Patent Application
20250138868
The present invention relates generally to data centers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program for A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery.
A data center is a place where an organization's vital information technology devices such as used in cloud computing are deployed. A data center may have several computer servers along with cooling system, storage devices, network cables etc. If the data centres goes down it severely impacts business applications hosted on the cloud and hence it is imperative that the data center has to be up and running all the time. The large number of computers running all the time produces a lot of heat and hence, in order to keep the temperature in control the data center are cooled from the floors using fans and cooled air circulated. If the cooling system breaks down it could result in temperature of the floor and the room to rise and would damage the computers and storage devices.
Currently a thermal event may expose the entire data center which is vulnerable to a shutdown to avoid disaster. Although the safest way to maintain the data center and keep critical applications running is to timely transfer the applications from the affected servers to servers farthest away, this is not optimal or desired since the latter servers could become overloaded with transferred applications. Additionally, many critical applications are required to be deployed in particular areas of the data center. As a result, current efforts in this regard are inefficient and ineffective due to the current inability to determine the servers that are safe, and available.
The illustrative embodiments provide for A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery. An embodiment includes sensing a thermal event in a data center, responsive to the sensed thermal event, identifying an affected server, deciding to deploy a workload from the affected server to a target server. The embodiment also includes for each of a plurality of servers, sensing a performance metric, a temperature and a proximity from the thermal event, responsive to the sensed performance metric, the temperature and the proximity, and computing a weighted score. The embodiment also includes generating a ranking based on the weighted score of each of the plurality of servers. The embodiment also includes selecting the target server from the plurality of servers according to the ranking. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the embodiment.
An embodiment includes a computer usable program product. The computer usable program product includes a computer-readable storage medium, and program instructions stored on the storage medium.
An embodiment includes a computer system. The computer system includes a processor, a computer-readable memory, and a computer-readable storage medium, and program instructions stored on the storage medium for execution by the processor via the memory.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A data center is a place where an organization's vital information technology devices such as those used in cloud computing are deployed. A data center may have several computer servers along with cooling system, storage devices, network cables etc. If a data center is inoperative, this severely impacts businesses that rely on the hosted applications on the cloud and hence becomes imperative that the data center has to be up and running all the time. The huge number of computers running all the time produces a lot of heat and hence, in order to keep the temperature in control the data center are cooled from the floors using fans and cooled air circulated. If the cooling system breaks down it could result in temperature of the floor and the room to rise and may damage the computers and storage devices. A thermal event can also result in a data centre catching fire.
Currently a thermal event may expose the entire data center which is vulnerable to a shutdown to avoid disaster. Although the safest way to maintain the data center and keep critical applications running is to timely transfer the applications from the affected servers to servers farthest away, this is not optimal or desired since the latter servers could become overloaded with transferred applications. Additionally, many critical applications are required to be deployed in particular areas of the data center. As a result, current efforts in this regard are inefficient and ineffective due to the current inability to determine the servers that are safe, and available.
The present disclosure addresses the deficiencies described above by providing a method, a machine-readable medium, and a system for A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery. Embodiments described herein describe sensing a thermal event in a data center, responsive to the sensed thermal event, identifying an affected server, deciding to migrate a workload from the affected server to a target server, the deciding comprising for each of a plurality of servers, sensing a performance metric, a temperature and a proximity from the thermal event, responsive to the sensed performance metric, the temperature and the proximity, computing a weighted score; generating a ranking based on the weighted score of each of the plurality of servers; and selecting the target server from the plurality of servers according to the ranking.
Illustrative embodiments include wherein the weighted score is computed by comparing with a range of values.
Illustrative embodiments include wherein the thermal event comprises a cooling failure event.
Illustrative embodiments include further comprising computing a risk assessment based on the weighted score.
Illustrative embodiments include wherein generating the ranking further comprises ranking a proximity from the affected server of each of the plurality of servers.
Illustrative embodiments include wherein the performance metric of each of a plurality of servers comprises application type.
Illustrative embodiments also include wherein the performance metric of each of a plurality of servers comprises frequency of access.
