International Business Machines Corporation

Michael Ruffin

Joseph L Temple, Iii

Allen H Preston

Timothy I Morrison

Eva L Yan

Carlos A Ordonez

Ann C Merenda

Kristin R Jayaram

Jack A Silver

William D Reeder

Christopher D Pratt

James S O'Higgins

Peter A Nagel

Donald Jue

Rachmil Jacobovits

Robert E Vik, Ii

Luis I Hernandez

A method, system and program product for determining a cost differential resulting from a migration of computational workloads between computer platforms is disclosed herein. Information regarding current and planned hardware and software use on the computer platforms and the costs associated therewith is provided and supplemented with model data including historical data and industry averages. A cost and capacity measurement associated with the current and planned use and cost is derived. A required processing capacity migration between platforms is determined for a proposed computational workload migration therebetween and a resultant cost and capacity measurement is calculated for each platform to determine the resultant cost differential.

Method, system and program product for evaluating a computational processing capacity migration between computer platforms

A method, system and program product for matching the an information technology enhancement project with the resource and priorities of an enterprise is presented herein. A set of objectives for the information technology resources is defined and prioritized as to their importance to the enterprise. The information technology resources for the enterprise are partitioned into segments along a predetermined common property such as geography or skill-base. Each segment is compared to a set of desire information technology characteristics and a score for each characteristic is assigned to each segment and summed providing a total characteristic score for each segment. The total characteristic score is weighted in light of the prioritized objects by virtue of a correlation created between the objectives and the characteristics. The weighted scores are ranked and then classified in accordance with a set of potential information technology enhancement projects to facilitate the selection of one or more of the projects.

Information technology project assessment method, system and program product

A method, apparatus and program product for determining a required processing capacity to accommodate a computational workload migration from a first computer system to a second computer system is described herein. A processing benchmark for the workload on the first computer system is determined along with a scaling factor for converting the processing benchmark to the second computer system. An adjusted processing benchmark is then determined for the workload on the second computer system and is multiplied by the number of computers in the second system on which the workload is to be run to provide a total processing benchmark for workloads on the second computer system. From the total processing benchmark a mean and maximum utilization factor may be derived to determine the average and peak use of the workload during a predetermined time period. A skew factor may further be derived to represent the excess capacity required on the first system due to the imbalance of the workload across multiple computers. The invention may be repeated for multiple workloads to determine the required capacity for all workloads on the second computer system.

Computational workload-based hardware sizer method, system and program product

The present invention provides a method for optimizing an IT environment, the method incorporating relational databases in conjunction with unique data acquisition and querying techniques providing a flexible query feedback of IT software, hardware and network parameters.

Method for managing a heterogeneous IT computer complex

A method, system and program product for determining the value to an enterprise of a proposed technology modification is presented herein. The information technology resources of an enterprise are partitioned into segments along any number of various lines such as business process, geography, etc. The partitioning creates one or more sets of partitioned segments. Within a given segment the resources are profiled in accordance with the information technology priorities of the enterprise and mapped against the complexity of the proposed modification to derive an opportunity score. The opportunity scores for the profiled segments are examined to determine if the partitioning has been effective and if not, the process is repeated. Once an effective partitioning has been effected the opportunity scores of the segments indicate a measure of the respective value of the proposed modification within each segment.

Method, system and program product for determining the value of a proposed technology modification

A method, system and program product for sizing a programming effort associated with the migration of a computer program from a first to a second computer platform is described herein. The size of a computer program is estimated and an adjustment factor is applied to represent a base estimate of the programming effort required for the migration. Analysis of availability of required middleware, object and program libraries may further lead to modification of the estimate. An evaluation of scaling issues related to the migration and a comparison of the programming models for the first and second computer platform may additionally affect the estimate. If the migration port is to be made from a multiple system platform to a single system platform the re-architecting effort to reduce path lengths such as replacing network interfaces with direct file sharing must be added to the base estimate.

Method, system and program product for sizing a computer system migration programming effort

The information technology environment and requirements of a business entity are evaluated via an interactive engagement process, system and program product to successively match the entity's needs to a set of information technology solutions so as to generate a business solution deliverables such as a formal solution proposal. The engagement entails the determination of the entity's ability to participate in the evaluation. The engagement next includes partitioning the entity's information technology infrastructure into segments along the lines of established business criteria, receiving profile information from the entity thereon and mapping the profiled segments to potential solutions creating an ordered listing of solutions. Ordered solutions may be selected for detailed investigation including a further profiling of the segment to which the solution is to be applied and a workload analysis of the proffered solution. Upon successful completion of the workload analysis a business solution proposal and other deliverables may be generated.

Method, system and program product for evaluating the business requirements of an enterprise for generating business solution deliverables

A method, system and program product for determining the cost to an enterprise of a proposed information technology solution implementation is described herein. A detailed evaluation of the information technology resources of an enterprise is undertaken via successively detailed questions and analysis of the enterprise's technology environment. From information gleaned from this detailed evaluation, it is determined if a particular proposed solution implementation requires the addition of new hardware, associated software and administrative procedures and training. Based upon these determinations a raw cost for the implementation is established. Generally accepted accounting principles are applied to the raw cost, such as adjusting for inflation, and including the amount that may be deducted for depreciation of hardware assets to arrive at an actual cost for the implementation. The derived actual cost is compared against a cost associated with a model implementation of the same solution and if warranted, a bid for said solution implementation is generated.

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Calumet Park, IL, United States of America

Michael Ruffin