Cohort cost analysis and workload migration

US 9,659,267 B2
Filed: 01/08/2013
Issued: 05/23/2017
Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
Status: Expired due to Fees

First Claim

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1. A method, in a data processing system comprising at least one computing device and a plurality of computing resources, the at least one computing device being specifically configured to implement a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) market maker service that executes to perform operations of the method comprising:

analyzing, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device of the data processing system, a plurality of data center records, wherein each of the data center records represents a data center in a plurality of data centers, and wherein each data center is a physical space, comprising computing hardware, which has a distinct identity and perimeter and which has a cost that is accessible to recovery;

identifying, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, an available capacity at each of the data centers based on the selected data center'"'"'s data center record;

identifying, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, a current workload currently being performed by each of the data centers;

for each data center in the plurality of data centers;

comparing, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, the identified current workload of the data center with the identified available capacity at the other data centers in the plurality of data centers; and

adding, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, the data center to a consolidation consideration list data structure in response to results of the comparisons indicating that the identified current workload of the data center is equal to or less than a total available capacity of the other data centers; and

outputting, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, a consolidation savings output based on the consolidation consideration list data structure, wherein the consolidation savings output indicates a savings that is achieved by consolidating data centers in the plurality of data centers.

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Abstract

An approach is provided to analyze data center performance. The approach includes analyzing the data centers, with each of the data centers are represented by a plurality of data center records. Available capacity at each of the data centers is identified based on the selected data center'"'"'s set of data center records. In addition, a current workload currently being performed by each of the data centers is identified. The approach compares the identified current workload of each data center with the identified available capacity at the other data centers. Data centers are added to a consolidation consideration list in response to the comparisons. The consolidation consideration list is further analyzed to select data centers for consolidation or elimination.

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24 Claims

1. A method, in a data processing system comprising at least one computing device and a plurality of computing resources, the at least one computing device being specifically configured to implement a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) market maker service that executes to perform operations of the method comprising:
- analyzing, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device of the data processing system, a plurality of data center records, wherein each of the data center records represents a data center in a plurality of data centers, and wherein each data center is a physical space, comprising computing hardware, which has a distinct identity and perimeter and which has a cost that is accessible to recovery;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, an available capacity at each of the data centers based on the selected data center'"'"'s data center record;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, a current workload currently being performed by each of the data centers;
  
  for each data center in the plurality of data centers;
  
  comparing, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, the identified current workload of the data center with the identified available capacity at the other data centers in the plurality of data centers; and
  
  adding, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, the data center to a consolidation consideration list data structure in response to results of the comparisons indicating that the identified current workload of the data center is equal to or less than a total available capacity of the other data centers; and
  
  outputting, by the CEEC market maker service of the at least one computing device, a consolidation savings output based on the consolidation consideration list data structure, wherein the consolidation savings output indicates a savings that is achieved by consolidating data centers in the plurality of data centers.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- - 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - selecting one or more computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) data structures corresponding to cohorts of computing resources currently associated with each of the data centers, wherein each CEEC data structure defines terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system, wherein the terms of the CEEC specify a set of computing resources having a specified configuration that are to be used by the contracting party for a specified purpose at a specified level and pattern of intensity for a specified period of time; and
      
      identifying the current workload of each of the data centers based on the selected CEEC data structures.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting a consolidation savings output further comprises:
    - comparing a set of data center factors pertaining to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure to a set of one or more organizational objectives;
      
      identifying a cost savings corresponding to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure; and
      
      generating a consolidation consideration display based on an ordering of the data centers identified in the consolidation consideration list data structure based on the organizational objectives and the identified cost savings.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - selecting each of the cohorts associated with a selected one of the data centers;
      
      extrapolating a usage corresponding to each of the selected cohorts;
      
      retrieving organizational return on investment (ROI) goals;
      
      tracking the extrapolated usage by the retrieved ROI goals;
      
      comparing the extrapolated cohort usage with the organizational ROI goals; and
      
      in response to the extrapolated cohort usage of one of the cohorts failing to meet the organizational ROI goals, performing one or more actions to increase usage of the failing cohort.
  - 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - retrieving a set of geographic placement options, wherein each of the geographic placement options corresponds to one or more of the data centers;
      
      retrieving a set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a current geographic placement of each of the cohorts;
      
      comparing the current geographic placement of each of the cohorts with the set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a best fit placement option based on the comparison; and
      
      migrating each of the cohorts to the best fit placement option.
  - 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - selecting a high-level architectural cohort, wherein the high-level architectural cohort includes a utilization profile;
      
      selecting a plurality of cohort members included in the high-level architectural cohort;
      
      identifying a set of utilization patterns pertaining to each of the plurality of cohort members;
      
      comparing the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile with each of the sets of utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members; and
      