For the sake of clarity of the description, and without implying any limitation thereto, the illustrative embodiments are described using some example configurations. From this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to conceive many alterations, adaptations, and modifications of a described configuration for achieving a described purpose, and the same are contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
Furthermore, simplified diagrams of the data processing environments are used in the figures and the illustrative embodiments. In an actual computing environment, additional structures or components that are not shown or described herein, or structures or components different from those shown but for a similar function as described herein may be present without departing the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described with respect to specific actual or hypothetical components only as examples. Any specific manifestations of these and other similar artifacts are not intended to be limiting to the invention. Any suitable manifestation of these and other similar artifacts can be selected within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of the description and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended to be limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or different advantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, or none of the advantages listed above.
Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented with respect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data source over a data network. Any type of data storage device may provide the data to an embodiment of the invention, either locally at a data processing system or over a data network, within the scope of the invention. Where an embodiment is described using a mobile device, any type of data storage device suitable for use with the mobile device may provide the data to such embodiment, either locally at the mobile device or over a data network, within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
The illustrative embodiments are described using specific code, computer readable storage media, high-level features, designs, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and tools only as examples and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described in some instances using particular software, tools, and data processing environments only as an example for the clarity of the description. The illustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with other comparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, or architectures. For example, other comparable mobile devices, structures, systems, applications, or architectures therefor, may be used in conjunction with such embodiment of the invention within the scope of the invention. An illustrative embodiment may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.
The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of the description and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional data, operations, actions, tasks, activities, and manipulations will be conceivable from this disclosure and the same are contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are described by narrative text, flowcharts, block diagrams of computer systems and/or block diagrams of the machine logic included in computer program product (CPP) embodiments. With respect to any flowcharts, depending upon the technology involved, the operations can be performed in a different order than what is shown in a given flowchart. For example, again depending upon the technology involved, two operations shown in successive flowchart blocks may be performed in reverse order, as a single integrated step, concurrently, or in a manner at least partially overlapping in time.
A computer program product embodiment (“CPP embodiment” or “CPP”) is a term used in the present disclosure to describe any set of one, or more, storage media (also called “mediums”) collectively included in a set of one, or more, storage devices that collectively include machine readable code corresponding to instructions and/or data for performing computer operations specified in a given CPP claim. A “storage device” is any tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by a computer processor. Without limitation, the computer readable storage medium may be an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, a mechanical storage medium, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Some known types of storage devices that include these mediums include: diskette, hard disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), static random-access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), memory stick, floppy disk, mechanically encoded device (such as punch cards or pits/lands formed in a major surface of a disc) or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as that term is used in the present disclosure, is not to be construed as storage in the form of transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide, light pulses passing through a fiber optic cable, electrical signals communicated through a wire, and/or other transmission media. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, data is typically moved at some occasional points in time during normal operations of a storage device, such as during access, de-fragmentation or garbage collection, but this does not render the storage device as transitory because the data is not transitory while it is stored.
With reference to
COMPUTER 101 may take the form of a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, smart phone, smart watch or other wearable computer, mainframe computer, quantum computer or any other form of computer or mobile device now known or to be developed in the future that is capable of running a program, accessing a network or querying a database, such as remote database 130. As is well understood in the art of computer technology, and depending upon the technology, performance of a computer-implemented method may be distributed among multiple computers and/or between multiple locations. On the other hand, in this presentation of computing environment 100, detailed discussion is focused on a single computer, specifically computer 101, to keep the presentation as simple as possible. Computer 101 may be located in a cloud, even though it is not shown in a cloud in
PROCESSOR SET 110 includes one, or more, computer processors of any type now known or to be developed in the future. Processing circuitry 120 may be distributed over multiple packages, for example, multiple, coordinated integrated circuit chips. Processing circuitry 120 may implement multiple processor threads and/or multiple processor cores. Cache 121 is memory that is located in the processor chip package(s) and is typically used for data or code that should be available for rapid access by the threads or cores running on processor set 110. Cache memories are typically organized into multiple levels depending upon relative proximity to the processing circuitry. Alternatively, some, or all, of the cache for the processor set may be located “off chip.” In some computing environments, processor set 110 may be designed for working with qubits and performing quantum computing.
