Patent ID: 7418587
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A compound computer machine comprising: a plurality of processor modules each including one or more processors and a processor module controller which controls the processors and which controls and monitors a power supply; a plurality of component modules as components of a computer machine which are combined with the one or more processor modules to construct the computer machine; and a management module which is connected to the processor module and the component module via an interface for management and which manages the processor module and the component module, or the processor module having the same function as that of the management module, or the component module having the same function as that of the management module, wherein the management module communicates with the processor module controller by use of the interface for management to acquire installation information of the processor module installed in the compound computer machine, and has the processor module installation information, the management module communicates with the component module by use of the interface for management to acquire installation information of the component module installed in the compound computer machine, and has the component module installation information, the management module controls combinations of the one or more processor modules and the one or more component modules to construct one computer machine, thereby constituting one or more computer machines in the whole compound computer machine, the management module has, as a constraint on a combination of constructions of the processor module and the component module, combination constraint information including at least one of information on propriety of connection via a physical combination of interfaces or the like, information on propriety of connection via a logical combination of interfaces or the like, and information on propriety of connection via a specification combination of product specification or the like, and the management module has at least one of: a function of preparing combination candidate information of the processor module and the component module constructing the computer machine from the processor module installation information, the component module installation information, and the combination constraint information in a case where the processor module is combined with the component module to construct the computer machine; a function of preparing addition-time installation position candidate information indicating a candidate for an installation position of the processor module or component module to be added in the compound computer machine from the processor module installation information, the component module installation information, and the combination constraint information in a case where the processor module or the component module is newly installed in the compound computer machine; a function of preparing deletion-time installation position candidate information indicating a candidate for an installation position of the processor module or component module to be removed in the compound computer machine from the processor module installation information, the component module installation information, and the combination constraint information in a case where the processor module or the component module is removed from the compound computer machine; and a function of preparing a replacement-time installation position candidate information indicating a candidate for an installation position of the processor module or component module to be replaced in the compound computer machine from the processor module installation information, the component module installation information, and the combination constraint information in a case where the processor module or the component module is removed from the compound computer machine to install another processor module or component module, that is, the processor module or the component module is replaced.