Patent ID: 8533381
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer system comprising: at least one of a plurality of computers each having processors, memories, and interfaces; at least one of PCI switches each comprising first ports and second ports; I/O devices each coupled to each of the PCI switches; a switch management module for managing a configuration of each of the PCI switches; and a power control module which is coupled to the plurality of computers to control powering on and off of the plurality of computers, wherein each of the first orts is coupled to one of the interfaces of each of the plurality of computers; wherein each of the second ports is coupled to one of the I/O devices; wherein the switch management module includes: an identifying module for identifying a first port coupled to one of the plurality of computers that is to be booted up, and notifying one of the PCI switches of the identified first port; an instruction module for instructing the power control module to boot up the one of the plurality of computers coupled to the identified first port; and an allocation management module for managing allocation of one of the I/O devices to the one of the plurality of computers, and notifying the one of the PCI switches of the allocation of the one of the I/O devices to the one of the plurality of computers after the one of the plurality of computers is booted up, and wherein the each of the PCI switches includes: a preventing control module for preventing the one of the plurality of computers from detecting a configuration of the identified first port based on a result of the identification of the identified first port; and a virtual switch generating module for allocating a virtual hot-plug controller and resources for generating a virtual switch which includes a virtual bridge, and for generating a virtual switch that couples the identified first port and one of the second ports based on the notification of the allocation from the allocation management module, wherein the each of the PCI switches further includes a plurality of physical hot-plug management modules for detecting that a new I/O device is coupled to one of the second ports, and notifying the switch management module of hot-plug of coupling to one of the second ports, the allocation management module receives information about a computer specified to be allocated the new I/O device, notify one of the PCI switches of generation of a virtual switch that couples the new I/O device and the specified computer, and the switch management module notifies the specified computer of the hot-plug, and the each of the PCI switches includes the virtual switch generating module for allocating the virtual hot-plug controller and the virtual bridge to generate the virtual switch.