Dynamic hardware partitioning of symmetric multiprocessing systems enables
on-the-fly provisioning of servers of varying performance characteristics
by configuring physical partitions having selectable numbers of
processors. Processors are directed to disable included coherency links
(for example by de-asserting respective Power-Good indicators to each of
the processors). Then processors selected for inclusion in a first
physical partition are directed to form coherency links with all adjacent
processors (for example by asserting the respective Power-Good indicators
to each of the processors of the first physical partition). All other
processors in the system remain isolated (i.e. their respective
Power-Good indicators remain de-asserted). The processors of the first
physical partition are then directed to fetch and execute instructions
(for example by de-asserting respective Reset indicators to each of the
processors). The processors of the first physical partition complete
booting and then a second physical partition is formed in a manner
similar to the first.