Abstract: A distributed data processing system is disclosed. A problem with distributed data processing systems, especially data centres, is the low level of utilisation of those data centres. This is, in part, owing to data centre providers being concerned not to attract financial penalties levied by their customers in response to the quality of service provided to those customers by the data centre falling below service level agreed in service level agreements. Embodiments are disclosed which tackle this problem by having the data centre control the load placed upon it by carrying out an assessment of the likely impact of performing a requested bundle of jobs on jobs which are already running in the data centre. The decision whether to provide the requested bundle of jobs is then made by weighing-up the expected increase in penalties payable to customers against the revenue expected in return for running the requested bundle of jobs.

Abstract: A distributed data processing system is disclosed. A problem with distributed data processing systems, especially data centres, is the low level of utilisation of those data centres. This is, in part, owing to data centre providers being concerned not to attract financial penalties levied by their customers in response to the quality of service provided to those customers by the data centre falling below service level agreed in service level agreements. Embodiments are disclosed which tackle this problem by having the data centre control the load placed upon it by carrying out an assessment of the likely impact of performing a requested bundle of jobs on jobs which are already running in the data centre. The decision whether to provide the requested bundle of jobs is then made by weighing-up the expected increase in penalties payable to customers against the revenue expected in return for running the requested bundle of jobs.