Auto-scaling thresholds in elastic computing environments

• US 9,513,935 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: de Assuncao, Marcos D., Cardonha, Carlos H., de Freitas Cunha, Renato L., Stelmar Netto, Marco A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHIL K
• Application Number:
  US14/525,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20160117180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3024 where the computing system component is a central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3423 where the assessed time is active or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3433 for load management allocation of a server based on load conditions G06F9/505; load rebalancing G06F9/5083; redistributing the load in a network by a load balancer H04L67/1029
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3442 for planning or managing the needed capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3452 Performance evaluation by statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for configuring auto-scaling parameters of a computing environment, as well as alerting a user when auto-scaling operations are not attainable given current operating configurations.

Claims

1. A method for configuring auto-scaling parameters of a computing environment, comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, specified values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of a plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in a computing environment; and

calculating, by one or more computer processors, a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values, wherein the configuration reduces an amount of auto-scaling operations needed to raise or lower an amount of resources allocated for the computing environment to a desired level, wherein calculating, by one or more computer processors, a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values comprises;

calculating, by one or more computer processors, a value for an auto-scaling parameter according to a formula;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of auto-scaling parameters comprise a lower threshold, an upper threshold, an increment by which allocated resources should be increased or decreased in an auto-scaling operation, a maximum number of resources that can be allocated for a computing task, and a minimum number of resources that must be allocated for a computing task.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, a performance metric of the computing environment;

determining, by one or more computer processors, whether the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold; and

responsive to determining that the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold, performing, by one or more computer processors, an auto-scaling operation for the computing environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, a performance metric of the computing environment;

determining, by one or more computer processors, whether the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold;

responsive to determining that the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold, determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold;

responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold, allocating, by one or more computer processors, a sufficient number of resources for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold;

responsive to determining that the performance metric has fallen below the lower threshold, determining, by one or more computer processors, whether a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold; and

responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold, releasing, by one or more computer processors, a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold and below the lower threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources cannot be allocated for the computing environment or that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment cannot be released, such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold, issuing, by one or more computer processors, a notification.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by one or more computer processors, a user interface with which a user can specify values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in the computing environment;

responsive to a user specifying values for one or more auto-scaling parameters with the user interface, calculating, by one or more computer processors, values for one or more other auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values; and

displaying at the user interface, by one or more computer processors, the calculated values.

7. A computer program product for configuring auto-scaling parameters of a computing environment, comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one computer processor, wherein the one or more computer readable storage media is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive specified values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of a plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in a computing environment; and

program instructions to calculate a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values, wherein the configuration reduces an amount of auto-scaling operations needed to raise or lower an amount of resources allocated for the computing environment to a desired level, wherein the program instructions to calculate a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values comprise;

program instructions to calculate a value for an auto-scaling parameter according to a formula;

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the plurality of auto-scaling parameters comprise a lower threshold, an upper threshold, an increment by which allocated resources should be increased or decreased in an auto-scaling operation, a maximum number of resources that can be allocated for a computing task, and a minimum number of resources that must be allocated for a computing task.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to monitor a performance metric of the computing environment;

program instructions to determine whether the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold; and

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold, perform an auto-scaling operation for the computing environment.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to monitor a performance metric of the computing environment;

program instructions to determine whether the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold, determine whether a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold, allocate a sufficient number of resources for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the performance metric has fallen below the lower threshold, determine whether a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold; and

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold, release a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold and below the lower threshold.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources cannot be allocated for the computing environment or that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment cannot be released, such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold, issue a notification.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to provide a user interface with which a user can specify values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in the computing environment;

program instructions to, responsive to a user specifying values for one or more auto-scaling parameters with the user interface, calculate values for one or more other auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values; and

program instructions to display at the user interface the calculated values.

13. A computer system for configuring auto-scaling parameters of a computing environment, comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, wherein the one or more computer readable storage media is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive specified values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of a plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in a computing environment; and

program instructions to calculate a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values, wherein the configuration reduces an amount of auto-scaling operations needed to raise or lower an amount of resources allocated for the computing environment to a desired level, wherein the program instructions to calculate a configuration for the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values comprise;

program instructions to calculate a value for an auto-scaling parameter according to a formula;

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of auto-scaling parameters comprise a lower threshold, an upper threshold, an increment by which allocated resources should be increased or decreased in an auto-scaling operation, a maximum number of resources that can be allocated for a computing task, and a minimum number of resources that must be allocated for a computing task.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to monitor a performance metric of the computing environment;

program instructions to determine whether the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold or has fallen below the lower threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the performance metric has exceeded the upper threshold, determine whether a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources can be allocated for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold, allocate a sufficient number of resources for the computing environment such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold;

program instructions to, responsive to determining that the performance metric has fallen below the lower threshold, determine whether a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold; and

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment can be released such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold, release a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment such that the performance metric is above the lower threshold and below the lower threshold.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that a sufficient number of resources cannot be allocated for the computing environment or that a sufficient number of resources of the computing environment cannot be released, such that the performance metric is below the upper threshold and above the lower threshold, issue a notification.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media further comprise:

program instructions to provide a user interface with which a user can specify values for one or more auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters to be used in the computing environment;

program instructions to, responsive to a user specifying values for one or more auto-scaling parameters with the user interface, calculate values for one or more other auto-scaling parameters of the plurality of auto-scaling parameters as a function of the specified values; and

program instructions to display at the user interface the calculated values.