Coordinating use of independent external resources within requesting grid environments

• US 20050278441A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Richards, Patrick J. Jr., Trevathan, Matthew B., Bond, Robert W., Tallam, Sambasiva R., McCulloch, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5011 Pool
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/503 Resource availability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/504 Resource capping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/508 Monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method, system, and program for coordinating use of independent external resources within requesting grid environments. A external resource dispatcher receives requests for use of external resources. The external resource dispatcher controls the dispatch of a pool of external resources hidden from the grid management systems of requesting grid clients. In particular, the external resource dispatcher coordinates dispatch of a selection of the external resources for temporary registration with a requesting grid client management system. The requesting grid client management system registers the external resources for use within the grid client and monitors whether the external resources are still needed. When a requesting grid client no longer needs a dispatched external resource, the external resource dispatcher controls detachment of the dispatched external resource and returns the external resource to the available pool of external resources.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, comprising:

a plurality of external resources, wherein said plurality of external resources are independent from a grid management system, wherein said grid management system registers a plurality of resources for use within a grid environment; and

an external resource dispatcher for receiving a request for resources from said grid management system, wherein responsive to said request for resources said external resource dispatcher coordinates dispatch of a selection of external resources from among said plurality of external resources for temporary registration with said grid management system.

2. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said plurality of external resources further comprises at least one from among a resource not registered with any grid management system, a resource registered with an second grid management system, and a third grid management system.

3. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher further comprises:

means for authenticating said grid management system as an authorized user of said plurality of external resources.

4. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher further comprises:

means for tracking an availability of each of said plurality of external resources.

5. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher further comprises:

means for polling said selection of external resources to determine if a connection is established between said selection of external resources and said grid management system; and

means, responsive to not detecting said connection, for returning said selection of external resources to an available status.

6. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher further comprises:

means for independently metering use of said selection of external resources by said grid management system.

7. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher further comprises:

means for independently registering with an external resource dispatcher directory comprising a plurality of external resource dispatchers.

8. The system according to claim 1 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, wherein said external resource dispatcher is enabled to received requests for external resources from a plurality of diverse grid management systems.

9. A method for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, comprising:

receiving, at an external resource dispatcher, a request for resources from a grid management system, wherein said grid management system registers a plurality of grid resources for use within a grid environment, wherein a plurality of external resources are managed by said external resource dispatcher independent from said grid management system;

coordinating dispatch by said external resource dispatcher of a selection of external resources from among said plurality of external resources for temporary registration with said grid management system, such that use of said selection of external resources is coordinated when said plurality of grid resources already registered for use within said a grid environment are insufficient.

10. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

authenticating said grid management system as an authorized recipient of said plurality of external resources.

11. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

tracking an availability of each of said plurality of external resources.

12. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

polling said selection of external resources to determine if a connection is established between said selection of external resources and said grid management system; and

responsive to not detecting said connection, returning said selection of external resources to an available status.

13. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

independently metering use of said selection of external resources by said grid management system.

14. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

independently registering with an external resource dispatcher directory comprising a plurality of external resource dispatchers.

15. The method according to claim 9 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

enabling said external resource dispatcher to received requests for external resources from a plurality of diverse grid management systems.

16. A computer program product, residing on a computer readable medium, for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, comprising:

means for receiving, at an external resource dispatcher, a request for resources from a grid management system, wherein said grid management system registers a plurality of grid resources for use within a grid environment, wherein a plurality of external resources are managed by said external resource dispatcher independent from said grid management system;

means for coordinating dispatch by said external resource dispatcher of a selection of external resources from among said plurality of external resources for temporary registration with said grid management system, such that use of said selection of external resources is coordinated when said plurality of grid resources already registered for use within said a grid environment are insufficient.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

means for authenticating said grid management system as an authorized recipient of said plurality of external resources.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

means for polling said selection of external resources to determine if a connection is established between said selection of external resources and said grid management system; and

means, responsive to not detecting said connection, for returning said selection of external resources to an available status.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

means for independently metering use of said selection of external resources by said grid management system.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16 for coordinating use of independent external resources within a grid environment, said method further comprising:

means for independently registering with an external resource dispatcher directory comprising a plurality of external resource dispatchers.