System and method for controlling computing resource consumption

• US 20100005473A1
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Greco, Franklin, Blanding, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3433 for load management allocation of a server based on load conditions G06F9/505; load rebalancing G06F9/5083; redistributing the load in a network by a load balancer H04L67/1029
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5019 Workload prediction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5005 to service a request
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system

Abstract

A method and a corresponding system, implemented as programming on a computer system, controls resource consumption in the computer system. The method includes the steps of monitoring current consumption of resources by workloads executing on the computer system; predicting future consumption of the resources by the workloads; adjusting assignment of resources to workloads based on the predicted future consumption, comprising: determining consumption policies for each workload, comparing the policies to the predicted future consumption, and increasing or decreasing resources for each workload based on the comparison; and providing a visual display of resource consumption and workload execution information, the visual display including iconic values indicating predicted consumption of instant capacity resources and authorization to consume instant capacity resources.

Claims

1. A method, implemented on a computing device, for controlling computing resource consumption in a computing system, the computing system comprising one or more resources, the computing system executing one or more workloads, each of the workloads assigned one or more of the resources, each of the workloads operating in accordance with one or more active policies, the method, comprising:

monitoring execution of the workloads and consumption of the resources;

displaying on a first visual display, for a current computing interval, a number of the resources currently consumed by each executing workload;

predicting for a subsequent computing interval, numbers of resources that will be consumed for each executing workload; and

providing the results of the prediction on a second visual display, wherein the first and the second visual displays comprise;

workload identity,

resource utilization,

the active policies, and

resource requests.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an incremental cost associated with each change in resource utilization; and

providing a visual indication of the incremental cost.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the resources include one or more fully-licensed resources and one or more metered resources.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fully-licensed resources are fully-licensed processors and the metered resources are instant capacity processors, the method further comprising:

identifying the active policies for each affected workload, the active policies specifying requirements for assignment of the fully-licensed processors to the workloads; and

determining if the predicted number of fully-licensed processors complies with the identified active policies,

wherein if the predicted number is more than the policy requirement, determining if the affected workload can borrow one or more fully-licensed processors and if the predicted number is less than the policy requirement, de-assigning one or more fully-licensed processors from the affected workload, and

wherein the affected workload cannot borrow fully-licensed processors, determining if the affected workload can be assigned one or more instant capacity processors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the affected workload can borrow one or more fully-licensed processors, further comprising assigning the one or more fully-licensed processors to the affected workload.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the affected workload can be assigned one or more instant capacity processors, further comprising assigning the one or more instant capacity processors to the affected workload.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing the computer system into one or more partitions; and

allowing borrowing of resources within a partition only.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dividing the computer system into one or more partitions; and

allowing borrowing of resources across partition boundaries.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second visual displays provide icons to indicate allowable assignment of resources to workloads.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising modifying the icons to indicate an change in the amount of resources being consumed by each of the workloads.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource utilization is provided in an aggregate amount, the aggregate amount indicated by an aggregate amount icon.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer system is divided into partitions and wherein the aggregate amount is provided on a per partition basis.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources are temporary instant capacity processors.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a modification to one or more policies; and

determining compliance with the modified policies.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the active policies vary with time of day.

16. A method, implemented as programming on a computer system, for controlling resource consumption in the computer system, comprising:

monitoring current consumption of resources by workloads executing on the computer system;

predicting future consumption of the resources by the workloads;

adjusting assignment of resources to workloads based on the predicted future consumption, comprising;

determining consumption policies for each workload,

comparing the policies to the predicted future consumption, and

increasing or decreasing resources for each workload based on the comparison; and

providing a visual display of resource consumption and workload execution information, the visual display including iconic values indicating predicted consumption of instant capacity resources and authorization to consume instant capacity resources.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resources are processors, and wherein the processors include fully-licensed processors and temporary instant capacity processors.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one or more fully-licensed processors are owned by each of the workloads and step of increasing resources first attempts to borrow one or more of the fully-licensed processors.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein fully-licensed processors are not available to borrow, and the step of increasing resources comprises activating one ore more of the temporary instant capacity processors.

20. A system, implemented as programming on a computer system, for controlling resource consumption in the computer system, comprising:

a monitoring module that monitors current consumption of resources by workloads executing on the computer system;

a policy processing module that predicts future consumption of the resources by the workloads and provides a resource request to adjust assignment of resources to workloads based on the predicted future consumption, wherein the policy processing module determines consumption policies for each workload, and compares the policies to the predicted future consumption, and wherein the resource request call for increasing or decreasing resources for each workload based on the comparison; and

a user interface module that generates a visual display of resource consumption and workload execution.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the visual display comprises:

workload identity;

processor utilization;

the consumption policies;

resource requests; and

instant capacity processor utilization, wherein the visual display provides a first icon to indicate allowable assignment of instant capacity processors to workloads and a second icon to indicate an amount of instant capacity processors being consumed by each workload.