Computer resource distributing method and system for distributing a multiplicity of processes to a plurality of computers connected in a network

• US 5,522,070 A
• Filed: 05/23/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sumimoto, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/445,793
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 395/650, 395/700
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/483 Multiproc
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/508 Monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/522 Manager
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5038 considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks, e.g. taking priority or time dependency constraints into consideration scheduling strategies G06F9/4881 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/526 Mutual exclusion algorithms

Abstract

When amounts of processing of processes to be distributed are known, a scheduler in a client allots the processes in order of their respective amounts of processing to computers in ascending order respective of cumulative amounts of processing of the computer. The cumulative amount of processing in each computer is updated by adding the amount of processing of the allotted process to the cumulative amount of processing of the computer each time a process is allotted to a computer. Each computer supplies situation data such as usage, together with reliability thereof to a server which distributes computers, and the server allots usable computers to the client on the basis of these data. The agent of each usable computer supplies a resource use token to the client so as to permit exclusive use of a computer resource.

Claims

1. A computer resource distributing method for distributing a multiplicity of processes to a plurality of computers connected in a network, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a scheduler, in one of said plurality of computers, for distributing the multiplicity of processes to at least one of said plurality of computers by using a scheduler in one computer of said plurality of computers, each of the multiplicity of processes having a respective estimated amount of processing and each respective computer of said plurality of computers having a respective cumulative amount of processing;

arranging said multiplicity of processes in order of the respective estimated amounts of processing associated with each of said multiplicity of processes;

monitoring each respective cumulative amount of processing corresponding to each of said respective computers of said plurality of computers, the cumulative amount of processing being a sum of the respective estimated amounts of processing for the processes distributed to said respective and corresponding computer;

distributing said processes based on the arranged order of the respective estimated amounts of the processing, to said plurality of computers in order of said respective cumulative amounts of processing, using said scheduler; and

updating each said corresponding cumulative amount of processing in each of said respective computers by adding each said respective amount of processing of each process distributed to said respective cumulative amount of processing each time one of said multiplicity of processes is distributed to one of said plurality of computers.

2. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 1, wherein each said respective amount of processing is one of a number of respective processing steps needed to complete the respective process, an amount of computer time needed to complete the respective process, a number of respective processing steps performed within a selected unit time, a number of files required for performing the respective process and sizes of files required for performing the respective process.

3. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining actual amounts of processing when said processes are executed, an actual amount of processing obtained for each respective process executed;

storing said actual amounts of processing as execution record data; and

producing, at a next distribution of said processes, new respective estimated amounts of processing for said multiplicity of processes based on said obtained actual amounts of processing of each said process, so as to enhance uniformity of the cumulative amount of processing in each of said plurality of computers.

4. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

updating said cumulative amount of processing of the respective one of a plurality of computers by adding a value which is obtained by dividing said estimated amount of processing distributed to respective one of a plurality of computers by a processing speed (Vcpu) of a corresponding computer.

5. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 4,

wherein each said computer of said plurality of computers has an associated utilization rate η

of the computer,

said method further comprising the step of;

correcting said processing speed (Vcpu) of said computer based on said associated utilization rate η

using the following formula;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">Veff=(100-η

)·

Vcpu/100

wherein Vcpu is the processing speed of the corresponding computer, and Veff is a processing speed of the corresponding computer after said correcting of said processing speed occurs.

6. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 5, wherein said associated utilization rate η

is determined by the formula;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">η

=T'"'"'·

100/T

wherein T'"'"' is a time for which the computer is utilized during a preselected time T.

7. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

allotting said process to one computer of said plurality of computers with a higher processing speed if any other computer of said plurality of computers has an equal value of the cumulative amount of processing.

8. A computer resource distributing method for allotting a plurality of computers connected in a network to a client which requires selected computers of said plurality of computers to perform processes under control of a server, said method comprising the steps of:

preparing first data for each computer of said plurality of computers, indicative of a respective utilization rate and second data indicative of a respective reliability of said first data, each said respective reliability increasing when a variation of the respective utilization rate over a given period of time is small and decreasing when said variation is large in said respective computer;

supplying said first and second data from each respective computer of said plurality of computers, to the server which allots the selected computers to the client to perform processes; and

allotting, by said server, the selected computers of said plurality of computers to said client on the basis of said first and second data.

9. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 8, wherein each said reliability is a valid time which increases when a variation of said respective utilization rate is small and decreases when said variation is large, for each said respective valid time of each computer, said server regarding the computer as objects of allotment.

10. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

supplying said first and second data to the server repeatedly at selected intervals; and

prolonging the selected interval for supplying said first and second data to the server when said respective reliability is high and shortening the selected interval for supplying when said respective reliability is low.

11. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

decreasing said valid time, by said server, at predetermined intervals of time from when said first and second data are received by a respective computer; and

excepting the respective computer from the objects of allotment to the client if the valid time of the respective computer is a selected value.

12. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

inhibiting a computer, whose respective utilization rate exceeds a preset value, from supplying said first and second data to said server.

13. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 8,

wherein each computer has a respective processing speed;

and

wherein said computer distributing method further comprises the steps of;

supplying the respective processing speed of each of said plurality of computers to said server together with said first and second data; and

allotting some computers of said plurality of computers to said client, by said server, based on said respective first data, said respective second data and said respective processing speed.

14. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

supplying said first and second data, which have been prepared, of the computers which are allotted to said client, from said plurality of computers to the client; and

distributing said processes to said allotted computers with reference to said first and second data.

