Real-time feedback for policies for computing system management

• US 20050138317A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cannon, David M., Humphries, Marshall L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system. An example of the method includes receiving the policy definition, and accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system. This example also includes applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. This example further includes outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity. Another aspect of the invention is a method for defining a policy used for management in a computing system.

Claims

1. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system, the method comprising the following operations:

receiving the policy definition;

accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system;

applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity.

2. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition is a new policy definition.

3. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition is a modification of a previous policy definition.

4. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises storing information regarding the at least one managed entity in an information repository.

5. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the applying operation comprises applying the policy definition to a managed entity to which the policy definition has not previously been applied.

6. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition has not been implemented when the information providing real-time feedback is outputted.

7. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the information providing real-time feedback is outputted substantially immediately after implementation of the policy.

8. The signal bearing medium of claim 7, wherein the information providing real-time feedback is outputted within 10 seconds from when the policy definition is received.

9. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the outputted information includes information indicating what action will be taken if the policy definition is implemented.

10. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the operation of outputting information providing real-time feedback comprises displaying information on a GUI indicating which managed entities in a plurality of managed entities would be affected if the policy definition were to be implemented.

11. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the operation of outputting information providing real-time feedback comprises displaying information on a GUI indicating host machines and filesystems that would be affected if the policy definition were to be implemented.

12. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system indicates the amount of space in a filesystem, and how much of the space is in use.

13. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition is for storage resource management in the computing system.

14. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition is for automatic policy-based filesystem extension in the computing system.

15. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the policy definition is for security in the computing system.

16. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a storage device entity.

17. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a memory entity.

18. The signal bearing medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a CPU entity.

19. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for automatic policy-based filesystem extension in a computing system, the method comprising the following operations:

storing information regarding the at least one managed storage device in an information repository;

receiving a policy definition;

accessing stored information regarding at least one managed storage device in the computing system;

applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed storage device; and

providing real-time feedback on a GUI regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed storage device, wherein the feedback identifies filesystems that would be affected if the policy definition were to be implemented, and wherein the policy definition has not been implemented when the real-time feedback is provided.

20. A computing system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processing device coupled to the memory, wherein the processing device is programmed to perform operations for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system, the operations comprising;

receiving a policy definition;

accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system;

applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity.

21. A computing system, comprising:

means for receiving a policy definition;

means for accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system;

means for applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

means for outputting information providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity.

22. A method for providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying a policy definition used for management in a computing system, wherein the method comprises the following operations:

receiving a policy definition;

accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system;

applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

providing real-time feedback regarding the effect of applying the policy definition to the information regarding the at least one managed entity.

23. A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for defining at least one policy used for management in a computing system, the method comprising the following operations:

receiving a specified result;

receiving a prospective policy and a list of parameters of the prospective policy that may be adjusted;

accessing stored information regarding at least one managed entity in the computing system;

applying the prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity;

determining if the result of applying the prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity achieves the specified result,

and if so,

outputting the prospective policy.

24. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises the following operations:

varying a parameter in the list of parameters of the prospective policy to create a modified prospective policy;

applying the modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

determining if the result of applying the modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity achieves the specified result.

25. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the list of parameters of the prospective policy includes information prioritizing the parameters in a particular order, and wherein the operations further comprise:

varying a parameter in the list of parameters having a first priority to create a first modified prospective policy;

applying the first modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity; and

determining if the result of applying the first modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity achieves the specified result.

26. The signal bearing medium of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise:

varying a parameter in the list of parameters having a second priority to create a second modified prospective policy; and

applying the second modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity;

determining if the result of applying the second modified prospective policy to the information regarding the at least one managed entity achieves the specified result; and

outputting each modified prospective policy that has been determined to achieve the specified result.

27. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises storing information regarding the at least one managed entity in an information repository.

28. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the information indicates the amount of space in a filesystem, and how much of the space is in use.

29. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the policy is for automatic policy-based filesystem extension in a computing system.

30. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a storage device entity.

31. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a memory entity.

32. The signal bearing medium of claim 23, wherein the at least one managed entity includes a CPU entity.