Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2003-08-26
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2183)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Digital data processing system initialization or configuration
C713S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06611911
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a bootstrap processor election mechanism for a multi-processor system including multiple processing units or elements. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a bootstrap processor election mechanism which elects a bootstrap processor among several processors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A multi-processor system, such as a multi-processor computer system, increases system performance by symmetric processing. Symmetric processing is a type of multiprocessing in which any function can be executed by any one processor at any time. For example, a computer system can use four processors that simultaneously perform logical operations, creating a system that is much faster than one with a single processor. A multi-processor system using symmetric processing can also increase system reliability, because when one device fails the remaining devices can keep the system running. In addition, a multi-processor system using symmetric processing can reduce waste by alleviating redundancies in having multiple devices performing the same function.
FIG. 1
shows a known symmetric processing computer system. The system includes multiple processors P
0
, P
1
, P
2
and P
3
, labeled
100
,
101
,
102
and
103
, respectively, memory interface
105
and basic input/output system (BIOS) interface
106
. Processors
100
-
103
form a cluster
150
. As used herein, the term cluster is defined a collection up to four processors interconnected on a single processor bus. As shown in
FIG. 1
, processor bus
104
interconnects processors
100
-
103
. This shared bus may be referred to a Front Side Bus (FSB).
It is preferred to have a small number of processors (typically 4) on a FSB. As is known, to add additional processors on the FSB adds to congestion and may not contribute to additional system performance.
In symmetric processing systems, the processors share the same FSB, memory and BIOS resources. According to known systems, each cluster is independent of one another and requires its own memory, BIOS, FSB and other processing devices within the cluster.
In some multi-processor computer systems,all processors are started, or booted, at one time when the system is turned on. Because of the difficulty in writing control code for computer systems that can be simultaneously executed by multiple processors, however, some multi-processor computer systems often employ mechanisms which only allow one processor to be active in each cluster during the booting process while the other processors remain inactive. This active processor is called the bootstrap processor. From the saying “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” the term boot refers to a computer system's start up procedure.
The bootstrap procedure of a single cluster system does not translate to multi-cluster systems. Since each cluster operates independently of the others each cluster would have its own bootstrap processor. However, it is desirable to have a single bootstrap processor operating for the entire system.
It should be noted that although a multi-processor system was used to illustrate the disadvantages of a bootstrap processor assignment mechanism, other types of multi-device systems and bootstrap processor assignment mechanisms suffer from similar problems.
In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for a bootstrap processor election mechanism which elects a single bootstrap processor among several clusters of processors that maintains the benefit of increased performance in a symmetric multi-processor computer system, at a reasonable cost, without losing the benefits of increased reliability and reduced operational redundancies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a bootstrap processor election mechanism elects a single bootstrap processor among a plurality of processors includes creating an atomic access shared storage location and electing one of the processors as the bootstrap processor.
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Aaron, Jr. Larry D.
Binns Frank
Edmonds, Jr. Bruce C.
Keating Craig W.
LeClerg Frank E.
Cao Chun
Intel Corporation
Lee Thomas
Steiner Paul E.
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