Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method for determining unreturned standby resource usage. Unreturned standby resource data is monitored and stored separately from other standby resource data for billing and other accounting purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method for determining unreturned standby resource usage. Unreturned standby resource data is monitored and stored separately from other standby resource data for billing and other accounting purposes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that operate generally to enable activating on-demand computer resources according to a customer's selection of resources, regardless of the type of computer resource to be activated and regardless of the type of activation. Systems according to embodiments of the present invention operate generally by receiving a generic enablement code and activating an on-demand computer resource in dependence upon the generic enablement code. A generic enablement code typically includes a maximum weighted measure of on-demand computer resource utilization. Activating an on-demand computer resource in dependence upon the generic enablement code may be carried out by activating an on-demand computer resource in dependence upon a maximum weighted measure of on-demand computer resource utilization and upon one or more weighting coefficients of on-demand computer resource utilization for one or more on-demand computer resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, adjust a resource capable of being activated at a computer based on whether the elapsed time since the manufactured date of a computer is greater than a threshold. The threshold may be fixed or variable. In various embodiments, the adjusting may increase the amount of the resource capable of being activated, increase a time period during which the resource is capable of being activated, or decrease a price charged for a monitored resource. The type of the adjusting is chosen based on the type of the on-demand capacity plan in which the resource is enrolled. In this way, the resources activated for use, the cost of the activated resources, and/or the time periods in which resources are activated may be more easily adjusted.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, determine whether an amount of usage of a resource, which is used under a temporary usage plan, exceeds a threshold. If that determination is true, a quantity of the resource is calculated and that quantity is converted from the temporary usage plan to a permanent usage plan, without further charge to the customer. In another embodiment, a different resource may be converted to the permanent usage plan than the resource that was temporarily used. In various embodiments, the calculation of the quantity is made based on an attribute of the computer that uses the resource or based on an activation code received from the provider of the resource. In various embodiments, the amount of the usage is either a time amount of use or a monetary amount charged for the resource under the temporary usage plan.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for allowing a time-limited use of on-demand resources. The method comprises initiating a grace period upon determining a predefined state of the computerized system hosting the on-demand resources. During the grace period, the on-demand resources may be used by a function(s). In one embodiment, the on-demand resources are made unavailable to the function(s) upon expiration of the grace period. In another embodiment, the grace period is terminated upon the occurrence a predefined event. For example, one predefined event may be the placement of the computerized system in a compliant state with respect to the on-demand resources.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to expand resources available to logical partition associated with a client are contemplated. Embodiments may associate the logical partition with a grid that retains a list of resources, referred to as grid resources, available for allocation to logical partitions. The grid resources may include resources from, e.g., other logical partitions within the logically partitioned system, logical partitions from other logically partitioned systems, another type of system, a cluster, and the like. Further, one or more of the systems associated with the grid may include on-demand resources that are also available to supplement resources based upon the demands of the client. Embodiments may also monitor resource usage by the client and meter billable usage of the grid resources and/or on-demand resources based upon agreements between service providers and clients.

Abstract: A capacity manager provides temporary resources on demand in a manner that assures the temporary resources may be recovered when the specified resource-time expires. Access to minimum resource specifications corresponding to the logical partitions is controlled to prevent the sum of all minimum resource specifications from exceeding the base resources on the system. By assuring the sum of minimum resource specifications for all logical partitions is satisfied by the base resources on the system, the temporary resources may always be recovered when required.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides the capability of metering temporary capacity on demand in a computer system. A resource-time is specified, such as processor-days. The actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is charged for only the actual usage of the resource. In this manner a customer may purchase a specified resource-time, and is only charged for the time that the resource is actually used. The preferred embodiments extend to metering temporary capacity on demand in a logically partitioned computer system. If a resource is shared, the actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is only billed for actual usage that exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold.