IP Library Granted Patent US 9,354,993
Granted Patent B2
US 9,354,993 · App. 13/797,541 · Granted May 31, 2016

System and method to reduce service disruption in a shared infrastructure node environment

Inventor: Ramesh Radhakrishnan (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F11/203G06F11/006G06F11/2035
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,354,993
App. No.
13/797,541
Filed
Mar 12, 2013
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2115
USPC
713/2
Abstract

A method of reducing downtime in a node environment is disclosed. The method includes identifying an originating system board of a plurality of system boards that requires service where the originating system board includes a node operating on a processor. The method further includes identifying a target system board of the plurality of system boards where the target system board includes a target processor. The method further includes transferring operation of the node to the target processor before the originating system board is serviced, and operating the node on the target processor.

Claims (54)

1. A method of reducing downtime in a node environment, the method comprising:

identifying an originating system board of a plurality of system boards that requires service, the originating system board including a first node and a second node operating on a processor;

identifying the first node for powering down based on a determination that a distributed application is operating on the first node and a node on another system board, the node on the other system board operable to assume operations performed by the first node when the first node is powered down;

identifying the second node for transfer to a target processor on a target system board of the plurality of system boards;

powering down the first node before the originating system board is serviced; and

transferring operation of the second node to the target processor before the originating system board is serviced.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transferring operation of the second node to the target processor comprises:

booting the target processor; and

loading a system state and an operating system image of the second node on the target processor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein loading the system state on the target processor comprises:

freezing processes running on the second node;

saving the system state of the second node, the system state including a snapshot of the processes running on the second node; and

transmitting the system state to the target processor.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises transmitting the operating system image to the target processor from a storage resource allocated to the originating system board.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises the target processor accessing the operating system image from a shared storage resource.

6. An information handling system, comprising:

a plurality of system boards;

a plurality of storage devices communicatively coupled to the plurality of system boards; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of system boards and the plurality of storage devices, the controller configured to:

identify an originating system board of the plurality of system boards that requires service, the originating system board including a first node and a second node operating on a processor;

identify the first node for powering down based on a determination that a distributed application is operating on the first node and a node on another system board, the node on the other system board operable to assume operations performed by the first node when the first node is powered down;

identify the second node for transfer to a target processor on a target system board of the plurality of system boards;

power down the first node before the originating system board is serviced; and

transfer operation of the second node to the target processor before the originating system board is serviced.

7. The system of claim 6 , the controller further configured to:

identify a third node operating on a second processor of the originating system board for transfer to a second target processor on a second target system board of the plurality of system boards;

transfer the operation of the third node to the second target processor before the originating system board is serviced.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein transferring operation of the second node operating on the originating system board to the target processor comprises:

booting the target processor; and

loading a system state and an operating system image of the second node on the target processor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein loading the system state on the target processor comprises:

freezing processes running on the second node;

saving the system state of the second node, the system state including a snapshot of the processes running on the second node; and

transmitting the system state to the target processor.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises the target processor accessing the operating system image from a storage device of the plurality of storage devices, the storage device shared by the plurality of system boards.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises transmitting the operating system image to the target processor from a storage device of the plurality of storage devices, the storage device allocated to the originating system board.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer-readable medium, the instructions, when executed by a processor, operable to perform operations comprising:

identifying an originating system board of a plurality of system boards that requires service, the originating system board including a first node and a second node operating on a processor;

identifying the first node for powering down based on a determination that a distributed application is operating on the first node and a node on another system board, the node on the other system board operable to assume operations performed by the first node when the first node is powered down;

identifying the second node for transfer to a target processor on a target system board of the plurality of system boards;

powering down the first node before the originating system board is serviced; and

transferring operation of the second node to the target processor before the originating system board is serviced.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, further operable to perform operations comprising:

identifying a third node operating on a second processor of the originating system board for transfer to a second target processor on a second target system board of the plurality of system boards;

transferring operation of the third node to the second target processor before the originating system board is serviced.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein transferring operation of a second node operating on the originating system board to the target processor comprises:

booting the target processor; and

loading a system state and an operating system image of the second node on the target processor.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein loading the system state on the target processor comprises:

freezing processes running on the second node;

saving the system state of the second node, the system state including a snapshot of the processes running on the second node; and

transmitting the system state to the target processor.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises transmitting the operating system image to the target processor from a storage device allocated to the originating system board.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein loading the operating system image on the target processor comprises instructing the target processor to access the operating system image from a shared storage device.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2013
From: RADHAKRISHNAN, RAMESH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029977/0421 →
Continuity (1)
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