Abstract: Storage scalability management is provided by adding storage in a data processing environment. A new storage subsystem is added automatically to an available storage provider only if doing so will not reduce the performance of the storage provider to an unacceptable level. If no such storage provider is available, a new storage provider is added automatically. The new storage provider is added automatically to the server and operating system that is best able to handle the additional work. Thus, a new storage subsystem is added automatically in a data processing environment in a manner that provides for system scalability while minimizing any adverse impact on system performance.

Abstract: Receiving a power off alert indicating a power off condition of a first processing system on which a first storage provider is installed, the first storage provider managing at least one storage controller. Responsive to the power off alert, issuing a first command to a second storage provider installed on a second processing system, the first command indicating to the second storage provider to assume management of the storage controller.

Abstract: Via a processor, receiving a power off alert indicating a power off condition of a first processing system on which a first storage provider is installed, the first storage provider managing at least one storage controller. The method further can include, responsive to the power off alert, issuing a first command to a second storage provider installed on a second processing system, the first command indicating to the second storage provider to assume management of the storage controller.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for completing a loyalty program transaction. The mechanism forms a coalition of a plurality of customers, including the requesting customer. Each customer within the plurality of customers requests to exchange loyalty points for a reward in a loyalty program. Each customer within the plurality of customers participates in a plurality of loyalty programs. Combined loyalty points of the plurality of customers in the plurality of loyalty programs are sufficient to be exchanged for the rewards requested by the plurality of customers. The mechanism further completes a transaction for each customer within the plurality of customers to exchange an amount of loyalty points in a respective one of the plurality of loyalty programs for a reward, such that completing the transactions for the plurality of customers results in a number of residual points. The mechanism further distributes the number of residual points among the plurality of customers.

Abstract: Methods for migrating logical partitions. The method may include dynamically discovering a destination system for migration; remotely creating an environment on the destination system for accepting the runtime migration; and migrating a running logical partition from a source system to the destination system. The source system may be managed by a source management system and the destination system may be managed by a destination management system. Dynamically discovering the destination system for migration may comprise establishing a communications channel between the source management system and the destination management system; obtaining a list of candidate systems from the destination management system; and validating resources of at least one candidate system.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for identifying variables which impact performance of software under development. Data is collected that is related to performance characteristics of the software under development. Performance change gradients are determined between previous builds of the software under development. A set of performance change factors are generated from the collected data that corresponds to each performance change gradient. Performance characteristic data corresponding to a current build of the software under development are compared to the performance change gradients. At least one fault component from the set of performance change factors that influences performance of the current build is output in response to the comparison between the performance characteristic data corresponding to the current build and the plurality of performance change gradients.

Abstract: An approach is provided that configures a management-as-a-service (MaaS) connect process at a MaaS provider. The MaaS connect process is configured based on a request received from a MaaS tenant. The configured MaaS connect process is transmitted to the MaaS tenant. MaaS services are provided from the MaaS provider to the MaaS tenant. These MaaS services interact with the configured MaaS connect process installed at the MaaS tenant.

Abstract: Storage scalability management is provided by adding storage in a data processing environment. A new storage subsystem is added automatically to an available storage provider only if doing so will not reduce the performance of the storage provider to an unacceptable level. If no such storage provider is available, a new storage provider is added automatically. The new storage provider is added automatically to the server and operating system that is best able to handle the additional work. Thus, a new storage subsystem is added automatically in a data processing environment in a manner that provides for system scalability while minimizing any adverse impact on system performance.

Abstract: Storage workload balancing in a data processing environment is provided by detecting automatically overloaded storage providers and automatically transferring storage subsystems from overloaded storage providers to storage providers with available capacity. This automatic workload balancing prevents some storage providers experiencing reduced performance while other available storage providers have unused excess capacity. If all of the available storage providers are overloaded, a new storage provider may be added automatically to a server and operating system instance that is best able to handle extra work.

Abstract: An automated learning system for improving graphical user interfaces. Information about a user transaction which caused an error is obtained from an input to an element in a graphical user interface. Associations are created between the error and one or more elements in the graphical user interface which generated the error to form association rules. The association rules are applied to a set of control rules to create user interface preference rules. A corrective action may then be performed on the one or more elements in the graphical user interface according to the user interface preference rules.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for identifying variables which impact performance of software under development. Data is collected that is related to performance characteristics of the software under development. Performance change gradients are determined between previous builds of the software under development. A set of performance change factors are generated from the collected data that corresponds to each performance change gradient. Performance characteristic data corresponding to a current build of the software under development are compared to the performance change gradients. At least one fault component from the set of performance change factors that influences performance of the current build is output in response to the comparison between the performance characteristic data corresponding to the current build and the plurality of performance change gradients.

