Dynamic data collection communication between adapter functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9552324-B2
Application number	US-201514826417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

An approach is provided that collects data from a multi-function adapter that is used by multiple functions. In the approach, a master function is dynamically selected from the group of functions. The approach further allows the master function to perform a disruptive adapter data collection while inhibiting performance of disruptive adapter data collection processes by the other (non-master) functions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, implemented by an information handling system that includes one or more processors and a memory, that collects data from a multi-function adapter utilized by a plurality of functions, the method comprising:
dynamically determining a master function selected from the plurality of functions;
allowing performance of a disruptive adapter data collection process by the master function; and
inhibiting performance of disruptive adapter data collection processes by the non-master functions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
selecting one of the plurality of functions to be the master function.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the selecting comprises a first broadcast message operation from a first of the plurality of functions to the other functions, wherein the first broadcast message operation is performed before a second broadcast operation is performed by a second of the plurality of functions, and wherein the first function is selected to be the master function.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
relinquishing a master role assumed by the master function after collecting data from the multi-function adapter, wherein each of the plurality of functions has a non-master function role after the relinquishing.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
directing each of the non-master functions to perform a non-disruptive data collection process, wherein the directing is performed by the master function;
collecting data from the multi-function adapter using the non-disruptive data collection process by each of the non-master functions; and
collecting data from the multi-function adapter using a disruptive data collection process by the master function.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
prior to collecting the data, determining, by the master function, whether the collection of data is urgent;
in response to determining that the collection of data is non-urgent, waiting a short time interval before collecting the data from the multi-function adapter using the disruptive data collection process, wherein the short time interval allows the non-master functions to complete one or more operations before the disruptive data collection process occurs; and
in response to determining that the collection of data is urgent, immediately collecting the data from the multi-function adapter using the disruptive data collection process.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein one or more of the functions are PCI functions, and wherein the method further comprises:
collecting, by each of the plurality of functions, adapter related data stored in a host memory separate from the multi-function adapter;
determining, by the master function, that the disruptive data collection process has completed and that each of the non-master functions has completed collecting the data from the adapter using the non-disruptive data collection process;
signaling, by the master function, to each of the non-master functions that normal operations can commence in response to the determination; and
relinquishing a master function role previously assumed by the master function so that the master function becomes a non-master function and resumes normal operations, wherein the relinquishing is performed after the determination.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Cardona Omar
• De Leon Iii Baltazar
• Grande Marcus B
• Hart Brian W
• Sethi Vikramjit

Classifications

• G06F13/364

  using independent requests or grants, e.g. using separated request and grant lines · CPC title

• G06F13/404

  with address mapping · CPC title

• G06F13/385

  for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F13/30

  with priority control · CPC title

• G06F13/4282 Primary

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title