Abstract: In a distributed computer system including a plurality of computers connected to each other via a communication path in which each computer executes processing by use of resources of the other, there is generated schedule information defining a schedule of transferring a status of each computer from one status to another status so as to achieve automatic operation of the computer according to the generated schedule information. One of the computers is used to gather, for each of the computers for which schedule information is to be generated, information of dependence including description of dependence to be held between the computer and other computers at the status transition. According to the collected information of dependence, there is created a dependent graph representing dependence between the computers for the whole system. Generated from the dependent graph is schedule information for each computer.

Abstract: A service utilization information collection apparatus in a system including a plurality of computers interconnected through a network acquires names of computers which utilize services provided by a server machine and service utilization status from any one of the computers in the system, and includes a user command which may be executed in any one of the computers, and a service monitor and a local service monitor. A service to be monitored and a name of the server which provides the service are inputted to the user command which is sent to the service monitor. The service monitor issues a service utilization information collection request to the local service monitor operating on each of the computers. The service utilization information collected by the local service monitor is sent to the user through the service monitor and the user command.