초록 ▼

A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configura

A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configurations is constructed in response to the collection of device information. Each device is represented by at least one device configuration, which defines the resource element requirements for the corresponding device. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device configurations and the availability of the desired resources. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining a list of device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the opera

1. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining a list of device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device and each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements;(b) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(c) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(d) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(e) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining the list of device configurations comprises:for each of the devices, obtaining logical configuration data that defines the resource element requirements for the device;preparing the list of device configurations in response to the logical configuration data; andsorting the list of device configurations based on the complexity of the resource elements for each of the device configurations. 3. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a list of device configurations from the devices, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the r eserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, wherein the obtaining the list of device configurations from the devices comprises:obtaining logical configuration data for each of the devices, the logical configuration data defining the resource element requirements for a corresponding one of the devices;preparing the list of device configurations in response to the logical configurations data; andsorting the list of device configurations based on the complexity of the resource elements for each of the device configurations comprising ordering the list of device configurations from the device configuration having the least resource element complexity to the device configuration having the most resource element complexity;determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the nonreserved resource elements is available if the nonreserved resource element is not listed in an allocated resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for use by the devices of the computer. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the reserved resource elements is available if (1) the reserved resource element is listed in a reserved resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for possible use by the devices of the computer, and (2) is not listed in the allocated resource list. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the nonreserved resource elements is allocated by adding an entry representing the nonreserved resource element to the allocated resource list. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the reserved resource elements is allocated by adding an entry representing the reserved resource element to the allocated resource list. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of attempting to obtain an alternative list of device configurations, if possible, in the event of configuration failure, and repeating steps (b)-(e) in response to the alternative list of device configurations. 9. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of the resource for use by basic devices of the computer based on a list of device configurations, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, the method comprising the steps of:creating the list of device configurations based upon logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource requirements for the operation of a corresponding device;determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure to indicate a failure to satisfy the resource element requirements defined in the list of device configurations. 10. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of the resource for use by devices of the computer based on a list of device configurations, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices w ith the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, the method comprising the steps of:determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to teach of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determined whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure to indicate a failure to satisfy the resource element requirements defined by the list of device configurations,wherein obtaining the list of device configurations comprises:obtaining logical configuration data for each of the devices, the logical configuration data defining the resource element requirements for a corresponding one of the devices;preparing the list of device configurations in response to the logical configuration data; andsorting the list of device configurations by ordering the list of device configurations from the device configuration having the least resource element complexity to the device configuration having the most resource element complexity. 11. The method of claim 9, whereinone of the nonreserved resource elements is available if the nonreserved resource element is not listed in an allocated resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for use by the devices of the computer; andone of the reserved resource elements is available if (1) the reserved resource element is listed in a reserved resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for possible use by the devices of the computer, and (2) is not listed in the allocated resource list. 12. The method of claim 11, whereinone of the nonreserved resource elements is allocated by adding an entry representing the nonreserved reso urce element to the allocated resource list; andone of the reserved resource elements is allocated by adding an entry representing the reserved resource element to the allocated resource list. 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of obtaining an alternative list of device configurations in the event of configuration failure, and repeating steps (a)-(d). 14. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of the resource for use by devices of the computer, the devices including boot devices that are activated during the power-up of the computer and basic devices that are activated after the power-up of the computer, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a list of boot device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the boot devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding boot device, each boot device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the boot devices with the computer;determining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the boot device configurations;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the boot device configurations, otherwise declaring configuration failure;obtaining a list of basic device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the basic devices, each basic device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer;preparing the list of basic device configurations in response to the logical configuration data;sorting the list of basic device configurations based upon the complexity of the resource elements for each of the basic device configurations; anddetermining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the basic device configurations; otherwise declaring configuration failure. 15. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of the resource for use by devices of the computer, the devices including boot devices that are activated during the power-up of the computer and basic devices that are activated after the power-up of the computer, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a list of boot device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the boot devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding boot device, each boot device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the boot devices with the computer;determining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the boot device configurations;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the boot device configurations, otherwise declaring configuration failure;obtaining a list of basic device configurations based on resource requirement information or resource dependency information obtained from the basic devices, each basic device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer; anddetermining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the basic device configurations; otherwise declaring configuration failure;wherein the resource elements include nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements and one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement fo r one of the boot device configurations if (1) the nonreserved resource element is not listed in an allocated resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for use by the devices of the computer, or (2) the nonreserved resource element is listed in the allocated resource list and in a preallocated resource list that specifies selected resource elements preallocated for use by the boot devices of the computer. 