Abstract: Risks from system architecture evolutions are assessed by an apparatus that comprises a database comprising a plurality of roadmaps for a corresponding plurality of components that may be used to form an enterprise architecture, the roadmaps identifying the planned characteristics of the plurality of components. The apparatus also comprises a modeling module executed by a processor to identify the components that form the enterprise architecture, to identify the current characteristics of those components, and to map those components to the roadmaps for corresponding components among the plurality of components in the database. In addition, the apparatus comprises a risk identification module executed by the processor to identify which of the components that form the enterprise architecture have current characteristics that are different from the corresponding planned characteristics.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a system corresponding to a large scale application is built from subsystems that are differentiated from one another based on characteristics of each subsystem. Example characteristics include availability, reliability, redundancy, statefulness and/or performance. Subsystems are matched to known design patterns, based on each subsystem's individual characteristics. Each subsystem's characteristics are associated with that subsystem for subsequent use in operation of the system, e.g., for managing/servicing the subsystem. The known design patterns may be provided in a library, in a programming framework, in conjunction with a development tool, and/or as data associated with one or more operating system services, server systems and/or hosted services that include at least one configuration, policy and or schema. Certain design patterns and/or characteristics patterns may be blocked to prevent their usage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for evaluating composite applications through graphical modeling may be provided. The method may include displaying one or more characteristic objects that are graphically associated with a first entity object. An indication of a score calculation methodology of the first entity object and an indication of a score calculation methodology of each characteristic object may be received. A score of each characteristic object may be determined. Each score may be based on at least one or more measurements of a measured object that is graphically associated with the first entity object and the score calculation methodology of the respective characteristic object. A score of the first entity object may be determined and displayed, the determination based on at least each score of the one or more characteristic objects and the score calculation methodology of the first entity object.

Abstract: Content aggregation is used to build administration consoles. Preferred embodiments enable providing a solution-based approach to information technology (“IT”) administration, whereby content can be flexibly arranged to provide a content view that is adapted for the IT solution deployed in a particular IT environment. In preferred embodiments, portal technology is used for the aggregation framework, and portlets are used for creating content. Alternatively, other approaches such as struts and tiles may be used. Preferred embodiments deploy an administration console as a Web-accessible application, and this console consolidates the administration interfaces for an arbitrary set of management operations, including administration of an arbitrary collection of hardware and/or software resources. Roles/permissions may be used when rendering content for the console, thereby customizing a view to individual end users (or user groups).

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a system corresponding to a large scale application is built from subsystems that are differentiated from one another based on characteristics of each subsystem. Example characteristics include availability, reliability, redundancy, statefulness and/or performance. Subsystems are matched to known design patterns, based on each subsystem's individual characteristics. Each subsystem's characteristics are associated with that subsystem for subsequent use in operation of the system, e.g., for managing/servicing the subsystem. The known design patterns may be provided in a library, in a programming framework, in conjunction with a development tool, and/or as data associated with one or more operating system services, server systems and/or hosted services that include at least one configuration, policy and or schema. Certain design patterns and/or characteristics patterns may be blocked to prevent their usage.

Abstract: Content aggregation is used to build administration consoles. Preferred embodiments enable providing a solution-based approach to information technology (“IT”) administration, whereby content can be flexibly arranged to provide a content view that is adapted for the IT solution deployed in a particular IT environment. In preferred embodiments, portal technology is used for the aggregation framework, and portlets are used for creating content. Alternatively, other approaches such as struts and tiles may be used. Preferred embodiments deploy an administration console as a Web-accessible application, and this console consolidates the administration interfaces for an arbitrary set of management operations, including administration of an arbitrary collection of hardware and/or software resources. Roles/permissions may be used when rendering content for the console, thereby customizing a view to individual end users (or user groups).

Abstract: Content aggregation is used to build administration consoles. Preferred embodiments enable providing a solution-based approach to information technology (“IT”) administration, whereby content can be flexibly arranged to provide a content view that is adapted for the IT solution deployed in a particular IT environment. In preferred embodiments, portal technology is used for the aggregation framework, and portlets are used for creating content. Alternatively, other approaches such as struts and tiles may be used. Preferred embodiments deploy an administration console as a Web-accessible application, and this console consolidates the administration interfaces for an arbitrary set of management operations, including administration of an arbitrary collection of hardware and/or software resources. Roles/permissions may be used when rendering content for the console, thereby customizing a view to individual end users (or user groups).

Abstract: A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.

Abstract: A method for upgrading one of several computer programs stored on an application server in a distributed computing environment while permitting the application server to continue to service requests for other computer programs. In accordance with the method, the application server is prevented from receiving any new requests for the computer program. The system then waits until all current requests serviced by the application server for that computer program have ended. Then, after acknowledging completion of upgrading of the computer program, the application server is permitted to receive any new requests for the computer program. Apparatuses for carrying out the inventive method are provided.

Abstract: A method for upgrading one of several computer programs stored on an application server in a distributed computing environment while permitting the application server to continue to service requests for other computer programs. In accordance with the method, the application server is prevented from receiving any new requests for the computer program. The system then waits until all current requests serviced by the application server for that computer program have ended. Then, after acknowledging completion of upgrading of the computer program, the application server is permitted to receive any new requests for the computer program. Apparatuses for carrying out the inventive method are provided.

Abstract: A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods are included, which may be implemented by employing a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for anonymously integrating an object oriented software component with message oriented clients. A method is included for anonymously integrating object-oriented software components and message-oriented clients wherein a first object-oriented component performs the steps of performing invocations which are serviced by one of message-oriented clients and object-oriented components and servicing the invocations which are performed by one of the message-oriented clients and the object-oriented components such that the first object-oriented component is unaware that the invocations are performed and serviced by one of the message-oriented clients and the object-oriented components.

Abstract: A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.

Abstract: In a multiple processor transaction processing system, a class response time goal for each class of transactions is enforced by a workload manager, which computes a current average class response time for each transaction class and derives a current class performance index for each of these classes with respect to its class response time goal. Whenever a transaction arrives, the workload manager considers a number of different possible transaction servers to which that arriving transaction could be routed and predicts estimated new values for the class performance indices for each of the considered routing choices. An overall goal satisfaction index is determined for each one and the routing choice corresponding to the best overall goal satisfaction index is selected as the routing choice.

Abstract: Failures are detected in servers of a transaction processing system, and transactions are routed to less failure prone servers in the system. Servers in the transaction processing system which are faulty for some transaction classes but good for others are detected, and such servers are used in a judicious manner to maximize the throughput and minimize the response time of the system. Error prone servers are occasionally probed to determine if they have improved in terms of their error characteristics. The mechanism implemented consists of three elements. The first is the selection of a routing algorithm based on the state of the transaction processing system. Second, transactions are used to probe systems considered too faulty for use in order to determine if they have improved in terms of their failure characteristics. Finally, soft ABENDs are detected.

Abstract: Page management mechanisms provide candidates for page stealing and prefetching from a main storage data cache of shared data when the jobs sharing the data are accessing it in a sequential manner. Pages are stolen behind the first reader in the cache, and thereafter at locations least likely to be soon re-referenced by trailing readers. A "clustering" of readers may be promoted to reduce I/O contention. Prefetching is carried out so that the pages most likely to be soon referenced by one of the readers are brought into the cache.