Abstract: Identifying changes between network data processing systems is provided. A first number of attributes for a network data processing system are identified by a processor unit. A second number of attributes for a number of potential network data processing systems are identified by the processor unit. A graphical user interface with a graphical representation of a comparison of the first number of attributes and the second number of attributes is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: Upgrading a multi-tiered application is provided. In response to receiving a request to upgrade a multi-tiered application, wherein components of the multi-tiered application are deployed across a plurality of virtual machines, an appropriate integrated patch is selected for the upgrade. The selected integrated patch includes an integrated set of patches for the components of the multi-tiered application, state update data, and order constraints. The components of the multi-tiered application specified in the selected integrated patch are upgraded by using the integrated set of patches and order constraints. In addition, the state of the components of the multi-tiered application are updated by using the state update data. Then, the updated state of the multi-tiered application is saved to storage.

Abstract: Identifying traffic patterns to web sites based on templates that characterize the arrival of traffic to the web sites is provided. Based on these templates, determinations are made as to which web sites should be co-located so as to optimize resource allocation. Web sites whose templates are complimentary, i.e. a first web site having a peak in arrival traffic at time t1 and a second web site that has a trough in arrival traffic at time t1, are designated as being candidates for co-location. In addition, the templates identified for the traffic patterns of web sites are used to determine thresholds for offloading traffic to other servers. These thresholds include a first threshold at which offloading should be performed, a second threshold that takes into consideration the lead time needed to begin offloading, and a third threshold that takes into consideration a lag time needed to stop offloading of traffic.

Abstract: An on-demand manager provides an improved distributed data processing system for facilitating dynamic allocation of computing resources among multiple domains based on a current workload and service level agreements. Based on a service level agreement, the on-demand manager monitors and predicts the load on the system. If the current or predicted load cannot be handled with the current system configuration, the on-demand manager determines additional resources needed to handle the workload. If the service level agreement violations cannot be handled by reconfiguring resources at a domain, the on-demand manager sends a resource request to other domains. These other domains analyze their own commitments and may accept the resource request, reject the request, or counter-propose with an offer of resources and a corresponding service level agreement.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for network distribution and provisioning of applications, such as transactional applications and parallel applications, across multiple administrative domains that ensure compliance with service level agreements. For example, a method of provisioning one or more resources in a distributed computing network to ensure compliance with a service level agreement associated with a computer application includes the following steps. Network performance is monitored between a local domain and one or more cooperating domains connected to the local domain by network paths. A present or predicted violation of the service level agreement is identified based on at least a portion of results of the monitoring step. One or more cooperating domains are selected that can effect compliance with the service level agreement by instantiating one or more network resources within at least one of the selected cooperating domains in response to a request from the local domain.

Abstract: Deploying a set of virtual software resource templates to a plurality of nodes is provided. The process identifies a set of virtual machine images and metadata to form a set of virtual software resource templates. The process creates a model that indicates a performance metric based on a number of nodes on which a number of virtual machine images is deployed. The process receives a quality of service requirement. The process determines, using the model, a sufficient number of virtual software resource templates in the set of virtual software resource templates and a sufficient number of nodes in the plurality of nodes to fulfill the quality of service requirement. The process deploys the sufficient number of virtual software resource templates on the sufficient number of nodes using the metadata.

Abstract: Techniques for selectively off-loading workload across multiple data centers are disclosed. For example, a technique for processing a user request in accordance with a multiple data center environment comprises the following steps/operations. A user request is obtained at a first data center. The user request is classified based on one or more classification criterion. At least a portion of a workload associated with the classified user request is off-loaded to at least a second data center to be processed, wherein the off-loading step/operation is at least based on one or more administrative policies associated with at least one of the first data center and the second data center. The workload is processed such that the user request is at least substantially satisfied in accordance with a service level agreement for the requesting user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing Web and other Internet or Intranet based services. The system for processing Web requests includes a Web server with a connection to the Internet or Intranet with a predefined network bandwidth, a set of primary Web and application server cluster nodes to process the requests, and a dispatcher to allocate requests to nodes; in addition, one or more offload server nodes are connected to the network. Client Web requests arrive at the dispatcher of the Web server, which determines whether the incoming request can be handled at the primary Web server cluster, whether all or part of the user Web request should be offloaded to one of the offload server nodes, or whether the request should be throttled.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and data structure for processing requests for services in a networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment a request is received by a service provider. The request includes defined allowable actions and request definition compositions. The request also includes a plurality of actions wherein the relationships between the plurality of actions are defined. The service provider processes the plurality of actions according to the defined relationships and generates a response.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of “meta-shopping”. The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a “meta-shopping cart”, used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site.