16. The method of claim 15, whereinone of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for one of the basic device configurations if the nonreserved resource element is not listed in the allocated resource list, andone of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirements for one of the basic device configurations if (1) the reserved resource element is listed in a reserved resource list, the reserved resource list specifying the resource elements reserved for possible use by the basic devices of the computer, and (2) the reserved resource element is not listed as an entry in the allocated resource list. 17. In a computer having a plurality of resources, an apparatus for allocating elements of the resources for use by devices of the computer, comprising:a central processing unit (CPU) for executing instructions to support the operations of the computer;a memory connected to the CPU; anda program module, stored in the memory, for generating a set of the instructions, the program module including:a configuration manager that develops a list of device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device and each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, wherein the reserved resource elements represent a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, and the nonreserved resource elements represent the remaining resource elements; andan arbitrator for each of the resources, responsive to the list of device configurations, that determines whether the resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements defined by the device configurations, wherein the arbitrator allocates the available resource elements in the event that the arbitrator determines that resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements defined by the device configurations, and wherein the arbitrator sends to the configuration manager an error message representing configuration failure in the event that the arbitrator fails to determine that resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements defined by the device configurations,wherein the arbitrator determines whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then the arbitrator allocates the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,the arbitrator determines whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then the arbitrator allocates the available reserved resource element to the first device con figuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,the arbitrator determines whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then the arbitrator allocates the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,the arbitrator determines whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then the arbitrator allocates the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,the arbitrator sends the error message to the configuration manager to declare configuration failure. 18. A memory storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program module executable by the computer to allocate elements of a resource for use by devices of the computer, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the computer, perform the steps of:obtaining a list of device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device and each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements;examining whether the resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements of the device configurations by:(a) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(b) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(c) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;i f so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,(d) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 19. A memory storage device readable by a computer to allocate elements of a resource for use by devices of the computer, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the computer, perform the steps of:obtaining a list of device configurations, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, said step of obtaining the list of device configurations comprising:obtaining logical configuration data for each of the devices, the logical configuration data defining the resource element requirements for a corresponding one of the devices;preparing the list of device configurations in response to the logical configuration data; andsorting the list of device configurations by ordering the list of device configurations from the device configuration having the least resource element complexity to the device configuration having the most resource element complexity;examining whether the resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements of the device configurations by:determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise,determining whether on e of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for one of the boot device configurations if (1) the nonreserved resource element is not listed in an allocated resource list that specifies the resource elements allocated for use by the devices of the computer, or (2) the nonreserved resource element is listed in the allocated resource list and in a preallocated resource list that specifies selected resource elements preallocated for use by the boot devices of the computer. 21. The method of claim 20, whereinone of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for one of the basic device configurations if the nonreserved resource element is not listed in the allocated resource list, andone of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirements for one of the basic device configurations if (1) the reserved resource element is listed in a reserved resource list, the reserved resource list specifying the resource elements reserved for possible use by the basic devices of the computer, and (2) the reserved resource element is not listed as an entry in the allocated resource list. 22. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the devices including boot devices that are activated during the power-up of the computer and basic devices that are activated after the power-up of the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected basic devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, the method comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining a list of boot device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the boot devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding boot device, each boot device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the boot devices with the computer;(b) determining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for the boot device configurations, the resource elements being available if (1) the resource elements are not listed in an allocated resource list or (2) the resource elements are listed in the allocated resource list and a preallocated resource list, the allocated resource list defining resource elements allocated for use by the devices, the preallocated resource list defining resource elements preallocated for use by the boot devices;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the boot device configurations, otherwise declaring configuration failure;(c) obtaining a list of basic device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the basic devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding basic device, each basic device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer;(d) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource element s is available to satisfy the resource element requirements for a first one of the basic device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations, the nonreserved resource elements being available if the resource elements are not listed in the allocated resource list;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,(e) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations, the reserved resource elements being available if (1) the resource elements are not listed in the allocated resource list and (2) the resource elements are listed in a reserved resource list defining resource elements reserved for possible use by the selected basic devices;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,(f) determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,(g) determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of obtaining the list of basic device configurations comprises:obtaining logical configuration data for each of the basic devices, the logical configuration data defining the resource element requirements for a corresponding one of the basic devices;preparing the list of basic device configurations in response to the logical configuration data; andsorting the list of basic device configurations based on the complexity of the resource elements for each of the basic device configurations. 24. