Abstract: The present invention provides dynamic configuration and allocation of resources in a data center. These resources are monitored for availability and performance information according to their assigned execution (or application) environments. The measured performance information for each environment is used to predict levels of demand for an application in the environment. From the predicted levels of demand resource requirements can be determined to provide a predetermined level of performance under the demand changes. The resources can then be reconfigured or reallocated to different environment so that the requirements of each environment can be met.

Abstract: The present invention provides dynamic configuration and allocation of resources in a data center. These resources are monitored for availability and performance information according to their assigned execution (or application) environments. The measured performance information for each environment is used to predict levels of demand for an application in the environment. From the predicted levels of demand resource requirements can be determined to provide a predetermined level of performance under the demand changes. The resources can then be reconfigured or reallocated to different environment so that the requirements of each environment can be met.

Abstract: The present invention provides dynamic configuration and allocation of resources in a data center. These resources are monitored for availability and performance information according to their assigned execution (or application) environments. The measured performance information for each environment is used to predict levels of demand for an application in the environment. From the predicted levels of demand resource requirements can be determined to provide a predetermined level of performance under the demand changes. The resources can then be reconfigured or reallocated to different environment so that the requirements of each environment can be met.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring computational resources within a data processing system is presented. A monitoring service receives a non-application-specific request to perform a monitoring operation in order to gather information about the usage of a computational resource within a data processing system. The monitoring service automatically selects a monitoring application from a set of monitoring applications in which the selected monitoring application is are able to perform the monitoring operation on the computational resource. The monitoring service then sends to the selected monitoring application an application-specific request that identifies the computational resource and indicates the monitoring operation to be performed on the computational resource.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for enhancing software catalog manageability, providing abstract software configuration, and desired state management. A first mechanism is provided for enhancing software catalog manageability. The first mechanism includes a software model that separates metadata of software from actual binaries of the software. A second mechanism is provided for abstracting software configuration for automation. The second mechanism includes a hierarchical software resource template structure that specifies parameters, dependencies between parameters, features, options, and parameters that cannot be predefined. The template is consumed by user defined workflows to create actual software resources during deployment. A third mechanism is provided for desired state management and patch compliance assessments.

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: Remote execution of management scriptlets on a plurality data processing systems in a data center. The management scriptlets may be written in many different languages using a variety of network communication protocols and operating systems. First, a data processing system to be managed is accessed with a login command using network protocol and credentials determined prior to login. Next, the management scriptlet is executed remotely regardless of the communication protocol and credentials selected. Finally, scriptlet output is captured and a logout command exits the data processing system.

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, apparatus, and computer instructions for provisioning grid resources for a set of grid services. The service performance for the set of grid services is monitored. The set of grid services has a set of service level agreements. In response to monitoring service performance, a determination is made as to whether current allocations of grid resources is sufficient to maintain performance levels for the set of grid services to meet the set of service level objectives. In response to the current allocations being insufficient to maintain the performance levels, the current allocations of the grid resources are dynamically reallocated or provisioned for the set of grid services to maintain service levels for the set of grid services.

Abstract: There is provided a data processing method, system and article of manufacture for service level management using probability of breach of service level for an application in a computer data centre. The method comprising obtaining one or more metrics associated with one or more resources associated with a data centre. Then generating a three dimensional surface representative of the metrics. The three dimensional surface is used to describe the variance in the probability of breaching a service level when compared to the number of resources allocated to the application and time. Using the described surface allows decision making logic to evaluate trade-offs when determining resource allocations. Discipline specific modules are used to translate collected metrics for the respective disciplines into a probability of breach of service level surface which is then presented to decision making logic.

Abstract: Deployment of an application is managed using available resources from a resource system. A resource dependency characterization of the application is established to enable deployment of the application. A logical characterization and a network characterization of a desired deployment are also established. A deployment plan containing an outline for resources and configurations used for deployment is developed based on the resource dependency characterization, the logical characterization and the network characterization. The deployment plan is processed for correlation with the available resources. The processed deployment plan is then implemented.

Abstract: A stateful Web services interface that combines resource properties and logical device operations is provided. The interface allows an administrator to access an instance of a given resource in a data center. The instance is persistent throughout the Web services session. Through the persisted instance, an administrator may invoke device operations to manipulate the given resource. The administrator may also access and modify associated resource properties using the persisted instance.

Abstract: A computer system for managing and deploying a plurality of software with a plurality of associated licenses in the computer system. Software allocation workflow requests are obtained from a requester for a target server referencing specific software and then redirected to a license broker. The license broker determines availability of the plurality of associated licenses referenced in the request and provisions the target server with said plurality of software. The requester of software allocation is then notified of the results. The workflow need not be concerned with monitoring resource status and providing requester feedback. Provisioning is handled on a just-in-time basis by the license broker as requested by the workflow making necessary licenses available (and software) only on as needed basis.

Abstract: To provide a more cost effective way to manage the infrastructure while addressing the security needs of a computerized data center, a technique for credential and protocol independent management of infrastructure in a computerized data processing system is provided. More cost effective and secure management is obtained through modified workflows used in the operational management of the computer data processing system. A workflow is first parsed to locate device specific operation requests. Such specifications are then replaced with logical equivalents. The resulting workflow is neutral with respect to both credentials and protocol. Prior to execution, the modified workflow is combined with information retrieved from a resource or by an administrator that further resolves the workflow to a specific target object or plurality of target objects. Security is enhanced through granular administration of user ID and password combinations which may be maintained separate from the workflows in which they are used.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for more effectively managing the operational complexity of computerized data processing systems using an aspect oriented technique of binding a workflow engine to a data model representing the real environment is provided. The late binding aspect of the workflow provides more effective resource selection and allows for linking to differing workflows in accordance with the data model. Further results provided by the completed workflow may also be used to augment the data model thereby assuring a more current and consistent representation is found in the data model. A synchronization aspect if provided by the workflow result being used to then synchronize the data model with the physical resources manipulated by the workflow.

Abstract: The present invention provides dynamic configuration and allocation of resources in a data center. These resources are monitored for availability and performance information according to their assigned execution (or application) environments. The measured performance information for each environment is used to predict levels of demand for an application in the environment. From the predicted levels of demand resource requirements can be determined to provide a predetermined level of performance under the demand changes. The resources can then be reconfigured or reallocated to different environment so that the requirements of each environment can be met.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for determining a total cost of a foreign originating product in a customer's local currency. The system allows a customer to shop via electronic methods regardless of a merchant's location country and receive the total final cost of the product in the customer's local currency. Currency exchange, duties and tariffs, taxes and shipping are included in the given total cost of the product. The system also includes a duty estimation system for estimating duty charges prior to a product crossing an international border is disclosed. The product is categorized according to product categories set by each country.