Abstract: A method includes, in a network of interconnected grid compute nodes, storing system criteria for a first grid compute node, storing an initial snapshot of the first grid compute node, comparing a current snapshot of the first grid compute node with the initial snapshoot to identify parts of the current snapshot that do not meet the criteria, and adjusting the first compute node to meet the criteria.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for sizing an application running on a virtual machine. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include registering, at a monitor, one or more controllers associated with one or more corresponding applications. Configuration information may be received for one or more corresponding applications. Event information may be provided to the one or more controllers to enable the one or more controllers to adjust one or more aspects of the corresponding applications. The event information may represent changes in resources (e.g., at the physical machine hosting the virtual machine and application). The aspects may be adjusted based on the changes. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for selecting a processor, such as a hardware provider, for executing a virtual appliance. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving information representative of whether one or more processors are capable of executing at least one of a plurality of virtual appliances. The received information may further including one or more costs to execute the at least one virtual appliance at one of the processors. One of the processors may be selected based on the received information. The selection enables the processor to execute the at least one virtual appliance. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for generating virtual appliances. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving, from a user interface, information representative of one or more selections of solutions. The one or more solutions may represent a configuration of a virtual appliance. The virtual appliance may be generated based on the received information. The generated virtual appliance may be provided to another machine to enable the other machine to execute the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for transitioning one or more aspect of a dynamic cluster of computers to one or more virtual machines. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving information representative of a dynamic cluster system and receiving information representative of a virtual machine. A controller may initiate, based on the received information representative of the dynamic cluster system and the virtual machine, a transition of one or more aspects of the dynamic cluster system to the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for updating virtual appliances. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving, under the control of a first update manager of a first virtual appliance, a second virtual appliance including a second update manager. The second virtual appliance may be received as an update to replace the first virtual appliance. Control of the update may be transferred from the first update manager to the second update manager, when the first update manager receives an indication representing completion of the update. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for shutting down a host, such as a computer, server, and the like, to enable power savings. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The computer-implemented method includes determining whether to shutdown an application at a virtual machine. The determination is made using information from the application. The virtual machine and application operate on a host. A power management mechanism of the host may be initiated to enable a power savings when compared to not shutting down the host. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for optimizing applications, such as applications included in a business process. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving information representative of one or more interfaces and aspects of each of the interfaces. The interfaces may be adjustable by a business process supervisor. The business process supervisor may adjust one or more aspects of the one or more interfaces. The results of the adjustment may be received and used to determine optimum settings to the one or more interfaces. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for controlling the state of components of a system. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving a request to place a system into a state. The system may include one or more components of a distributed computing system. A controller may place, based on a defined structure for the system, the one or more components into the state by sending one or more messages to the one or more components. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for determining the benefit of implementing virtualization technology. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method for determining the benefit of implementing virtualization technology. The method may include receiving information gathered using one or more agents. Based on the received information gathered using the one or more agents, an indication of whether there is a benefit to implementing one or more virtual machines may be determined. The indication may be provided to a user interface. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for sizing the operating system of a virtual machine. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The computer-implemented method includes receiving information representative of an extended application layer and a container, both of which operate at a virtual machine at a host. A determination is made regarding whether one or more aspects of the extended application and the container may be deinstalled. The extended application and the container are implemented without the deinstalled aspects. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for deploying virtual appliances. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving information representative of one or more requirements of virtual appliances and one or more resources available to host the virtual appliances. A download manager may be used to install the virtual appliances. The installation may be configured based on the received information. The start of the virtual appliances may be initiated based on a dependency description. The dependency description includes a sequence for starting the virtual appliances including the network configuration. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method includes requesting a computer in a network to install a first application and execute the first application, transferring one or more files to the computer, making modifications to the computer to install and execute the first application on the computer while recording the modifications, the modifications comprising allocating a resource to the first application, halting the first application on the computer, and reversing a portion of the modifications to the computer according to the recorded modifications. The reversing includes deallocating the resource from the first application. The method also includes making modifications to the computer to install and execute a second application on the available computer while recording the modifications, where the modifications include allocating the resource to the second application.

Abstract: A method for a grid application start protocol includes, in a network, responding to a request for a computational resource available for computing a task by sending a list of available computational resources, receiving a selection of a computational resource for reservation. The method includes, if the selection of the computational resource is available for computing the task, reserving the selection and sending a reservation number for the selection, and sending the request to a different portion of the network if computational resources are unavailable for computing the task.

Abstract: A method includes, in a grid network, querying a grid manager for assignment of a resource for execution of an application, the query including a grid application recovery request, assigning a resource having a grid application recovery service in response to the grid application recovery request, establishing a communication channel between the assigned resource and a recovery application on a recovery resource, and storing recovery information over the communication channel on the recovery resource during execution of the application.

Abstract: A method in a network of interconnected computer systems includes generating a Quality of Service (QoS) requirements document between a client and a first server for execution of a service in the first server, initiating execution of the service in the first server in response to a client request, and migrating execution of the service from the first server to a service in a second server if the first server cannot guarantee requirements specified in the QoS requirements document.

Abstract: A method and a graphical user interface (GUI) presents a set of services managing a portion of a computer grid, the GUI including a matrix-like structure with columns and rows, each column representing a computer from a set of computers in the computer grid, each computer from the set of computers having a grid manager, and each row representing a grid manager or other application service, positions of labels in the structure indicating which computer currently runs which grid manager or other application service. The GUI also includes a column representing a first computer from the set of computers running a first grid manager, and one or more columns representing one or more computers from the set of computers running one or more grid managers having an inferior relation with the first grid manager.

Abstract: A system and a method includes storing one or more configuration element entries in a definition scheme on a computer system included in a grid computer network. The configuration element entry includes data used by a program included in the computer system in the grid computer network to locate and access application specific customization data associated with an application on the computer system. The system and method also includes accessing the entries in the definition scheme for the application such that the program accesses the customization data using the definition scheme and the configuration element entries.

Abstract: A method includes, in a grid computing environment, maintaining systems having grid managers having hierarchical relations, the relations of each grid manager stored in each of the systems. Each of these hierarchical relations are classified as superior or inferior.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for determining whether there is a benefit to implementing a dynamic cluster system rather than a static cluster system. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include accessing, at a static cluster system, information representative of the static cluster system and accessing information representative of a dynamic cluster system. Based on the accessed information, a value may be determined, such that the value represents a benefit (e.g., an indication of usefulness or worth as well as a lack of usefulness or worth) of implementing the dynamic cluster system rather than the static cluster system. The determined value may be provided to a user interface, so that a user may decide whether to implement the dynamic cluster system rather than a static cluster system. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.