Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for ontology based resource provisioning and management for services. For example, such an ontology based approach can be utilized in conjunction with a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing cross-tier management in a multi-tier computing system architecture. For example, a method for managing a computing system, wherein the computing system includes a first tier and at least a second tier, wherein the first tier and the second tier are configured to respond to a request received by the computing system, includes the steps of monitoring performance of the second tier from the first tier, and sending one or more management commands from the first tier to the second tier based on the monitored performance. In one embodiment, the first tier may be an application server tier of the computing system, and the second tier may be a database server tier of the computing system.

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: Managing a distributed software application is provided. Metadata describing a set of dependencies of a set of software components is identified in the distributed software application from data associated with the set of software components. Then, a sequence for changing an operational state of the set of software components of the distributed software application is identified from the metadata to form an identified sequence. Thereafter, the operational state of the set of software components is changed using the identified sequence.

Abstract: A system and method of problem determination and resolution utilizes enhanced problem classification, and effectively categorizes any problem a user experiences by leveraging all available data to recognize the specific problem. Historical problem data is labeled with the cause of that problem and is analyzed to learn problem patterns. The historical problem data is classified into a predefined hierarchical structure of taxonomies by using an incremental online learning algorithm. The hierarchical structure and learned patterns are utilized to recognize problems and generate the root cause of the problem when given a new set of monitoring data and log data.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for implementing an extensible support system for multiple service offerings. For example, such a support system can be a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for creating a set of virtual machine image for software. A virtual software resource template is retrieved. Metadata associated with the virtual software resource template is copied and the copy of the metadata is modified to generate personalized metadata for each virtual machine image in the set of virtual machine images. Then, the set of virtual machine images is deployed using the personalized metadata.

Abstract: The problems that normally attend the development and deployment of a computer system solution are reduced by employing patterns and virtual images in the development and deployment process. When information had been acquired about a data processing need to be met, pattern representing a generalized solution to that need is selected. A set of previously-developed virtual images supporting the selected pattern is chosen. Once information representing the specific need is received, the selected pattern is modified to represent a specific solution. Parameters are obtained for the specific solution and a set of scripts integrating the parameters is generated. The scripts are used to reconfigure the virtual images. The reconfigured virtual images are combined into a computer system solution that can be loaded and run with little or no further configuration.

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: System for managing a life cycle of a virtual resource. One or more virtual resources are defined. The one or more defined virtual resources are created. The created virtual resources are instantiated. Then, a topology of a virtual resource is constructed using a plurality of virtual resources that are in at least one of a defined, a created, or an instantiated state.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for implementing an extensible support system for multiple service offerings. For example, such a support system can be a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for ontology based resource provisioning and management for services. For example, such an ontology based approach can be utilized in conjunction with a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment.

Abstract: A method of providing support services as a service is presented. For example, the method includes providing to a service provider one or more service modules operative to provide the support services to the service provider. The one or more service modules are provided by one or more suppliers of the support services and include instruction code operative to be performed on a processor device and one or more application programming interfaces operative for programmatic access to the one or more service module. The service modules may further include one or more user interfaces operative for interactive access to a respective service module. The one or more service modules may include, for example, one or more of a profile service module, an offering service module, a customer service module, a process service module, a user interface service module and a revenue service module.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the embodiments of this invention there is a method to operate a network mapping tool. The method includes performing a network mapping operation over a first set of ports to generate a list of hosts that are found to be alive; performing a sequential scan on only those hosts in the list to detect the operating system of each host in the list; and performing a parallel port scan to detect characteristics of only those hosts in the list. The characteristics can include an identification of at least applications and services running on the hosts in the list. The second set of ports can be a full set of ports.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the embodiments of this invention there is a method to initiate remote managed infrastructure services for a customer infrastructure site. The method includes, in response to an inquiry from a potential customer, provisioning the potential customer with a remote managed infrastructure services software client; using the provisioned software client, performing an automated process to detect specifics of a customer information technology infrastructure; in response to the customer confirming the detected specifics of customer information technology infrastructure, configuring a remote managed infrastructure service to monitor and manage all or a subset of the detected and confirmed customer information technology infrastructure.

Abstract: A system and method for transforming a legacy device into a virtualized environment includes gathering profiling data over time to represent legacy device activities and analyzing the profiling data for system applications and user applications using a processor to determine usage frequency and resource requirements of at least one application. Captured user action events are benchmarked to simulate a user workload for the at least one application to determine how resource utilization and execution times scale from a legacy environment to a virtualized environment. One or more scaling factors are determined to produce a plan to provision for legacy services in the virtualized environment. The legacy system is transformed into the virtualized environment in accordance with the plan.

Abstract: A system and method of problem determination and resolution utilizes enhanced problem classification, and effectively categorizes any problem a user experiences by leveraging all available data to recognize the specific problem. Historical problem data is labeled with the cause of that problem and is analyzed to learn problem patterns. The historical problem data is classified into a predefined hierarchical structure of taxonomies by using an incremental online learning algorithm. The hierarchical structure and learned patterns are utilized to recognize problems and generate the root cause of the problem when given a new set of monitoring data and log data.

Abstract: Improved management feedback-based controller techniques are disclosed for use in accordance with a computing system. For example, a method for managing a computing system includes the following steps. At least one measured performance metric is obtained from the computing system being managed. At least one control input value is generated based on parameters including a control error and a control deadzone such that uncertainty associated with the computing system is accounted for in accordance with the parameters. The control error is determined from a computation comprising the at least one measured performance metric and at least one performance metric goal. The control deadzone is defined such that the control input value is not generated when the control error is within the control deadzone. The control input value is sent to the computing system to effectuate achievement of the at least one performance metric goal associated with the computing system.

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: The problems that normally attend the development and deployment of a computer system solution are reduced by employing patterns and virtual images in the development and deployment process. When information had been acquired about a data processing need to be met, pattern representing a generalized solution to that need is selected. A set of previously-developed virtual images supporting the selected pattern is chosen. Once information representing the specific need is received, the selected pattern is modified to represent a specific solution. Parameters are obtained for the specific solution and a set of scripts integrating the parameters is generated. The scripts are used to reconfigure the virtual images. The reconfigured virtual images are combined into a computer system solution that can be loaded and run with little or no further configuration.