Abstract: A monitoring system provided according to an aspect of the present invention enables a user to specify multiple resource elements as a resource pool, and view various aggregate information (e.g., sum, average) for attributes of interest for all the resource elements together. Such a feature is particularly useful in distributed environments where multiple independent resource elements need to be viewed as a single resource pool. The user is provided the flexibility to select the specific resource elements to be included in the resource pool.

Abstract: A monitoring system provided according to an aspect of the present invention enables a user to specify one or more resource elements as a group, and compute an Abnormality Index that represents the deviation from a baseline operation of these selected resource elements. In an embodiment, the Abnormality Index is computed as a single number. The user may include any desired attributes of each resource element to be considered in determining deviations. The Abnormality Index represents the number of deviations, the seriousness of deviation (e.g., more serious if deviation relates to unavailability of the resource element), and the extent of deviation (i.e., whether the deviation is based on expected operation for hourly, daily or weekly duration).