Method for managing a heterogeneous IT computer complex

• US 6,557,008 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vik, Robert E. II, Reeder, William D., OʼHiggins, James S., Nagel, Peter A., Silver, Jack A., Pratt, Christopher D., Jue, Donald, Jacobovits, Rachmil, Hernandez, Luis I., Temple, Joseph L. III, Morrison, Timothy I., Ruffin, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/456,274
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for optimizing an IT environment, the method incorporating relational databases in conjunction with unique data acquisition and querying techniques providing a flexible query feedback of IT software, hardware and network parameters.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about a complex IT system based on a first structured table and a second structured table relating to a single view, said view identified by a unique identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inputting first data into said first structured table, said first data comprising descriptions of components of said IT system including at least one of servers, network devices, applications and storage, and attributes of said IT system including at least one of function, architecture, connections and data;

b) inputting second data into said second structured table, said second data comprising a single view of said system attributes;

c) operating a predetermined query on said tables which evaluates one or more components by one or more attributes of said first data according to the view of said second data; and

d) providing results of said query to a user readable media.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first data is provided by use of pop-up windows.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first data is provided by use of computer prompts.

4. A method for providing information about a complex IT system based on a first structured table and a second structured table relating to a single view, said view identified by a unique identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inputting first data into said first structured table, said first data comprising components and attributes of said IT system;

b) inputting second-data into said second structured table, said second data comprising a single view of said IT system attributes;

c) operating a customized query on said tables which evaluates one or more components by one or more attributes of said first data according to the view of said second data; and

d) saving said query in a first storage location.

5. A method according to claim 4 further providing the step of saving in a second storage location, a result of said query representing solutions identified by said query.

6. A method according to claim 4 further providing the step of saving in a second storage location, a pointer indicating the location of a result of said query representing solutions identified by said query.

7. A method according to claim 4 further providing the step of saving in a storage location, a pointer representing the location of data associated with said query.