Abstract: An automated system and method for remote workstation inventorying and monitoring within a distributed computing environment are presented. The computing environment includes a plurality of workstations interconnected by a network. Each workstation has basic peer-to-peer communication ability providing remote file transfer and remote command execution. A designated non-server workstation operates as a monitor for generating an execute command to be sent to each remote workstation to undergo monitoring. At the remote workstation a diagnostic routine is executed for monitoring at least one configuration characteristic of the remote workstation and for providing based thereon a report file. The report file is then returned to the monitor workstation for analysis, including compiling of an appropriate report and possible issuance of an alert message.

Abstract: An optimal set of devices is allocated to a package of device requests. In one embodiment, for each device request within the package of requests, a determination is made as to one or more eligible devices capable of satisfying each of the device requests and for each eligible device, a preference value is obtained. The preference values are then used to assign devices to a package of device requests such that the sum of the preference values of the assigned devices satisfies a specific optimizing function. The assigned devices provide global optimization of device allocation for a package of requests, thereby improving system throughput and performance.

Abstract: A Structured External Storage (SES) Facility is coupled to one or more Central Electronic Complex (CEC) Processors, each linked to each other in a System Processing Complex (Sysplex). Applications within a CEC communicate with the SES via messages over a communication means. The SES comprises one or more List Structures, each structure comprising one or more Lists, each List comprising a list control and none or more List Entries. List Entries may be keyed or unkeyed, have a List Entry Identifiers (LEID), created within the SES, and unique within a particular List Structure. List Entries may also have a unique (within a List Structure) Name, created and managed by the application. A plurality of List commands are provided for creating, locating, moving and deleting List Entries--with location reference possible by LEID, Name, Key, Location within List, or a combination of Key and Location within Key.