15. A computer resource distributing method for allotting a plurality of computers connected in a network to a client which requires some of said plurality of computers for performing processes under control of a server, said method comprises the steps of:

providing a respective agent and a respective local resource manager in each of said computers, each agent supplying a message for permitting exclusive use of a respective computer of the plurality of computers, to the client and each local resource manager monitoring a respective utilization rate of said respective computer;

monitoring the respective utilization rate of each computer and transmitting the respective utilization rate from the local resource manager to said server;

requesting, to the server, use of the plurality of computers for performing said processes by the client;

determining, using said server, which computers of the plurality of computers are to be allotted to the client based on the respective utilization rate of each computer of said plurality of computers when said client requests use of any of said plurality of computers;

establishing a connection with said client, by each of said agents, of said allotted computers;

supplying said message from each said agent of said allotted computers to said client, so as to permit exclusive use of the computer said client requests use of; and

distributing, by said client, said processes to said allotted computers.

16. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining the computers to be allotted for each client when a plurality of clients request the use of any of said plurality of computers;

establishing a connection with each respective client of the clients by each of said agents of said computers allotted to said client;

supplying said message to one predetermined client from said agents of said allotted computers so as to permit exclusive use of said computer; and

supplying said message from each of said agents to another client to which said each of said agent is allotted so as to permit exclusive use of said computer when said predetermined client completes use of the requested computer of said plurality of computers.

17. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 15, wherein said distributing step by the client include:

arranging said processes in order of respective estimated amounts of processing;

monitoring respective cumulative amounts of processing of each of said allotted computers, each respective cumulative amount of processing being a sum of the amount of processing for all of the processes allotted to said respective computer;

distributing said processes based on the arranged order of respective estimated amounts of the processing of each said process to said plurality of said allotted computers in ascending order of said cumulative amount of processing of said allotted computers; and

updating each said corresponding cumulative amount of processing in each of said respective allotted computers by adding each said respective amount of processing of each process distributed to said respective allotted computer to said respective cumulative amount of processing of said allotted computer, each time one process of said multiplicity of processes is distributed to one computer of said plurality of allotted computers.

18. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

adding, to said message, at least the respective utilization rate of the respective computer; and

distributing said processes to said allotted computers on the basis of the utilization rate.

19. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

storing the utilization rate added to said message in a memory of said agents;

sending a message, from said client to said agents, requesting processing of at least one of said distributed processes;

comparing a respective current utilization rate of the respective computer when said agents received said message requesting processing with said stored utilization rate; and

inhibiting said agent of the respective computer from performing said distributed processes when there is a specified change in said utilization rate of the respective computer.

20. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of:

storing the utilization rate added to said message in a memory of said agents;

sending a message, from said client to said agents, requesting processing of at least one of said distributed processes;

comparing a respective current utilization rate of the respective computer when said agents received said message requesting processing with said stored utilization rate; and

transmitting a message from said agent to said client indicating said processing will be delayed until the respective computer becomes available when there is a specified change in said utilization rate of the respective computer.

21. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

notifying said client that said agent will not perform the distributed processes, when a specified change in said utilization rate of the respective computer is detected;

supplying a new message including the respective current utilization rate of the respective computer as a new utilization rate to said client, from said agent, to permit exclusive use of said respective computer; and

distributing said processes to said allotted computers based on the new utilization rate, by said client.

22. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing, in said client, a mechanism for detecting a breaking of said connection to said agent;

detecting a breaking of the connection to a predetermined agent after establishing the connection; and

distributing said processes to all of said allotted computers except to the computer corresponding to said agent which detects the breaking of the connection with said client.

23. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 17,

wherein each of said processes has a respective amount of processing;

and

wherein each said respective amount of processing is one of a number of steps of processing a respective process needs to complete the respective process, an amount of computer time the respective process needs to complete the respective process, a number of respective steps of processing performed within a selected unit time, a number of files required for performing the respective process and sizes of files required for performing the respective process.

24. A computer resource distributing system for distributing a multiplicity of processes to a plurality of computers connected in a network, said system comprising:

a client for requesting the use of a plurality of computers to perform a multiplicity of processes;

a server for allotting the computers to said client based on utilization rates, each of said plurality of computers having a respective utilization rate, when said client requests the use of the plurality of computers;

a resource manager, provided in each of said plurality of computers, which monitors the utilization rate of a respective computer of said plurality of computers and transmits the utilization rate to said server; and

an agent, provided in each of the allotted computers, which transmits a message permitting exclusive use of the respective computer, to said client,

said agent of a computer being allotted to said client supplying said message to said client and, thereafter, said client distributing said processes to said allotted computers.

25. A computer resource distributing system according to claim 24, wherein:

said resource manager transmits data indicative of a reliability of said utilization rate, said reliability increasing when a variation of said utilization rate over a given period of time is small and decreasing when said variation is large; and

said server allots computers to the client based on said utilization rate and said data.

26. A computer resource distributing system according to claim 24, wherein said client:

arranges said processes in order of amount of processing;

monitors each respective cumulative amount of processing corresponding to each of said respective computers of said plurality of computers, each plurality of computers having a respective cumulative amount of processing, the cumulative amount of processing being a sum of the respective estimated amounts of processing for the processes allotted to the respective and corresponding computer;

distributes said processes based on the arranged order of the respective estimated amounts of the processing to said plurality of computers in ascending order of the respective cumulative amounts of processing of each of said computers, using said scheduler; and

updates the respective cumulative amounts of processing in each of said plurality of computers by adding each said respective amount of processing of the process distributed to the respective computer, to the cumulative amount of processing of the respective computer each time one of said processes is distributed to one of said plurality of computers.

27. A computer resource distributing method according to claim 26,

wherein each of said processes has a respective amount of processing;

and

wherein each said respective amount of processing is one of a number of steps of processing a respective process needs to complete the respective process, an amount of computer time the respective process needs to complete the respective process, a number of respective steps of processing performed within a selected unit time, a number of files required for performing the respective process and sizes of files required for performing the respective process.