Abstract: A system for educational assessment without testing is provided that includes one or more client systems that are connected to a network allowing students or school officials to communicate with an education framework that performs and manages educational assessment. The one or more client systems issue a message to the education framework requesting a task to be performed. The educational assessment is administered independent of one or more educators so as to avoid interruption of instruction time. A server system receives the message and the education framework proceeds to process the contents of the message. The education framework includes a plurality of programming modules being executed on the server system that provides to educators specific information used for the educational assessment based on the contents of the message.

Abstract: A system for educational assessment without testing is provided that includes one or more client systems that are connected to a network allowing students or school officials to communicate with an education framework that performs and manages educational assessment. The one or more client systems issue a message to the education framework requesting a task to be performed. The educational assessment is administered independent of one or more educators so as to avoid interruption of instruction time. A server system receives the message and the education framework proceeds to process the contents of the message. The education framework includes a plurality of programming modules being executed on the server system that provides to educators specific information used for the educational assessment based on the contents of the message.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus and computer usable program code for dynamically changing allocation policy in a host grid to support a local grid. The host grid is operated according to a set of allocation policies. The set of allocation policies corresponds to a predetermined resource allocation relationship between the host grid and a local grid. Based on the set of allocation policies, at least one resource on the host grid is allocated to the local grid. A monitoring agent is then used to monitor one of the local grid and both the local grid and the host grid for a change in a parameter. A change in the parameter may result in a change in the set of allocation policies.

Abstract: Generating a description of a test grid environment for use in a grid computing environment. A database containing a number of test snapshots is generated. Each test snapshot reflects a previously used grid test environment, and each test snapshot includes a grid configuration used to implement a particular test scenario for a particular application. When a new, desired, test scenario is generated, a description of the new test scenario is entered as a query to the database. Based on the information in the database, a proposed test grid environment description is produced.

Abstract: A technique for efficiently processing resource allocation requests in an on-demand environment. When a user logs into a resource allocation request manager, various resource requirements entered are immediately sent to a remote resource manager to allow for dynamic, real-time feedback to the user who is entering the resource requirements as to any issues or concerns regarding the requested resource(s) or plug-in element(s), such as lack of availability. The user can thus reconfigure or otherwise modify the various resource requests based on this feedback to optimize the overall resource allocation request. This also allows an organization providing services such as computer hosting services to re-allocate resources in advance if a new resource request would exceed a service level agreement outlined in advance with a customer, thereby improving resource planning in a data center environment.

Abstract: Setting up management and monitoring programs on one or more servers is simplified. When a pre-selected monitoring/management vendor is to be used, a general-purpose agent is installed after the vendor agent is installed and can determine the contents of the server(s), then manage additional setup for the vendor agent, such as configurations, best practices, and license management. When the user has not yet determined which vendor or vendors to utilize, a vendor-neutral agent will determine the contents of the server(s) and can then choose between various vendor programs, utilizing weightings according to the strengths and weaknesses of each vendor, as well as user preferences, to determine the best vendor or vendors to select. Any needed vendor agents are then downloaded by the vendor-neutral agent and installed. The vendor-neutral agent also includes the capabilities of the general-purpose agent and manages other setup needs, such as configurations, best practices, and license management.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software on a data processing system. The process identifies files for the data processing system to be provisioned and to form identified files. The identified files are located using a location map. The location map identifies a set of files and identifies each node in a network data processing system on which a file in the set of files is located. The identified files are transferred to the data processing system from the plurality of nodes in the network data processing system using the location map to form installation files. The data processing system is provisioned using the installation files.

Abstract: Techniques for provision of on-demand utility services utilizing a yield management framework are disclosed. For example, in one illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center comprises: (i) a resource management subsystem for managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands; and (ii) a yield management subsystem coupled to the resource management subsystem, wherein the yield management subsystem optimizes provision of the one or more computing services in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for system management. A gateway in a network data processing system receives an event in a native event management form. The event is transformed into a new format. The event is correlated in the new format to determine whether a system management action should be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for modeling and analyzing a plurality of computing workloads. The apparatus, system, and method include a data collection module for gathering performance data associated with operation of the computer system. A modeling module executes a plurality of models in parallel, in series, or according to a hierarchical relationship. A data analysis module presents analysis data compiled from the modeling module to a user, typically in the form of a graph. And finally, a framework manages the data collection module, the modeling module, and the data analysis module according to a predefined data and model flow.