Virtualization of a global interrupt queue
View Patent ↗A method, system, and article of manufacture for processing virtual interrupts in a logically partitioned system are provided. An intelligent virtual global interrupt queue (virtual GIQ) that may be associated with a plurality of virtual processors running in a logical partition may be utilized. Upon receiving a virtual interrupt, the virtual GIQ may examine the operating states of the associated virtual processors. In an effort to ensure the virtual interrupt is processed as quickly as possible, the virtual GIQ may present the virtual interrupt to one of the associated virtual processors determined to be in an operating state best suited for processing the virtual interrupt.
1. A computer-implemented method for processing a virtual interrupt, comprising:
for each of a plurality of virtual processors, invoking a routine that returns a value indicative of a predetermined set of criteria that has been satisfied for a respective virtual processor;
selecting one of the plurality of virtual processors for processing the virtual interrupt, based on values returned for the virtual processors that indicate the selected virtual processor may process the virtual interrupt with less delay than another one of the virtual processors; and
presenting the virtual interrupt to the selected virtual processor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined set of criteria comprises whether the respective virtual processor is currently executing.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining a source of the virtual interrupt; and
wherein one of the predetermined set of criteria comprises whether the respective virtual processor has masked the source of the virtual interrupt.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising presenting the virtual interrupt to the respective virtual processor if the respective virtual processor is executing and does not have the virtual interrupt source masked.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining whether the respective virtual processor has the virtual interrupt source masked based on a virtual interrupt register associated with the respective virtual processor, the virtual interrupt register indicative of a current interrupt priority level of the respective virtual processor.
6. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program for selecting one of a plurality of virtual processors for processing a virtual interrupt which, when executed by a processor, performs operations comprising:
for each of a plurality of virtual processors, invoking a routine that returns a value indicative of a predetermined set of criteria that has been satisfied for a respective virtual processor;
selecting, based on values returned for the virtual processors that indicate a first one of the virtual processors may process the virtual interrupt with less delay than another one of the virtual processors, the first one of the plurality of virtual processors for processing the virtual interrupt; and
presenting the virtual interrupt to the selected first virtual processor.
7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein one of the predetermined set of criteria comprises whether the virtual processor is currently executing.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a source of the virtual interrupt; and
wherein one of the predetermined set of criteria comprises whether the respective virtual processor has masked the source of the virtual interrupt.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the operations comprise presenting the virtual interrupt to the respective virtual processor if the respective processor is executing and does not have the virtual interrupt source masked and one of the criteria comprises whether the respective virtual processor is currently executing.