Runtime configuration checks for composite applications

• US 9,009,534 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Plate, Henrik, Ponta, Serena, Casalino, Matteo Maria, Scholte, Theodoor
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KAMINI B
• Application Number:
  US13/479,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20130318396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38.1, 709/220, 709/224
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3612 by runtime analysis performance monitoring G06F11/3466

Abstract

The embodiments provide a data processing apparatus including a runtime check identifier configured to determine, in response to a request to execute a function of the application, whether a runtime check descriptor corresponding to the function is stored in a database and select the runtime check descriptor if the runtime check descriptor is determined as stored in the database. The selected runtime check descriptor provides, in part, at least one configuration check of a component related to an execution of the function. The data processing apparatus also includes a system component configured to invoke a system management tool to perform the at least one configuration check, and a runtime check controller configured to receive results of the at least one configuration check and perform at least one action specified in the selected runtime check descriptor based on the received results.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus for implementing a runtime configuration check for an application in a system, the data processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a runtime check identifier configured to cause the at least one processor to intercept a request to execute an invoked function of an application,

the runtime check identifier configured to cause the at least one processor to search a database storing a plurality of runtime check descriptors to determine whether the invoked function has a runtime check descriptor stored in the database, the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function identifying at least one configuration check to be performed by a system management tool and at least one action to be taken depending on an outcome of the at least one configuration check;

a system component configured to cause the at least one processor to send an identifier that identifies the at least one configuration check to the system management tool to perform the at least one configuration check; and

a runtime check controller configured to cause the at least one processor to receive results of the at least one configuration check from the system management tool, consult the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function, and perform the at least one action as identified in the runtime check descriptor based on the received results,

wherein the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function includes criteria information indicating one or more conditions on performing the at least one action and action information indicating a type of the at least one action, wherein the runtime check controller is configured to determine that the one or more conditions is met based on the received results and perform the at least one action according to the type specified in the action information.

2. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application is implemented by a software stack, the runtime check descriptor identifying any configuration checks relevant to the invoked function across the software stack.

3. The data processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the software stack includes a web interface, an application server, a database, and an operating system.

4. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each runtime check descriptor of the plurality of runtime check descriptors stored in the database corresponds to a different function of the application, wherein the runtime check identifier is configured to identify the invoked function from the request and match the invoked function to one of the runtime check descriptors stored in the database.

5. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the runtime check identifier is configured to determine and select the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function from the database by matching an attribute from the runtime check descriptor to an attribute from the invoked function.

6. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifier of the at least one configuration check is an identification information (ID) attribute that identifies the at least one configuration check, wherein the system component is configured to transmit the ID attribute to the system management tool so that the system management tool can retrieve and perform the at least one configuration check.

7. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one action includes displaying an error message if the received results indicate that the at least one configuration check failed.

8. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one action includes disabling the function if the received results indicate that the at least one configuration check failed.

9. The data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one action includes modifying a behavior of the application if the received results indicate that the at least one configuration check failed.

10. A method for implementing a runtime configuration check for an application in a system, the method comprising:

providing a runtime check service as a link between an application and a system management tool that stores configuration checks;

intercepting, by the runtime check service, a request to execute an invoked function of the application;

searching, by the runtime check service, a database storing a plurality of runtime check descriptors to determine whether the invoked function has a runtime check descriptor stored in the database, the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function identifying at least one configuration check to be performed by the system management tool and at least one action to be taken depending on an outcome of the at least one configuration check;

sending, by the runtime check descriptor, an identifier that identifies the at least one configuration check to the system management tool;

receiving results of the at least one configuration check from the system management tool; and

performing the at least one action specified in the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function based on the received results,

wherein the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function includes criteria information indicating one or more conditions on performing the at least one action and action information indicating a type of the at least one action, wherein the performing includes determining that the one or more conditions is met based on the received results, and performing the at least one action according to the type specified in the action information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifier includes an identification information (ID) attribute that identifies the at least one configuration check, wherein the ID attribute is transmitted to the system management tool to perform the at least one configuration check.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one action includes modifying a behavior of the application if the received results indicate that the at least one configuration check failed.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the runtime check descriptor identifies any configuration checks related to the invoked function including multiple configuration checks involving two or more components of the application.

14. A computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

provide a runtime check service as a link between an application and a system management tool that stores configuration checks;

intercept, by the runtime check service, a request to execute an invoked function of the application;

search, by the runtime check service, a database storing a plurality of runtime check descriptors to determine whether the invoked function has a runtime check descriptor stored in the database, the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function identifying at least one configuration check to be performed by the system management tool and at least one action to be taken depending on an outcome of the at least one configuration check;

send, by the runtime check descriptor, an identifier that identifies the at least one configuration check to the system management tool;

receive results of the at least one configuration check from the system management tool; and

perform the at least one action specified in the selected runtime check descriptor based on the received results,

wherein the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function includes criteria information indicating one or more conditions on performing the at least one action and action information indicating a type of the at least one action, wherein the instructions to perform at least one action specified in the runtime check descriptor based on the received results include instructions to determine that the one or more conditions is met based on the received results and perform the at least one action according to the type specified in the action information.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the identifier includes an identification information (ID) attribute that identifies the at least one configuration check, wherein the instructions to send the identifier includes instructions to transmit the ID attribute to the system management tool.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the at least one action includes modifying a behavior of the application if the received results indicate that the at least one configuration check failed.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the runtime check descriptor of the invoked function includes all configuration checks related to the invoked function.