DYNAMICALLY RESIZING A NETWORKED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT TO PROCESS A WORKLOAD

• US 20120290726A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Gene L., Coffey, Brendan F., Dawson, Christopher J., Harris, Clifford V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) to be dynamic in nature in that it may automatically be resized based on current/predicted workload and current/predicted resource availability. For example, when a workload is received, a data structure (e.g., a mapping) will be created on a computer storage device and populated with data related to a set of current resources of the networked computing environment that are allocated to the workload. It will then be determined whether a mismatch (e.g., a shortfall) exists between the set of current resources and resources required for processing the workload. If so, a set of peripheral resources will be identified to rectify the mismatch. The networked computing environment will then be resized to accommodate the set of peripheral resources, and the workload will be processed using the resized networked computing environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically resizing a networked computing environment to optimally accommodate a workload, comprising:

creating a data structure on a computer storage device and populating the data structure with data related to a set of current resources of the networked computing environment that are allocated to the workload;

determining if a mismatch exists between the set of current resources and resources required for processing the workload;

responsive to the existence of a mismatch, identifying a set of peripheral resources comprising the mismatch;

resizing the networked computing environment based upon the identifying; and

processing the workload using the resized networked computing environment.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising resizing the networked computing environment to release the set of peripheral resources after the workload has been processed.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising identifying potential latency inefficiencies in the networked computing environment based on the set of current resources, the set of peripheral resources being further identified to address the potential latency inefficiencies.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing current and expected users of the networked computing environment.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, the workload being at least one of the following:

a current workload or an expected workload of the current and expected users.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the identifying of the set of peripheral resources comprising cross-referencing a database of resources, the database being stored on at least one computer storage device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.

8. A system for dynamically resizing a networked computing environment to optimally accommodate a workload, comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus; and

a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to;

create a data structure on a computer storage device and populating the data structure with data related to a set of current resources of the networked computing environment that are allocated to the workload;

determine if a mismatch exists between the set of current resources and resources required for processing the workload;

responsive to the existence of a mismatch, identify a set of peripheral resources comprising the mismatch;

resize the networked computing environment based upon the identification of the set of peripheral resources; and

process the workload using the resized networked computing environment.

9. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions to resize the networked computing environment to release the set of peripheral resources after the workload has been processed.

10. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions to identify potential latency inefficiencies in the networked computing environment based on the set of current resources, the set of peripheral resources being further identified to address the potential latency inefficiencies.

11. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions to analyze current and expected users of the networked computing environment.

12. The system of claim 11, the workload being at least one of the following:

a current workload or an expected workload of the current and expected users.

13. The system of claim 8, the memory medium further comprising instructions to cross-reference a database of resources, the database being stored on at least one computer storage device.

14. The system of claim 8, the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.

15. A computer program product for dynamically resizing a networked computing environment to optimally accommodate a workload, comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus; and

a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to;

create a data structure on a computer storage device and populating the data structure with data related to a set of current resources of the networked computing environment that are allocated to the workload;

determine if a mismatch exists between the set of current resources and resources required for processing the workload;

responsive to the existence of a mismatch, identify a set of peripheral resources comprising the mismatch;

resize the networked computing environment based upon the identification of the set of peripheral resources; and

process the workload using the resized networked computing environment.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media to resize the networked computing environment to release the set of peripheral resources after the workload has been processed.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media to identify potential latency inefficiencies in the networked computing environment based on the set of current resources, the set of peripheral resources being further identified to address the potential latency inefficiencies.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media to analyze current and expected users of the networked computing environment.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, the workload being at least one of the following:

a current workload or an expected workload of the current and expected users.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media to cross-reference a database of resources, the database being stored on at least one computer storage device.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment.

22. A method for deploying a system for dynamically resizing a networked computing environment to optimally accommodate a workload, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

create a data structure on a computer storage device and populating the data structure with data related to a set of current resources of the networked computing environment that are allocated to the workload;

determine if a mismatch exists between the set of current resources and resources required for processing the workload;

responsive to the existence of a mismatch, identify a set of peripheral resources comprising the mismatch;

resize the networked computing environment based upon the identification of the set of peripheral resources; and

process the workload using the resized networked computing environment.