Allocating Computer Resources in a Cloud Environment

• US 20110320606A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Madduri, Hari H., Subrahmanya, Sudhee N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5005 to service a request

Abstract

A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing resources. A request for resources in the network data processing system is received. The request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system. In response to receiving the request, potential resources in the network data processing system are identified. The request is evaluated using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources.

Claims

1. A method for managing resources in a network data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the resources in the network data processing system, wherein the request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system;

responsive to receiving the request, identifying potential resources in the network data processing system; and

evaluating the request using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allocating the potential resources in the network data processing system using the identified values for the plurality of attributes to form an allocation of the potential resources.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

performing the evaluating step in response to an event to generate updated values for the plurality of attributes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the event is a periodic event.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

generating the updated values for the plurality of attributes in response to the event; and

selectively changing the allocation of the potential resources using the updated values.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a range of acceptable values is present for the plurality of attributes and wherein the potential resources change over time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating step comprises:

evaluating the request using the function configured to generate the identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on the proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to the ideal allocation of the potential resources, the resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources, and a policy for the network data processing system.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

making adjustments to the policy before performing the evaluating step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating step comprises:

finding one of a minimum solution and a maximum solution for the function from a set of solutions for the function, wherein the function multiplies a resource weight with a proximity score for each of the plurality of attributes to form a plurality of results and sums the plurality of results to generate a solution for the function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the function is an objective function and wherein the objective function comprises:

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource weight comprises at least one of a priority of an attribute and cost.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the network data processing system is a cloud.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the policy comprises a set of rules for at least one of increasing and reducing cost.

14. A data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a communications unit connected to the bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device includes program code; and

a processor unit connected to the bus, wherein the processor unit runs the program code to receive a request for resources in a network data processing system, wherein the request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system;

identify potential resources in the network data processing system in response to receiving the request; and

evaluate the request using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources.

15. A computer program product for managing resources, the method comprising:

a computer recordable storage medium;

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for receiving a request for the resources in the network data processing system, wherein the request comprises requested values for a plurality of attributes for the resources in the network data processing system;

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for identifying potential resources in the network data processing system in response to receiving the request; and

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for evaluating the request using a function configured to generate identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to an ideal allocation of the potential resources and resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for allocating the potential resources in the network data processing system using the identified values for the plurality of attributes to form an allocation of the potential resources.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for performing the evaluating step in response to an event to generate updated values for the plurality of attributes.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the event is a periodic event.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for selectively changing the allocation of the potential resources using the updated values after allocating the potential resources using the identified values.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein a range of acceptable values is present for the plurality of attributes and wherein the potential resources change over time.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for evaluating the request using the function comprises:

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for evaluating the request using the function configured to generate the identified values for the plurality of attributes from the requested values in the request based on the proximity scores for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources relative to the ideal allocation of the potential resources, the resource weights for the plurality of attributes in the potential resources, and a policy for the network data processing system.

22. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for evaluating the request using the function comprises:

program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for finding one of a minimum solution and a maximum solution for the function from a set of solutions for the function, wherein the function multiplies a resource weight with a proximity score for each of the plurality of attributes to form a plurality of results and sums the plurality of results to generate a solution for the function.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the function is an objective function and wherein the objective function comprises:

24. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code is stored on the computer recordable storage medium in a data processing system, and wherein the program code is downloaded over a network from a remote data processing system to the data processing system.

25. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code is stored on the computer recordable storage medium in a server data processing system, and wherein the program code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a second computer readable storage medium with the remote data processing system.