International Business Machines Corporation

Konstantinos Magoutis

Murthy V Devarakonda

Norbert George Vogl

Nikolai A Joukov

Kaladhar Voruganti

Manoj N Kumar

Ramani Ranjan Routray

Birgit Monika Pfitzmann

Kang-Won Lee

Sandeep Gopisetty

Chung-hao Tan

David Alson George

Alain Charles Azagury

Gauri Sudhir Shah

Dakshi Agrawal

Seraphin Bernard Calo

Hui Lei

Wlodek Wlodzimierz Zadrozny

Chatschik Bisdikian

Steve Richard White

Madhukar R Korupolu

Joseph D Ryan

Techniques for automatically designing an application-requirement based configuration for a distributed computing system are provided. One or more application-level templates are obtained, wherein the one or more templates are representative of one or more requirements associated with one or more applications. Using the one or more application-level templates, one or more logical flows are created. The one or more logical flows are then used to generate one or more system-level configuration plans of the distributed computing system.

Application-requirement based configuration designer for distributed computing systems

A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for transforming a high-level policy associated with a high layer to a low-level policy associated with a low layer. Mapping between high-level objects in a high layer and low-level objects in a low layer is derived by an automated discovery tool. The high-level policy is mapped to the low-level policy according to the mapping (e.g., by substituting the high-level objects with the low-level objects and by performing a syntax transformation). In one embodiment, a low-level policy is transformed to a high-level policy according to the mapping. As exemplary embodiments, policy transformations in traffic shaping and data retention are disclosed.

Method to automatically map business function level policies to IT management policies

The present invention describes a method and system for discovering of server devices. The system and method receive a list of known server devices. The system and method obtain middleware configuration data and/or log files for each of the known server devices in the list. The system and method derives dependencies on at least one other server device from the middleware configuration data and/or log files. The system and method determines whether the at least one other server device is a new server device not included in the list. Thus, the system and method discovers the new server device upon determining that the at least one other server device is not included in the list.

Middleware-driven server discovery

A method for lifecycle management for file systems has several steps. At least one storage container adapted to support a file system is allocated. The at least one storage container and the file system are associated with a service class. The file system is created in the storage container. The service class is used during lifecycle actions performed on the file system. Lifecycle actions may comprise, e.g., creating, extending, replicating, moving, or migrating a file system. The service class for the file system may also be maintained for a lifecycle of the file system.

QoS-enabled lifecycle management for file systems

Method and system are disclosed for automatically discovering associations between applications and data in multi-tiered distributed systems. The method in one aspect uses a machine-readable specification of a model or template that describes use and transformation of data by software components. The method additionally utilizes a model of system configuration and appropriate runtime support to mine information available from systems management software present in enterprise systems. The application-data association discovery process performs a traversal of the distributed system configuration graph with actions taken during this traversal driven by the contents of the templates for the software components present in the system. The results of the application-data association discovery process are stored in a database and may be used to specify application-specific information lifecycle management (ILM) policy or as input to impact analysis tools in access control and antivirus systems.

Data locations template based application-data association and its use for policy based management

Method to automatically map business function level policies to it management policies

Goal-based availability and change management are handled over groups of heterogeneous storage controllers. Probabilistic and deterministic methods are employed to determine the allocation and placement of storage volumes to storage controllers, as well as the degree of data redundancy necessary to achieve data availability goals The probabilistic methods can take into account past observations of controller availability, and operator beliefs, as well as the state of storage controller configuration, in coming up with a probabilistic estimate of future availability.

Controlling computer storage systems

A method for validating that a networked system of modules conforms to at least one interoperability rule pertinent to interoperability of at least two of the modules includes the steps of obtaining the at least one interoperability rule, the at least one rule being encoded in computer-operable format; obtaining configuration information pertinent to at least one of the modules, the configuration information being encoded in computer-operable format; and comparing the at least one interoperability rule to the configuration information to validate whether the system conforms to the at least one interoperability rule

Validation of module interoperability

A method and a system for relating of a value network analysis of a mission to a knowledge base of dependencies of data objects, applications and information technology resources required for achieving of such mission, such method used for optimization of provisioning for information technology resources and for prioritizing of control of data and application security and integrity of such mission.

Connection of value networks with information technology infrastructure and data via applications and support personnel

A methodology is presented for discovering and storing end-to-end associations between different types of entities in a system configuration model of a distributed middleware system. First associations are determined, at each distributed system tier, between instances of data and data-container configuration elements. Those first associations point to logical subdivision of a data service that is directly responsible for implementing an instance of data. Second associations are determined, at said each distributed system tier, between said data-container configuration elements and a server infrastructure. Said second associations point to a server infrastructure that hosts said data-container configuration elements. Third associations are composed, within said each distributed system tier, between said instances of data and said server infrastructure, using said first associations and said second associations. Fourth associations are composed, end-to-end, which represent dependency of an application using said instances of data to said server infrastructure.

Method for non-disruptively associating applications and middleware components with information technology infrastructure

Techniques are disclosed for optimizing volume allocation on storage controllers that may have varying degrees of control over directing storage on ranks of pools attached storage components. A performance-based volume allocation algorithm can optimize allocation for such various controllers in a smooth, uniform manner allowing changes from one degree of control to another without incurring costly code changes and re-architecting costs. Where control is not available a surrogate set of possible ranks where the allocation could be made is developed and employed to calculate an adjusted utilization cost. In turn, the adjusted utilization cost is used to calculate a space limit value limited by a target performance threshold.

Handling multi-rank pools and varying degrees of control in volume allocation on storage controllers

A multi-plan generation system generates a multi-plan for a multi-layer storage area network. The system generates a predetermined number of plans while generating and retaining globally optimum plans. The system dynamically calculates and orders these plans according to optimization criteria and user requirements. The system comprises a planner for each of the layers in a storage area network such as a host planner, a storage planner, a network planner, a zone planner, etc. Each of the planners applies a variance optimization, a preview optimization, and a detail optimization and interacts with a policy repository to obtain policy guidance, enabling the system to prune the set of plans. A control module invokes the planners in a predetermined order.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Konstantinos Magoutis