Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring resources in a utility computing environment (UCE). Measurements are evaluated to determine whether or not a particular resource requires remedial or other type of action. A sliding measurement window is employed to assemble a number of measurements corresponding to a particular resource. The number of intervals in a sliding measurement window is based upon best practices corresponding to the resource being measured and analyzed. A first threshold-crossing event and subsequent events are stored until the window is full, or closed. When the window is closed, the threshold-crossing measurements are analyzed to determine whether or not there exists an issue with the resource that requires action. Once a window has been closed and analyzed, the first threshold-crossing event and each subsequent event up to a second threshold-crossing event are discarded and the window reopens.

Abstract: An improved method and system for acquisition and release of locks within a software program is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a lock within a loop is transformed by relocating acquisition and release instructions from within the loop to positions outside the loop. This may significantly decrease unnecessarily lock acquisition and release during execution of the software program. In order to avoid contention problems which may arise from acquiring and keeping a lock on an object over a relatively long period of time, a contention test may be inserted into the loop. Such a contention test may temporarily release the lock if another thread in the software program requires access to the locked object.

Abstract: An adaptive throttling system for minimizing the impact of non-production work on production work in a computer system is provided. The adaptive throttling system throttles production work and non-production work to optimize production. The adaptive throttling system allows system administrators to specify a quantified limit on the performance impact of non-production or utility work on production work. The throttling rate of the utility is then automatically determined by a supervisory agent, so that the utilities' impact is kept within the specified limit. The adaptive throttling system adapts dynamically to changes in workloads so as to ensure that valuable system resources are well utilized and utility work is not delayed unnecessarily.