Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-threaded server control automation for disaster recovery are described. A method may include initiating a disaster recovery sequence on two or more processors, wherein the disaster recovery sequence comprises a plurality of subsequences. The method may also include implementing the disaster recovery sequence on the two or more processors in parallel, wherein one or more subsequences of the disaster recovery sequence are implemented on the two or more processors in parallel. Upon completion of the disaster recovery sequence, at least one server partition is repurposed from a first configuration, such as a test configuration, to a second configuration, such as a production configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated monitoring of automated server control components are provided. Embodiments may include transmitting a request for state information associated with a component of the automated server control system. At least one of a reception of the state information for the component and a threshold time period without reception of the state information for the component may be detected. Some embodiments may include determining if the received state information for the component comprises an error condition. In some instances, an alert may be output based on at least one of detecting the threshold time period without reception of the state information for the component and determining that the received state information comprises an error condition.

Abstract: Data channels of a computer system may be remotely monitored to detect data channel degradation. A monitoring agent on a client may execute script commands on the remote computer system to monitor input/output (I/O) rates of a set of channels. The monitoring agent may compute an average data rate of the data channels and compare the I/O rate of each channel to the average. When the rate of a channel falls below the average by at least a threshold amount, an alert may be generated to indicate to an administrator a possible failure with the data channel.

Abstract: A list of alert filters may be used to alert alerts generated by remote machines. For example, received alerts may be compared to the list of alert filters. When an alert filter matches the received alert, a new action may be taken by the monitoring agent, such as to raise or lower a priority of the alert or to take an action to message an administrator. When no alert filter matches the alert, a default action for the alert may be taken.

Abstract: An agentless monitor may monitor a remote server through a communication session. The monitor may transmit commands for execution on the remote server by a simulated user. Results from the executed commands may be returned to the agentless monitor for parsing and execution of logical rules. The agentless monitor may be used, for example, to identify and terminate looping processes executing on the remote server before failure or performance degradation of the remote server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated monitoring of automated server control components are provided. Embodiments may include transmitting a request for state information associated with a component of the automated server control system. At least one of a reception of the state information for the component and a threshold time period without reception of the state information for the component may be detected. Some embodiments may include determining if the received state information for the component comprises an error condition. In some instances, an alert may be output based on at least one of detecting the threshold time period without reception of the state information for the component and determining that the received state information comprises an error condition.

Abstract: A user display window that displays a managed object and its state within a single image includes a display pane for displaying a visual image, wherein a first icon represents the managed object and a second icon represents the state of the managed icon and the first icon is superimposed over the second icon to create the visual image. A user can visually see the managed object and its state within the computing system. A method for visually indicating a managed object and its state within a single image in a computing system includes representing the managed object with a first icon; representing the state of the managed object with a second icon; and superimposing the first icon on the second icon such that the resulting image provides a visual indication of the managed object and its state.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting errors in stored pattern definitions. The method describes structuring a pattern definition into a specified format and creating a pattern definition file. The structured pattern definition contents are hashed to generate a filename for the pattern definition file. This filename, along with a corresponding identifier, is added to an identifier document. Each filename in the identifier document is compared with all other filenames to determine a degree of overlap. A potential error is indicated if a filename substantially matches any of the other filenames in the identifier document.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying commonality among pattern definitions among multiple database storage systems. The method creates pattern definition files for all pattern definitions stored in multiple databases. The name of a pattern definition file includes a group name, a pattern number, and a database associated with the pattern definition. A set of pattern definition files with same group name and pattern number are compared with each other to classify the set into exactly matching or partially matching.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing data in a system for automating responses to system messages is disclosed. The method compiles one or more source files into a database, which includes one or more pattern definitions. Matches and non-matches between one or more pattern definitions and one or more system messages are identified and reported in an output file. The method retrieves only the matches from the output file based on one or more predetermined criteria and generates a printed list of the retrieved matches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending a message from a first operator at a first workstation to a second operator at a second workstation in an operations-computing arrangement for operating one or more computer systems. The operations-computing arrangement includes the first and second workstations, which are coupled to respective operations servers. Each operations server is coupled to at least one computer system, each workstation executes software that provides an operator interface for operating a computer system, and each operations server provides an interface to a computer system. The infrastructure used to transmit system-generated event reports to operators at the workstations is used to transmit text messages between operators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating one or more computer systems via an operations-computing arrangement. The operations-computing arrangement includes a plurality of workstations coupled to a plurality of operations servers, and each operations server is coupled to at least one computer system. Each workstation executes software that provides a user interface for operating a computer system, and each operations server provides an interface to a computer system. A first operations server registers with a second operations server for the second operations server to forward event reports received by the second operations server to the first operations server. The second operations server generates event reports in response to computer system events. Event reports are transmitted from the second operations server to one or more workstations coupled to the second operations server, and also to the first operations server.

Abstract: Method and system for automating operations of a computing arrangement. A pattern database is configured with pattern definitions and associated response definitions, and one or more of the response definitions include one or more commands for operating the computing arrangement. A message processor receives messages from components in the computing arrangement and matches the messages against the patterns in the database. If a message matches a pattern, the message processor performs the actions specified in the associated response definition. One or more of the response definitions queue commands to a command queue. The message processor then dequeues and issues the commands at times that are compatible with the operation being automated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a timely, automated re-assignment of resources, such as peripheral devices, memory, and/or processing capacity, among a number of host data processing systems. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention allows peripheral devices, such as tape drives, to be configured as shareable units, and accessed by any participating host data processing system as the need arises. The invention preferably includes a central coordinating facility, which evaluates the device status information gathered, from each participating host data processing system. The device status information is used to determine which host data processing systems have free devices available for use. Within these constraints, the invention automatically orchestrates the re-assignment of selected peripheral devices from where they are not currently needed to where they are needed, with little or no operator interaction.