Computer readable program instructions are typically loaded onto computer 101 to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by processor set 110 of computer 101 and thereby effect a computer-implemented method, such that the instructions thus executed will instantiate the methods specified in flowcharts and/or narrative descriptions of computer-implemented methods included in this document (collectively referred to as “the inventive methods”). These computer readable program instructions are stored in various types of computer readable storage media, such as cache 121 and the other storage media discussed below. The program instructions, and associated data, are accessed by processor set 110 to control and direct performance of the inventive methods. In computing environment 100, at least some of the instructions for performing the inventive methods may be stored in block 200 in persistent storage 113.
COMMUNICATION FABRIC 111 is the signal conduction path that allows the various components of computer 101 to communicate with each other. Typically, this fabric is made of switches and electrically conductive paths, such as the switches and electrically conductive paths that make up buses, bridges, physical input/output ports and the like. Other types of signal communication paths may be used, such as fiber optic communication paths and/or wireless communication paths.
VOLATILE MEMORY 112 is any type of volatile memory now known or to be developed in the future. Examples include dynamic type random access memory (RAM) or static type RAM. Typically, volatile memory 112 is characterized by random access, but this is not required unless affirmatively indicated. In computer 101, the volatile memory 112 is located in a single package and is internal to computer 101, but, alternatively or additionally, the volatile memory may be distributed over multiple packages and/or located externally with respect to computer 101.
PERSISTENT STORAGE 113 is any form of non-volatile storage for computers that is now known or to be developed in the future. The non-volatility of this storage means that the stored data is maintained regardless of whether power is being supplied to computer 101 and/or directly to persistent storage 113. Persistent storage 113 may be a read only memory (ROM), but typically at least a portion of the persistent storage allows writing of data, deletion of data and re-writing of data. Some familiar forms of persistent storage include magnetic disks and solid-state storage devices. Operating system 122 may take several forms, such as various known proprietary operating systems or open-source Portable Operating System Interface-type operating systems that employ a kernel. The code included in block 200 typically includes at least some of the computer code involved in performing the inventive methods.
PERIPHERAL DEVICE SET 114 includes the set of peripheral devices of computer 101. Data communication connections between the peripheral devices and the other components of computer 101 may be implemented in various ways, such as Bluetooth connections, Near-Field Communication (NFC) connections, connections made by cables (such as universal serial bus (USB) type cables), insertion-type connections (for example, secure digital (SD) card), connections made through local area communication networks and even connections made through wide area networks such as the internet. In various embodiments, UI device set 123 may include components such as a display screen, speaker, microphone, wearable devices (such as goggles and smart watches), keyboard, mouse, printer, touchpad, game controllers, and haptic devices. Storage 124 is external storage, such as an external hard drive, or insertable storage, such as an SD card. Storage 124 may be persistent and/or volatile. In some embodiments, storage 124 may take the form of a quantum computing storage device for storing data in the form of qubits. In embodiments where computer 101 is required to have a large amount of storage (for example, where computer 101 locally stores and manages a large database) then this storage may be provided by peripheral storage devices designed for storing very large amounts of data, such as a storage area network (SAN) that is shared by multiple, geographically distributed computers. IoT sensor set 125 is made up of sensors that can be used in Internet of Things applications. For example, one sensor may be a thermometer and another sensor may be a motion detector.
NETWORK MODULE 115 is the collection of computer software, hardware, and firmware that allows computer 101 to communicate with other computers through WAN 102. Network module 115 may include hardware, such as modems or Wi-Fi signal transceivers, software for packetizing and/or de-packetizing data for communication network transmission, and/or web browser software for communicating data over the internet. In some embodiments, network control functions and network forwarding functions of network module 115 are performed on the same physical hardware device. In other embodiments (for example, embodiments that utilize software-defined networking (SDN)), the control functions and the forwarding functions of network module 115 are performed on physically separate devices, such that the control functions manage several different network hardware devices. Computer readable program instructions for performing the inventive methods can typically be downloaded to computer 101 from an external computer or external storage device through a network adapter card or network interface included in network module 115.
