Abstract: A first data set (1008) indicative of characteristics of a first computing device such as a server is compared and analyzed against a second data set (1012) indicative of characteristics of a second computing device. Computer-readable instructions operate on the data sets and are capable of determining at least one characteristic in the first data set that is different from a substantially similar characteristic in the second data set. A visual depiction (1004) on an output device (1000) provides an indication of the at least one difference so that a user can easily make a consolidation analysis. Preferably, the first and second data sets are stored in a relational database for analysis and the characteristic are compared by way of SQL queries on the relational database.

Abstract: Sending a discovery agent to a computing device determines the services provided by that first computing device. As a result, a first set of information is received from the agent that provides information indicative of the services provided by the computing device. That information can then be compared to other information, either from the same computing device at a different point in time, or from a second computing device. The other information is indicative of services performed by that computing device at a different point in time or the second computing device. From that, services provided by the computing device that were previously different on the first computing device or that are not available on the second computing device can be determined.

Abstract: Computing device parameters, particularly for use in consolidating services performed on a plurality of computing devices such as servers in a server farm, can be compared. A storage device stores data set files that contain information collected from computing devices such as servers in a server farm. The data set files contain information indicative of the characteristics of the computing devices. The data set files describe the information in a markup language such as XML. A first relational database has tables configured to accept data from the data set files. A set of computer-readable instruction are capable of loading the data from the data set files into the tables of the first relational database so that the two data sets can be compared to each other.