Abstract: A system for upgrading a multi-tiered application. In response to receiving a request to upgrade a multi-tiered application, wherein components of the multi-tiered application are deployed across a plurality of virtual machines, an appropriate integrated patch is selected for the upgrade. The selected integrated patch includes an integrated set of patches for the components of the multi-tiered application, state update data, and order constraints. The components of the multi-tiered application specified in the selected integrated patch are upgraded by using the integrated set of patches and order constraints. In addition, the state of the components of the multi-tiered application are updated by using the state update data. Then, the updated state of the multi-tiered application is saved to storage.

Abstract: A method for automating contract negotiation between a plurality of parties over a communications network. The parties communicate and agree upon a negotiation protocol before commencing the negotiation in a meta contract that is formed to govern or control the negotiation process. The automatic negotiation may include at least one sub negotiation. Machine-executable rules are specified to enable an automatic negotiation to take place between servers over a communications network. A successful negotiation may result in the formation of an electronic commerce contract. Each party may maintain the contract state of the overall negotiation, which may take place among two or more parties, wherein at least one party may be represented by a broker. Thus, complex negotiations may be handled automatically by the inventive method. The negotiation may be conducted semi-automatically to allow for human intervention in the negotiation process.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting maintenance such as software upgrades in components and nodes within a computer network while maintaining the functionality of the computer network in accordance with prescribed performance parameters. A balance is achieved between the rate of performing a desired system upgrade and the necessary performance parameters by empirically determining anticipated system loads and selecting the maximum number of components that can be upgraded simultaneously while meeting the anticipated loads. Provisions are made for the staggering of components through the upgrade process and for the return of components to active service in the computer network in response to unanticipated load spikes. Validation of successful upgrades is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for network distribution and provisioning of applications, such as transactional applications and parallel applications, across multiple administrative domains that ensure compliance with service level agreements. For example, a method of provisioning one or more resources in a distributed computing network to ensure compliance with a service level agreement associated with a computer application includes the following steps. Network performance is monitored between a local domain and one or more cooperating domains connected to the local domain by network paths. A present or predicted violation of the service level agreement is identified based on at least a portion of results of the monitoring step. One or more cooperating domains are selected that can effect compliance with the service level agreement by instantiating one or more network resources within at least one of the selected cooperating domains in response to a request from the local domain.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and data structure for processing requests for services in a networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment a request is received by a service provider. The request includes defined allowable actions and request definition compositions. The request also includes a plurality of actions wherein the relationships between the plurality of actions are defined. The service provider processes the plurality of actions according to the defined relationships and generates a response.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of “meta-shopping”. The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a “meta-shopping cart”, used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and data structure for processing requests for services in a networked data processing system is provided. In one embodiment a request is received by a service provider. The request includes defined allowable actions and request definition compositions. The request also includes a plurality of actions wherein the relationships between the plurality of actions are defined. The service provider processes the plurality of actions according to the defined relationships and generates a response.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for deploying a set of virtual software resource templates to a plurality of nodes. The process identifies a set of virtual machine images and metadata to form a set of virtual software resource templates. The process creates a model that indicates a performance metric based on a number of nodes on which a number of virtual machine images is deployed. The process receives a quality of service requirement. The process determines, using the model, a sufficient number of virtual software resource templates in the set of virtual software resource templates and a sufficient number of nodes in the plurality of nodes to fulfill the quality of service requirement. The process deploys the sufficient number of virtual software resource templates on the sufficient number of nodes using the metadata.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for identifying traffic patterns to web sites based on templates that characterize the arrival of traffic to the web sites are provided. Based on these templates, determinations are made as to which web sites should be co-located so as to optimize resource allocation. Specifically, web sites whose templates are complimentary, i.e. a first web site having a peak in arrival traffic at time t1 and a second web site that has a trough in arrival traffic at time t1, are designated as being candidates for co-location. In addition, the present invention uses the templates identified for the traffic patterns of web sites to determine thresholds for offloading traffic to other servers. These thresholds include a first threshold at which offloading should be performed, a second threshold that takes into consideration the lead time needed to begin offloading, and a third threshold that takes into consideration a lag time needed to stop all offloading of traffic to the other servers.

Abstract: In a client-server environment having a server group including one or more participating servers and one or more controller servers, where each participating server can communicate with at least one controller server, a method for coordinating actions among the servers in the server group comprising the steps of: (1) communicating between a client and at least one of the servers in the server group using a protocol that has limited or no defined procedures for passing state information between the client and the servers; (2) transmitting a request for an action from the client to one of the servers; and (3) communicating among a plurality of servers with at least one controller server coordinating actions of at least some of the servers in response to the request.