Computer system for central management of asset information

• US 20030135439A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yagishita, Keiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

A computer system includes one or more host computers, one or more hardware devices, and a management server for managing the assets in the system. The host computer includes an agent unit for notifying the management server of the data of the assets of the device to which it belongs based on a predetermined data structure. The hardware device includes an assets information notification unit for performing a similar process of the agent unit. The management server includes an information management unit for managing the data of the assets received from the agent unit and the information notification unit as associated with the predetermined data structure. Thus, the data of all assets in the system can be centralized using the predetermined data structure, and can be centrally managed corresponding to the structure.

Claims

1. A computer system having a management server to which one or more host computers and one or more hardware devices are connected so as to manage assets in the system, wherein:

each of said one or more host computers comprises an agent unit notifying the management server of information about assets in a device to which said host computer belongs in response to a request from the management server based on a predetermined data structure;

each of said one or more hardware devices comprises an assets information notification unit notifying the management server of information about assets of a device to which said hardware device belongs in response to a request from the management server based on a predetermined data structure; and

said management server comprises an information management unit managing the information received from said agent unit and said assets information notification unit as associated with the predetermined data structure.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein

said predetermined data structure has an area storing data indicating higher and lower assets of current assets in the system.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said agent unit of each host computer and said hardware device comprises a trouble management unit notifying said management server of data relating to trouble when the trouble occurs in a device to which each belongs; and

upon receipt of the data relating to the trouble, said information management unit of said management server sets status of information about assets related to the trouble and information about assets relating to the assets as an error state among information associated corresponding to the predetermined data structure.

4. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said agent unit of each host computer and said hardware device comprises a trouble management unit notifying said management server of data indicating a sign of trouble each time the trouble can occur in a device to which each belongs; and

each time said information management unit of said management server receives the data indicating the sign of the trouble, said information management unit increments a counter value corresponding to a device which has transmitted the data, and sets information about the assets of the device about which the data indicating the sign of the trouble is notified of, and information about assets relating to the assets as an error state among information associated corresponding to the predetermined data structure when the count value exceeds a threshold.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said agent unit of each host computer and said hardware device comprises a performance management unit managing performance of a device to which each belongs, and said management server comprises a performance management unit managing performance of an entire system;

said performance management unit of each hardware device and each host computer collects performance information about a device to which each belongs in response to a request to said management server, and transmits the information to said management server; and

said performance management unit manages the performance of the entire system by associating information about assets of a device which has transmitted the performance information with information about other assets related by said information management unit.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said agent unit of each host computer and said hardware device comprises a capacity management unit managing a capacity of an asset of a device to which each belongs;

said capacity management unit of each host computer and each hardware device monitors whether or not the capacity of the asset of the device to which each belongs has exceeded a threshold in response to a request from the management server, and notifies said management server of the exceeded threshold when the threshold is exceeded; and

said information management unit sets as an error state a status of information about assets whose threshold has been exceeded and information about assets related to the assets among information associated corresponding to the predetermined data structure.

7. A program used by a management server for managing assets in a system in which one or more host computers and one or more hardware devices are connected to direct a computer to perform:

a procedure of receiving information about assets of each device which is transmitted from each host computer and each hardware device in the system based on a predetermined data structure; and

a procedure of associating the received information corresponding to the predetermined data structure.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, used by a management server for managing assets in a system in which one or more host computers and one or more hardware devices are connected, storing a program for directing a computer to perform:

a step of receiving information about assets of each device which is transmitted from each host computer and each hardware device in the system based on a predetermined data structure; and

a step of associating the received information corresponding to the predetermined data structure.

9. A host computer configuring a computer system having a management server for managing assets in a system, comprising:

a connection unit for connection to the computer system; and

an agent unit notifying the management server of the information about the assets of a device to which said unit belongs in response to a request from the management server.

10. A management server for managing assets in a computer system configured by one or more host computers and one or more hardware devices, comprising:

a connection unit for connection to the computer system; and

an information management unit managing information, transmitted from each of said one or more host computers and each of said one or more hardware devices based on a predetermined data structure, about assets of each device as associated with the predetermined data structure.

11. A computer system having a management server to which one or more host computers and one or more hardware devices are connected so as to manage assets in the system, wherein:

each of said one or more host computers comprises agent means for notifying the management server of information about assets in a device to which said host computer belongs in response to a request from the management server based on a predetermined data structure;

each of said one or more hardware devices comprises assets information notification means for notifying the management server of information about assets of a device to which said hardware device belongs in response to a request from the management server based on a predetermined data structure; and

said management server comprises information management means for managing the information received from said agent means and said assets information notification means as associated with the predetermined data structure.