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the devices including boot devices that are activated during the boot of the computer and basic devices that are activated after the boot of the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected basic devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a list of boot device configurations, each boot device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to su pport the operation of a corresponding one of the boot devices with the computer;determining whether the resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the boot device configurations, the resource elements being available if (1) the resource elements are not listed in an allocated resource list or (2) the resource elements are listed in the allocated resource list and a preallocated resource list, the allocated resource list defining resource elements allocated for use by the devices, the preallocated resource list defining resource elements preallocated for use by the boot devices;if so, allocating the available resource elements to the boot device configurations, otherwise declaring configuration failure;obtaining a list of basic device configurations, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer, wherein obtaining the list of basic device configurations comprises:obtaining logical configuration data for each of the basic devices, the logical configuration data defining the resource element requirements for a corresponding one of the basic devices;preparing the list of basic device configurations in response to the logical configurations data; andsorting the list of basic device configurations based on the complexity of the resource elements for each of the device configurations, said sorting step comprising ordering the list of basic device configurations from the basic device configuration having the least resource element complexity to the basic device configuration having the most resource element complexity;determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the basic device configurations and whether another one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations, the nonreserved resource elements being available if the resource elements are not listed in the allocated resource list;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration and allocating other available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations, the reserved resource elements being available if (1) the resource elements are not listed in the allocated resource list and (2) the resource elements are listed in a reserved resource list defining resource elements reserved for possible use by selected basic devices;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and allocating available nonreserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available nonreserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and allocating the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise,determining whether one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first basic device configuration and whether either one of the nonreserved resource elements or the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for each of the remaining basic device configurations;if so, then allocating the available reserved resource element to the first basic device configuration and the available nonreserved resource elements or reserved resource elements to each of the remaining basic device configurations; otherwise declaring a configuration failure. 25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of attempting to obtain an alternative list of basic device configurations, if possible, in the event of configuration failure in step (g), and repeating steps (d)-(g) in response to the alternative list of basic device configurations. 26. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of the computer, the devices including boot devices that are activated during the power-up of the computer and basic devices that are activated after the power-up of the computer, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a list of boot device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the boot devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding boot device, each boot device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the boot devices with the computer;determining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the boot device configurations by checking a reserved resource list, an allocated resource list, and a preallocated resource list;if so, then allocating the available resource elements to the boot device configurations, otherwise declaring configuration failure;obtaining a list of basic device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the basic devices, each basic device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the basic devices with the computer;sorting the list of basic device configurations based upon the complexity of the resource element requirements for each of the basic device configurations;determining whether resource elements are available to satisfy the resource element requirements for each of the basic device configurations by checking the reserved resource list and the allocated resource list; andif so, then allocating the available resource elements to the basic device configurations; otherwise declaring configuration failure. 27. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer using a list of device configurations, each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, wherein a first one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration, the method comprising the steps of:creating the list of device configurations based upon logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device;allocating the first nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration;determining whether a second one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a second one of the device configurations;if the second nonreserved resource element is available, then allocating the second nonreserved res ource element to the second device configuration, otherwise;deallocating the first nonreserved resource element;determining whether a first one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration;if the first one of the reserved resource elements is available, then allocating the first reserved resource element to the first device configuration;determining whether the first nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the second device configuration; andif the first nonreserved resource elements is available, then allocating the first nonreserved resource element to the second device configuration. 28. A method for allocating elements of a resource for use by devices of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining a list of device configurations based on logical configuration data obtained from the devices, said logical configuration data defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device and each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements;(b) determining whether a first one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations;if the first nonreserved resource element is available, then allocating the first nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration, otherwise;(c) determining whether a second one of the nonreserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for the first device configuration;if the second nonreserved resource element is available, then allocating the second nonreserved resource element to the first device configuration, otherwise;(d) determining whether a first one of the reserved resource elements is available to satisfy the resource element requirement for a first one of the device configurations;if the first reserved resource element is available, then allocating the first reserved resource element to the first device configuration. 29. For a computer having at least one resource, a method for allocating elements of the resource for use by devices of the computer based on a list of device configurations obtained from the devices, said device configurations based on resource requirement information or resource dependency information, the resource requirement information defining resource elements for the operation of a corresponding device and each device configuration defining a requirement for one of the resource elements to support the operation of a corresponding one of the devices with the computer, the resource elements including nonreserved resource elements and reserved resource elements, the reserved resource elements representing a set of the resource elements that are held in reserve for possible use by selected devices, the nonreserved resource elements representing the remaining resource elements, the method comprising the steps of:(a) determining whether a first resource candidate is listed on a reserved resource list or an allocated resource list;(b) if the first resource candidate is not listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list, then(i) allocating the first resource candidate to the first device configuration; and(ii) for each of the remaining device configurations, determining whether a next resource candidate is listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list and if the next resource element is not listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list, then allocating the next resource element to the remaining device configuration, otherwise;(c) if the first resource candidate is listed on the reserved resource list but not the allocated resource list, then(i) allocating the first resource candidate to the first device configuration; and(ii) for each of the remaining device configurations, determining whether a next resource candidate is listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list and if the next resource element is not listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list, then allocating the next resource element to the remaining device configuration, otherwise;(d) unallocating the first resource candidate to the first device configuration;(e) if the first resource candidate is not listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list, then(i) allocating the first resource candidate to the first device configuration; and(ii) for each of the remaining device configurations, determining whether a next resource candidate is listed on the reserved resource list or the allocated resource list and if the next resource element is not listed on the allocated resource list, then allocating the next resource element to the remaining device configuration.