Abstract: There is provided a method, system and apparatus for viral based application metering. In a method of the invention, an application can be infected with viral logic programmed to transmit application metrics to a central meter over a data communications network. For instance, the infecting step can include infecting an application with viral logic programmed to transmit periodic heartbeats to a central meter over a data communications network. Also, the infecting step can include infecting an application with viral logic programmed to report a starting of the application to a central meter over a data communications network.

Abstract: There is provided a method, system and apparatus for metering dynamically provisioned resources. A method for metering dynamically provisioned resources can include capturing or receiving captured resource usage data for dynamically provisioned resources, retrieving resource allocation data for the dynamically provisioned resources collected by a resource provisioning system, and correlating the captured resource usage data with the retrieved resource allocation data. In particular, the capturing step can include capturing or receiving captured resource allocation records from provisioning systems driven by associated service level managers.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a design pattern for automating service provisioning. Embodiments of the invention provide a catalog item management system that comprises a set of service and catalog item management functions that manage lifecycles of services and catalog items. Embodiments of the invention also provide an order fulfillment system that comprises a set of order, subscription, and service instance functions for managing orders, subscriptions, and service instances in order to provision and deprovision an application. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide a calendar reservation and scheduling system that presents a list of resource availabilities using an algorithm. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide a provisioning process that includes a process order method that initiates reservation of resources, provisioning, deprovisioning, and modification of services based on an order type.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for determining data center resource availability using multiple time domain segments. A reservation class is provided that includes a start time, duration and the number of units required. A scheduled resource class is provided with an availability and an available method. The availability method creates a set of segments for a list of reservations and iterates each segment to determine whether there are enough resources for the required units. The availability method then combines all adjacent reservations and removes reservations that are too short for the duration. The available method provides a way for user to determine if resources are available at and for a given time. A composite resource class is also provided for more than one scheduled resource with an availability and available method.

Abstract: There is provided in an embodiment of the present invention a method wherein a processor may receive a test configuration deployment plan (TCDP) template. A user may select the test configuration deployment plan template and provide time schedule, and specific software application names and version numbers as settings for variables within the test configuration deployment plan template, in effect making a subscription request, wherein the processor receives or otherwise prompts to receive such information. Provided such resources are available at the requested time, the processor may wait until that time and provision the test configuration deployment plan to a data center resource. Test cases are run and results are collected until time or test cases are exhausted. The processor may then release resources that had been allocated to the subscription, which may include a step of undeploying or unprovisioning.

Abstract: There is provided in an embodiment of the present invention a method, an apparatus and a program product for managing the capacity utilization estimate of a data center logical model. A data center logical model which may be based on actual physical resources of a data center physical resource is registered. An injected test load is then received which serves as the basis for a simulation, which may include fulfillment of service orders and provisioning of service orders. Usage data is next collected at the conclusion of executing injected test load. If the usage data contains a capacity utilization that does not meet a capacity threshold specified by the system owner, a further iteration of simulation may occur, in conjunction with modifying the load parameters, or changing the resources available to the data center logical model.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for managing automated resource provisioning management systems. In an embodiment, the method begins by receiving a plurality of provisioning operations from a resource provisioning management system. Each of these provisioning operations is linked to a specific job. A determination is then made as to which jobs are to be managed. The jobs are then grouped together and job dependencies are identified. The jobs are then scheduled for execution. At the appropriate time, the jobs are invoked. The jobs are audited as they are being performed.

Abstract: There is provided a method, a data processing system and a computer program product for maintaining service reliability in a data center. A probability of breach of a resource in the data center is determined. A breach of a resource may be the failure of the resource, the unavailability of a resource, the underperformance of a resource, or other problems with the resource. If the probability of breach exceeds a predetermined value, then additional resources are made available to the data center in order to prevent a breach of the resource from affecting the performance of the data center.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for presenting navigable data center information in virtual reality using leading edge rendering engines. Virtual rooms may be constructed using the mechanism of the present invention to include data center devices for a specific purpose. The virtual rooms are presented in a virtual space to the administrators. In one embodiment, responsive to a change made by administrators in the virtual space, the mechanism of the present sends change messages to existing data center management system, which in turn makes the appropriate changes to the devices or its data center information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using an application deployment template. A first mechanism is provided to deploy multiple instances of applications using an application deployment plan template. The first mechanism uses deployment parameter sets to generate corresponding deployment plans based on the deployment template. A second mechanism is provided to instantiate multiple instances of applications using deployment plan templates. A service catalog that is exposed to consumers for selection of catalog items is built on top of the second mechanism. During the cataloging and order fulfillment process, the second mechanism instantiates multiple instances of applications using the generated deployment plans and an application model to deploy multiple application instances. An existing order may also be modified or terminated responsive to a user request or service term expiration.

Abstract: Access of data center resources is provided by the present invention using stateless and stateful Web services. For stateless Web services, the present invention provides an invoker API that allows a client to invoke a specific resource and perform an operation on the resource. For stateful Web services, the present invention provides a Web Service Definition file that defines attributes and operations for data center resources. The client may access an instance of a Web service resource once an endpoint reference is obtained from the server. Since the resource instance is persistent, the client may invoke data center operations and manipulate the resource attributes accordingly.

Abstract: A method and system for grid computing. In an embodiment, a plurality of client machines are interconnected to at least one master machine. The master machine assigns a portion of a computing task to each one of the client machines. If any given client machine fails, or is delayed, in the performance its portion of the task, the master machine uses an estimate of that particular portion when presenting output for the task.

Abstract: A stick-propelled loop game is presented. Fundamentally, the invention includes an annular loop characterized by a central opening therein. The loop is caused to fly through the air or bounce against the ground and is retrieved therefrom by means of a stick fashioned with a bulbous knob at the end which is insertable into the opening. The knob on the stick allows the player of the game to spin the loop while in his possession utilizing the centrifugal force of the loop against the stick. The central opening and the outside circumference of the loop are formed of a rubber like substance applied over a flexible material, such as plastic tubing. These materials allow the loop to possess sufficient mass and flexibility to allow the loop to be propelled through the air or bounced against the ground.