Abstract: A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for controlling the number of Ethernet adapters connected in an EtherChannel depending upon the current bandwidth requirements of the system. This system reduces power consumption, inter alia, wherever possible while not sacrificing performance or flexibility of an EthernetChannel. An exemplary embodiment EtherChannel's total bandwidth utilization is monitored and controlled. When the bandwidth utilization is a predetermined amount less than or more than a predetermined threshold level, power supplied to one or more of the physical Ethernet adapters that are part of the EtherChannel is adjusted, i.e. reduced or increased, accordingly. In another embodiment, in systems where ethernet devices support different levels of power, the power supplied to one or more adapters can be systematically incrementally reduced or increased in response to reduced or increased bandwidth utilization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program products providing a power management technique for an HPC cluster with performance improvements for parallel applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, power usage of an HPC cluster is reduced by boosting the performance of one or more select nodes within the cluster so that the one or more nodes take less time to complete. Embodiments of the invention accomplish this by selectively identifying the appropriate node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)) in the cluster and increasing the computing capacity of the selected node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for migrating logical partitions. The method may include dynamically discovering a destination system for migration; remotely creating an environment on the destination system for accepting, the runtime migration; and migrating a running logical partition from a source system to the destination system. The source system may be managed by a source management system and the destination system may be managed by a destination management system. Dynamically discovering the destination system for migration may comprise establishing a communications channel between the source management system and the destination management system; obtaining a list of candidate systems from the destination management system; and validating resources of at least one candidate system.

Abstract: A method and system for providing multiple input/output paths for accessing storage devices includes providing two or more logical paths between a virtual I/O client partition and a storage device and establishing a physical path between the virtual I/O client partition and the storage device by assigning the storage device to a first logical path of the two or more logical paths. The method further includes reestablishing the physical path by dynamically assigning the storage device to a second logical path of the two or more logical paths in an event of unavailability of the first logical path.

Abstract: In an arrangement comprising a partitioned computer system and a switch with multiple adapters, wherein adapters are combined to form channels on respective partitions, a method is provided for dynamically changing the configuration of channels to which some of the adapters are assigned. The method allows better utilization for over-all network bandwidth. In one embodiment, the method includes initially allocating the adapters to establish at least one communication channel between each partition and the switch, wherein one or more adapters are allocated to each channel. Metric data is acquired for each channel during a time period, wherein the metric data indicates bandwidth utilization of respective channels. The metric data is evaluated to detect a first channel that under-utilizes available bandwidth when a second channel is over-utilizing available bandwidth.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that receives a backup request at a virtual input/output server (VIOS) from a client of the VIOS. The backup request corresponds to a virtual nonvolatile storage that is used by the client. The VIOS retrieves data from the nonvolatile storage device where the virtual nonvolatile storage is stored. The VIOS transmits the retrieved data to a backup server via a computer network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a backup software application runs on the VIOS client and a backup proxy software application runs on the VIOS.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a method for determining an auction reserve price for a display time slot on a billboard. The method may comprise requesting traffic information of an area in proximity of the location of the billboard from a mobile phone service provider and determining the auction reserve price for the display time slot utilizing a pricing model based on the traffic information.

Abstract: A method and system for providing multiple input/output paths for accessing storage devices includes providing two or more logical paths between a virtual I/O client partition and a storage device and establishing a physical path between the virtual I/O client partition and the storage device by assigning the storage device to a first logical path of the two or more logical paths. The method further includes reestablishing the physical path by dynamically assigning the storage device to a second logical path of the two or more logical paths in an event of unavailability of the first logical path.

Abstract: A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for controlling the number of Ethernet adapters connected in an EtherChannel depending upon the current bandwidth requirements of the system. This system reduces power consumption, inter alia, wherever possible while not sacrificing performance or flexibility of an EthernetChannel. An exemplary embodiment EtherChannel's total bandwidth utilization is monitored and controlled. When the bandwidth utilization is a predetermined amount less than or more than a predetermined threshold level, power supplied to one or more of the physical Ethernet adapters that are part of the EtherChannel is adjusted, i.e. reduced or increased, accordingly. In another embodiment, in systems where ethernet devices support different levels of power, the power supplied to one or more adapters can be systematically incrementally reduced or increased in response to reduced or increased bandwidth utilization.