Virtual hot inserting functions in a shared I/O environment

摘要

A blade server system and method for virtually hot plugging and virtually hot removing functions in a shared I/O environment. A management node physically hot inserts and hot removes an I/O node in the server system without a compute node being aware of the hot insert and hot removal. The management node and the compute node create and remove virtual links between the compute node and the virtual functions.

主权项

1. A method for virtual hot inserting functions in a server system, the method comprising:
physically coupling an I/O node to the server system and powering up the I/O node, the I/O node comprising a plurality of functions; subsequent to powering up the I/O node, notifying a first host computer in the server system that a hot insertion operation is being requested, wherein the requested hot insertion operation is associated with a first function of the plurality of functions; in response to the notification of the requested hot insertion operation, virtually coupling the first host computer to the first function comprising requesting from the first host computer that power be applied to the I/O node, and subsequently indicating to the first host computer that the I/O node has been powered up; and virtually sharing the plurality of functions amongst a plurality of host computers in the server system including the first host computer.