      ejecting one or more of the cohort members from the high-level architectural cohort in response to the identified utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members failing to match the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile.
  - 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
    - retrieving one or more utilization profiles pertaining to alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      comparing the ejected cohort members'"'"' utilization patterns to the retrieved utilization profiles pertaining to the alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      identifying one of the alternative high-level architectural cohorts with utilization profiles that match the ejected cohort member'"'"'s utilization patterns; and
      
      migrating the ejected cohort members to the identified alternative high-level architectural cohorts.
  - 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - selecting one or more cohorts currently associated with one of the data centers;
      
      computing a return on investment (ROI) pertaining to the selected cohorts;
      
      comparing the computed ROI of each of the cohorts with an expected ROI; and
      
      eliminating one or more of the selected cohorts based on the comparison.

9. An information handling system comprising:
- a plurality of processors;
  
  a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;
  
  a nonvolatile storage area; and
  
  a set of instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors, wherein the set of instructions cause the at least one of the processors to be specifically configured to implement a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) market maker service that executes to perform actions of;
  
  analyzing, by the CEEC market maker service, a plurality of data center records, wherein each of the data center records represents a data center in a plurality of data centers, and wherein each data center is a physical space, comprising computing hardware, which has a distinct identity and perimeter and which has a cost that is accessible to recovery;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, an available capacity at each of the data centers based on the selected data center'"'"'s data center record;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, a current workload currently being performed by each of the data centers;
  
  for each data center in the plurality of data centers;
  
  comparing, by the CEEC market maker service, the identified current workload of the data center with the identified available capacity at the other data centers in the plurality of data centers; and
  
  adding, by the CEEC market maker service, the data center to a consolidation consideration list data structure in response to results of the comparisons indicating that the identified current workload of the data center is equal to or less than a total available capacity of the other data centers; and
  
  outputting, by the CEEC market maker service, a consolidation savings output based on the consolidation consideration list data structure, wherein the consolidation savings output indicates a savings that is achieved by consolidating data centers in the plurality of data centers.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- - 10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - selecting one or more computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) data structures corresponding to cohorts of computing resources currently associated with each of the data centers, wherein each CEEC data structure defines terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system, wherein the terms of the CEEC specify a set of computing resources having a specified configuration that are to be used by the contracting party for a specified purpose at a specified level and pattern of intensity for a specified period of time; and
      
      identifying the current workload of each of the data centers based on the selected CEEC data structures.
  - 11. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions cause the at least one of the processors to perform the action of outputting a consolidation savings output at least by:
    - comparing a set of data center factors pertaining to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure to a set of one or more organizational objectives;
      
      identifying a cost savings corresponding to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure; and
      
      generating a consolidation consideration display based on an ordering of the data centers identified in the consolidation consideration list data structure based on the organizational objectives and the identified cost savings.
  - 12. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - selecting each of the cohorts associated with a selected one of the data centers;
      
      extrapolating a usage corresponding to each of the selected cohorts;
      
      retrieving organizational return on investment (ROI) goals;
      
      tracking the extrapolated usage by the retrieved ROI goals;
      
      comparing the extrapolated cohort usage with the organizational ROI goals; and
      
      in response to the extrapolated cohort usage of one of the cohorts failing to meet the organizational ROI goals, performing one or more actions to increase usage of the failing cohort.
  - 13. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - retrieving a set of geographic placement options, wherein each of the geographic placement options corresponds to one or more of the data centers;
      
      retrieving a set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a current geographic placement of each of the cohorts;
      
      comparing the current geographic placement of each of the cohorts with the set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a best fit placement option based on the comparison; and
      
      migrating each of the cohorts to the best fit placement option.
  - 14. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - selecting a high-level architectural cohort, wherein the high-level architectural cohort includes a utilization profile;
      
      selecting a plurality of cohort members included in the high-level architectural cohort;
      
      identifying a set of utilization patterns pertaining to each of the plurality of cohort members;
      
      comparing the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile with each of the sets of utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members; and
      
      ejecting one or more of the cohort members from the high-level architectural cohort in response to the identified utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members failing to match the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile.
  - 15. The information handling system of claim 14 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - retrieving one or more utilization profiles pertaining to alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      comparing the ejected cohort members'"'"' utilization patterns to the retrieved utilization profiles pertaining to the alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      identifying one of the alternative high-level architectural cohorts with utilization profiles that match the ejected cohort member'"'"'s utilization patterns; and
      
      migrating the ejected cohort members to the identified alternative high-level architectural cohorts.
  - 16. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
    - selecting one or more cohorts currently associated with one of the data centers;
      
      computing a return on investment (ROI) pertaining to the selected cohorts;
      
      comparing the computed ROI of each of the cohorts with an expected ROI; and
      
      eliminating one or more of the selected cohorts based on the comparison.

