associated with the next partition to launch. After determining the time period, a timer is set to boot the system based upon the time period. More specifically, embodiments allow the timed power-on (TPO) and time of day (TOD) of logical partitions to be modified by clients independently of other partitions by determining the system TPO based upon TPOs and TODs of logical partitions as well as the TOD of the system. Some embodiments include initiating a transaction like an interrupt in response to a change in a TPO or TOD of logical partition or the system. Several of such embodiments incorporate adjusting or re-calculating the system TPO in response to the transaction.

1 . A method for launching at least one logical partition of a system, the method comprising: 
 determining a time period based upon a time to launch a partition of the at least one logical partition and a time of day associated with the partition, the partition being the next partition to launch of the at least one logical partition;    scheduling a launch for the system based upon the time period; and    launching the system in response to the scheduled launch for the system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication that the time of day associated with the partition was modified and calculating a new time period for the partition.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication that the time to launch the partition was modified.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a value indicating a new time to launch the partition.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing the scheduled launch for the system when a subsequent time period is determined to be shorter than the time period, wherein the scheduled launch for the system is a system timed power-on.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising scheduling a launch for the partition based upon the time period, wherein the scheduled launch for the partition is after the scheduled launch for the system.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising launching the partition unless the scheduled launch for the partition is overridden.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the time period comprises calculating the difference between a timed power-on associated with the partition and the time of day associated with the partition.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein scheduling the launch for the system comprises setting a timer based upon an enabled timed power-on.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein launching the system comprises powering on hardware of the system and booting partition management code.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for launching at least one logical partition of a system, the apparatus comprising: 
 system hardware to partition;    partition management circuitry to receive an event to indicate modification of a time to launch a logical partition of the at least one logical partition and determine a time period for the next scheduled launch associated with the at least one logical partition; and    a timer coupled with the system hardware to boot the partition management circuitry based upon the time period.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a client coupled with the logical partition to generate the event.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the system hardware comprises at least one processor coupled with memory.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the partition management circuitry comprises allocation circuitry to allocate processing capacity to the at least one logical partition.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the allocation circuitry allocates a fraction of the processing capacity of a processor to the logical partition.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the allocation circuitry comprises circuitry to determine the time period based upon a difference between a timed power-on and a time of day, the timed power-on and the time of day being associated with the logical partition.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the partition management circuitry comprises time management circuitry to maintain a timed power-on and a time of day for the logical partition.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein partition management circuitry comprises time management circuitry to initiate a transaction to indicate a change related to the time period.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the timer comprises a service processor to boot the system when the time of day associated with the system reaches the timed power-on set for the system.  
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation, comprising: 
 determining a time period based upon a time to launch a partition of at least one logical partition and a time of day associated with the partition, the partition being the next partition to launch of the at least one logical partition;    scheduling a launch for the system based upon the time period; and    launching the system in response to the scheduled launch for the system.    
   
   
       21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operation further comprises receiving an indication that the time of day associated with the partition was modified and calculating a new time period for the partition.  
   
   
       22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operation further comprises receiving an indication that the time to launch the partition was modified.  
   
   
       23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operation further comprises changing the scheduled launch for the system when a subsequent time period is determined to be shorter than the time period.  
   
   
       24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operation further comprises scheduling a launch for the partition based upon the time period, wherein the scheduled launch for the partition is after the scheduled launch for the system.  
   
   
       25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein determining the time period comprises calculating the difference between a timed power-on associated with the partition and the time of day.