Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the performance of cloud computing environments. The system includes provider multi-cloud monitors configured in cloud computing environments and a consumer multi-cloud monitor configured in a cloud consumer computer. The consumer multi-cloud monitor retrieves performance data on the cloud computing environments from the provider multi-cloud monitors, converts and analyzes the cloud performance data in view of service level agreements, and presents cloud performance results to a user.

Abstract: A method for the modularized customization of a model within a model driven development environment includes selecting a template specifying a base model and different points of variability of a base model in a model driven development environment and transmitting over a data communications network an electronic form configured to receive data in different data fields representative of the points of variability. Thereafter, a submission of the electronic form can be received and data from the received submission representative of the points of variability can be extracted. Instructions can be added to a control file corresponding to the points of variability and the control file can be processed to generate artifacts in an import file specifying the points of variability. Finally, the import file can be imported into the model driven development environment and the base model modified with the points of variability of the artifacts.

Abstract: A method of selectively allocating a plurality of deployment units among a plurality of clouds. The method can include identifying a first context of a first deployment unit of a workload and identifying a second context of a second deployment unit of the workload. Based on the first context, a first of the plurality of clouds that satisfies at least one requirement indicated by the first context can be identified and the first deployment unit can be automatically allocated to the first cloud. Based on the second context, a second of the plurality of clouds that satisfies at least one requirement indicated by the second context can be identified, wherein the first cloud does not satisfy the requirement indicated by the second context, and the second deployment unit can be automatically allocated to the second cloud.

Abstract: A method of allocating cloud resources. A user interface can be presented to a user. The user interface can be configured to receive a user selection of a change of context for at least one of a plurality of workloads allocated to at least one cloud. Responsive to receiving the user selection of the change of context for the workload, via a processor, a service level agreement applicable to the workload can be dynamically changed from a first service level agreement to a second service level agreement, while the workload remains in an available state.

Abstract: A software configurable computing environment can include at least one application disposed within the software configurable computing environment. The environment can also include a resource management engine configured to define at least one computing resource for the software configurable computing environment. A resource allocation engine can allocate the computing resources defined by the resource management engine for use in the software configurable computing environment. A resource utilization engine can perform at least one programmatic action for the application using available ones of the resources allocated by the resource allocation engine.

Abstract: A set of asset signatures can be analyzed. Each asset signature can be associated with an asset. Derelict assets can be discovered based on the asset signatures. The asset can represent a fundamental structural unit of an information technology (IT) environment. A multi-stage screening process can be performed to discover derelict assets. In a first stage, assets having a normal state are able to be changed to a suspect state based on results of analyzing the corresponding asset signature. In a second stage, assets having a suspect state are able to be selectively changed in state to a normal state or to a derelict state. An asset management system record can be maintained for each of the set of assets. Each record of the asset management system can be a configuration item (CI), which indicates whether each of the set of assets is in a normal state, a suspect state, or a derelict state. The asset management system can periodically reclaim resources consumed by derelict assets.

Abstract: A set of asset signatures can be analyzed. Each asset signature can be associated with an asset. Derelict assets can be discovered based on the asset signatures. The asset can represent a fundamental structural unit of an information technology (IT) environment. A multi-stage screening process can be performed to discover derelict assets. In a first stage, assets having a normal state are able to be changed to a suspect state based on results of analyzing the corresponding asset signature. In a second stage, assets having a suspect state are able to be selectively changed in state to a normal state or to a derelict state. An asset management system record can be maintained for each of the set of assets. Each record of the asset management system can be a configuration item (CI), which indicates whether each of the set of assets is in a normal state, a suspect state, or a derelict state. The asset management system can periodically reclaim resources consumed by derelict assets.

Abstract: A unit for defining resources for a software configurable computing environment. The unit can include an entity configured to be software associated with at least one asset. Each asset can be a physical asset that provides at least one resource. The software configurable computing environment can include the entity. The inclusion of the entity in the software configurable computing environment can cause at least one resource to be allocated to said software configurable computing environment.

Abstract: A set of asset signatures can be analyzed. Each asset signature can be associated with an asset. Derelict assets can be discovered based on the asset signatures. The asset can represent a fundamental structural unit of an information technology (IT) environment. A multi-stage screening process can be performed to discover derelict assets. In a first stage, assets having a normal state are able to be changed to a suspect state based on results of analyzing the corresponding asset signature. In a second stage, assets having a suspect state are able to be selectively changed in state to a normal state or to a derelict state. An asset management system record can be maintained for each of the set of assets. Each record of the asset management system can be a configuration item (CI), which indicates whether each of the set of assets is in a normal state, a suspect state, or a derelict state. The asset management system can periodically reclaim resources consumed by derelict assets.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual cloud service at the lowest actual cost can begin with an optimal transaction handler of a federated virtual service cloud maintaining a virtual resource pool of transactional units. Each transactional unit can represent a service application deployed to a cloud service provided by a cloud service provider having a usage-based service cost model that allows transactional units to be placed in an inactive state to suspend its operating expense. Operational metrics data for the cloud service providers can be continuously captured. In response to a service request, the transactional unit that meets fulfillment requirements of the service request and incurs a lowest actual cost can be determined based upon cost factors derived from the operational metrics data, the usage-based service cost model, and a current usage state of the virtual resource pool. The received service request can be routed to the determined transactional unit.

