Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method and system for allocating common resources for a user in a cloud computer network, by: monitoring system reliability and resource charges; estimating a reliability based on the monitored system reliability and simulating resource provisioning choices to measure an impact of resource provisioning on the estimated reliability; estimating a cost based on the monitored resource charges; and allocating network resources based the estimated cost and simulated resource provisioning choices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for predicting failure of a hard disk in a storage system. Embodiments are disclosed that predict failure of at least one hard disk in a storage system having a plurality hard disks. A data center reports to a data collection center than a hard disk has reported an initial non-zero medium error count (NMEC). The data collection center stores historic data of initial NMEC for many hard disks, and subsequent failure of those hard disks. From the historic data, the data collection center can report to the data center a prediction of when a hard disk reporting an initial NMEC may fail. Different models of hard disks fail at different times relative to a reported initial NMEC. The data collection center can track historic hard disk data by manufacturer, model of hard disk, and by model of storage system and thus can predict, by hard disk model, a probability of failure of a hard disk.