17. A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium, comprising computer instructions that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to be specifically configured to implement a computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) market maker service that executes to perform actions comprising:
- analyzing, by the CEEC market maker service, a plurality of data center records, wherein each of the data center records represents a data center in a plurality of data centers, and wherein each data center is a physical space, comprising computing hardware, which has a distinct identity and perimeter and which has a cost that is accessible to recovery;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, an available capacity at each of the data centers based on the selected data center'"'"'s data center record;
  
  identifying, by the CEEC market maker service, based on results of analyzing the plurality of data center records, a current workload currently being performed by each of the data centers;
  
  for each data center in the plurality of data centers;
  
  comparing, by the CEEC market maker service, the identified current workload of the data center with the identified available capacity at the other data centers in the plurality of data centers; and
  
  adding, by the CEEC market maker service, the data center to a consolidation consideration list data structure in response to results of the comparisons indicating that the identified current workload of the data center is equal to or less than a total available capacity of the other data centers; and
  
  outputting, by the CEEC market maker service, a consolidation savings output based on the consolidation consideration list data structure, wherein the consolidation savings output indicates a savings that is achieved by consolidating data centers in the plurality of data centers.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- - 18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - selecting one or more computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) data structures corresponding to cohorts of computing resources currently associated with each of the data centers, wherein each CEEC data structure defines terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system, wherein the terms of the CEEC specify a set of computing resources having a specified configuration that are to be used by the contracting party for a specified purpose at a specified level and pattern of intensity for a specified period of time; and
      
      identifying the current workload of each of the data centers based on the selected CEEC data structures.
  - 19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein outputting a consolidation savings output further comprises:
    - comparing a set of data center factors pertaining to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure to a set of one or more organizational objectives;
      
      identifying a cost savings corresponding to each of the data centers included in the consolidation consideration list data structure; and
      
      generating a consolidation consideration display based on an ordering of the data centers identified in the consolidation consideration list data structure based on the organizational objectives and the identified cost savings.
  - 20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - selecting each of the cohorts associated with a selected one of the data centers;
      
      extrapolating a usage corresponding to each of the selected cohorts;
      
      retrieving organizational return on investment (ROI) goals;
      
      tracking the extrapolated usage by the retrieved ROI goals;
      
      comparing the extrapolated cohort usage with the organizational ROI goals; and
      
      in response to the extrapolated cohort usage of one of the cohorts failing to meet the organizational ROI goals, performing one or more actions to increase usage of the failing cohort.
  - 21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - retrieving a set of geographic placement options, wherein each of the geographic placement options corresponds to one or more of the data centers;
      
      retrieving a set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a current geographic placement of each of the cohorts;
      
      comparing the current geographic placement of each of the cohorts with the set of organizational geographical preferences;
      
      identifying a best fit placement option based on the comparison; and
      
      migrating each of the cohorts to the best fit placement option.
  - 22. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - selecting a high-level architectural cohort, wherein the high-level architectural cohort includes a utilization profile;
      
      selecting a plurality of cohort members included in the high-level architectural cohort;
      
      identifying a set of utilization patterns pertaining to each of the plurality of cohort members;
      
      comparing the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile with each of the sets of utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members; and
      
      ejecting one or more of the cohort members from the high-level architectural cohort in response to the identified utilization patterns pertaining to the cohort members failing to match the high-level architectural cohort'"'"'s utilization profile.
  - 23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - retrieving one or more utilization profiles pertaining to alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      comparing the ejected cohort members'"'"' utilization patterns to the retrieved utilization profiles pertaining to the alternative high-level architectural cohorts;
      
      identifying one of the alternative high-level architectural cohorts with utilization profiles that match the ejected cohort member'"'"'s utilization patterns; and
      
      migrating the ejected cohort members to the identified alternative high-level architectural cohorts.
  - 24. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the actions further comprise:
    - selecting one or more cohorts currently associated with one of the data centers;
      
      computing a return on investment (ROI) pertaining to the selected cohorts;
      
      comparing the computed ROI of each of the cohorts with an expected ROI; and
      
      eliminating one or more of the selected cohorts based on the comparison.

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Current Assignee
International Business Machines Corporation, University College Dublin
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors
Li, Xi, Omana Iglesias, Jesus Alberto, O'Sullivan, Patrick J., Thorburn, James C.
Primary Examiner(s)
Reagan, James A

Application Number

US13/736,920
Publication Number

US 20130124267A1
Time in Patent Office

1,596 Days
Field of Search

705 59
US Class Current
CPC Class Codes

G06Q 10/06312   Adjustment or analysis of e...

G06Q 10/06313   Resource planning in a proj...

G06Q 10/0637   Strategic management or ana...

G06Q 30/06   Buying, selling or leasing ...

Cohort cost analysis and workload migration

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Cohort cost analysis and workload migration

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