Abstract: In a discovery stage, a set of suspect rules can be utilized to determine if each environment asset of the computing environment is to be considered a suspect asset or a standard environment asset, where suspect assets are a subset of environment assets of the computing environment. In a confirmation stage, a set of stray rules can be used to determine whether each suspect asset is to be considered a stray asset, wherein stray assets are a subset of the suspect assets. A stray asset can be an asset defined and configured by a configuration management system that is active in the computing environment and is consuming resources of the computing environment yet is not needed by active processes of the computing environment and is unneeded by other active environment assets. For each stray asset, at least one resolution action (e.g., alert action, containment action, delete action) can be performed.

Abstract: A system for providing and developing information technology status information for various assets is provided. The system can comprise one or more electronic data processors configured to process, display, and manage data. The system can further include a module configured to execute on the one or more electronic data processors. The module can be configured to enable a user to pose one or more questions pertaining to the status of a particular asset in the system. Additionally, the module can be configured to parse the one or more questions pertaining to the status of a particular asset. The module can be further configured to select and conduct one or more tests to determine an answer to the one or more questions. Moreover, the module can be configured to generate and display to the user the answer to the one or more questions.

Abstract: A node exposing method including the step of a software agent obtaining from a display map, a reference to a node which is displayable in the display map. The software agent can be a platform independent software object. The node can represent a component in a complex heterogeneous system. The software agent can receive a data metric from the component. The software agent can then convert the data metric into an updated value. Once converted, the software agent can provide the updated value to the display map. The display map can responsively update the node to reflect the updated value.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for dynamically monitoring and visualizing metrics within a system that has values which change over time. The values associated with these metrics can be specific to entities within the system or they can be common system-wide metrics. Various attributes can be defined for the metrics to be visualized. The values can then be determined in conformance with these defined data attributes. The values can be mapped to appropriate unique indicators which can be used to represent a visual indication of the determined value. The graphical representation of the entities within the system can be displayed along with unique indicator used to represent the value associated with the metric to be displayed. The metrics to be displayed can be selected from a list. Additionally, the measurements can be periodically made and the display accordingly updated.

Abstract: A method and system for simulating application workloads on an e-business application sewer hosting e-business application programs. A test driver can simulate different workloads and enable monitoring of e business applications. A work request for a placebo transaction can be forwarded to the application server for processing. The placebo transaction can be a workload used to test the application server by placing a load on the application server. The placebo transaction can emulate realtime tasks and activities within the application server. The workloads for the placebo transactions can require varying levels of processing resources. The placebo transaction can include hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) traffic. A work request can include HTTP requests for accomplishing e-business related calculations, and retrieving and/or storing information in a database.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and computer readable medium for transferring Secured Socket Layer (SSL) management information between servers within an informational processing system. The method allows for valid SSL session id information to be moved from any of a plurality of servers to a server containing the desired information to be served to a requesting client. The method for Secured Socket Layer (SSL) management consists of: receiving a request for a SSL session to transfer information with a client; determining that if the request from the client has a current valid session id; and determining if a location of the information in the request from the client is not on a server which is used for the current valid session id, and if the location of the information is not on the server which is used for the current valid session id, then transferring the current valid session id from the server that is used for the current valid session id to a server that contains the requested information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for post-analyzing and sequentially viewing metrics for a stored dynamic heterogeneous data space. For example, performance data for a content delivery network can be post-analyzed. Realtime values for entities in the data space which are associated with the metrics can be received from an intelligent agent and sequentially stored in time within a datastore. The stored metrics can be subsequently retrieved from the database and played back for viewing on a graphical display. The playback of events stored by the metrics can occur as though the events were actually happening in real time. For sequential playback of the stored metric values, both a starting and an ending position can be determined. The data can be sequentially played back beginning at the starting position and terminating at the ending position. During playback, a list can be provided for selecting those metrics and entities of the data space that are to be displayed on the graphical display.

Abstract: A dynamic content delivery network node metrics reporting include a graphical display map, a multitude of components distributed across a heterogeneous network, and a plurality of agents. The graphical display map can display a plurality of nodes and visual representations of reported metric values for characterizing the components, where the nodes can represent the components. Individual ones of the nodes can include a multitude of the visual representations. The agents can probe the components for component metric values. The agents can determine the reported metric values based upon the component metric values and can convey the reported metric values to the appropriate locations within the graphical display map.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for simulating application workloads on an e-business application server hosting e-business application programs. A test driver is provided that can simulate different workloads and enable monitoring of e-business applications. A work request for a placebo transaction can be forwarded to the application server for processing. The work request can be a request to process a specified workload. The placebo transaction can be a workload used to test the application server by placing a load on the application server. The placebo transaction can include any kind of data traffic which can emulate realtime tasks and activities that can happen within the application server and its e-business applications environment. The workloads for the placebo transactions can be defined such that they require varying levels of processing resources. The placebo transaction can include hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) traffic which is typical of Internet website traffic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing dynamic workload transition. A servlet can be configured as a core (main) workload driver that dynamically monitors certain system parameters to determine the current state of the system. A servlet is a Java program that can extend the functionality of a Web server, generating dynamic content and interacting with web clients using a request-response paradigm. Here, the web clients can include external applications each of which can issue hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests for workload processing. Based on the monitored system parameters, the servlet can dynamically determine whether a particular workload should be processed or whether a lighter workload should be processed in order to prevent further system overload.