WAN 102 is any wide area network (for example, the internet) capable of communicating computer data over non-local distances by any technology for communicating computer data, now known or to be developed in the future. In some embodiments, the WAN 012 may be replaced and/or supplemented by local area networks (LANs) designed to communicate data between devices located in a local area, such as a Wi-Fi network. The WAN and/or LANs typically include computer hardware such as copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and edge servers.
END USER DEVICE (EUD) 103 is any computer system that is used and controlled by an end user (for example, a customer of an enterprise that operates computer 101), and may take any of the forms discussed above in connection with computer 101. EUD 103 typically receives helpful and useful data from the operations of computer 101. For example, in a hypothetical case where computer 101 is designed to provide a recommendation to an end user, this recommendation would typically be communicated from network module 115 of computer 101 through WAN 102 to EUD 103. In this way, EUD 103 can display, or otherwise present, the recommendation to an end user. In some embodiments, EUD 103 may be a client device, such as thin client, heavy client, mainframe computer, desktop computer and so on.
REMOTE SERVER 104 is any computer system that serves at least some data and/or functionality to computer 101. Remote server 104 may be controlled and used by the same entity that operates computer 101. Remote server 104 represents the machine(s) that collect and store helpful and useful data for use by other computers, such as computer 101. For example, in a hypothetical case where computer 101 is designed and programmed to provide a recommendation based on historical data, then this historical data may be provided to computer 101 from remote database 130 of remote server 104.
PUBLIC CLOUD 105 is any computer system available for use by multiple entities that provides on-demand availability of computer system resources and/or other computer capabilities, especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Cloud computing typically leverages sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale. The direct and active management of the computing resources of public cloud 105 is performed by the computer hardware and/or software of cloud orchestration module 141. The computing resources provided by public cloud 105 are typically implemented by virtual computing environments that run on various computers making up the computers of host physical machine set 142, which is the universe of physical computers in and/or available to public cloud 105. The virtual computing environments (VCEs) typically take the form of virtual machines from virtual machine set 143 and/or containers from container set 144. It is understood that these VCEs may be stored as images and may be transferred among and between the various physical machine hosts, either as images or after instantiation of the VCE. Cloud orchestration module 141 manages the transfer and storage of images, deploys new instantiations of VCEs and manages active instantiations of VCE deployments. Gateway 140 is the collection of computer software, hardware, and firmware that allows public cloud 105 to communicate through WAN 102.
Some further explanation of virtualized computing environments (VCEs) will now be provided. VCEs can be stored as “images.” A new active instance of the VCE can be instantiated from the image. Two familiar types of VCEs are virtual machines and containers. A container is a VCE that uses operating-system-level virtualization. This refers to an operating system feature in which the kernel allows the existence of multiple isolated user-space instances, called containers. These isolated user-space instances typically behave as real computers from the point of view of programs running in them. A computer program running on an ordinary operating system can utilize all resources of that computer, such as connected devices, files and folders, network shares, CPU power, and quantifiable hardware capabilities. However, programs running inside a container can only use the contents of the container and devices assigned to the container, a feature which is known as containerization.
PRIVATE CLOUD 106 is similar to public cloud 105, except that the computing resources are only available for use by a single enterprise. While private cloud 106 is depicted as being in communication with WAN 102, in other embodiments a private cloud may be disconnected from the internet entirely and only accessible through a local/private network. A hybrid cloud is a composition of multiple clouds of different types (for example, private, community or public cloud types), often respectively implemented by different vendors. Each of the multiple clouds remains a separate and discrete entity, but the larger hybrid cloud architecture is bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables orchestration, management, and/or data/application portability between the multiple constituent clouds. In this embodiment, public cloud 105 and private cloud 106 are both part of a larger hybrid cloud.
Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, reported, and invoiced, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
The process software A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery is shared, simultaneously serving multiple customers in a flexible, automated fashion. It is standardized, requiring little customization, and it is scalable, providing capacity on demand in a pay-as-you-go model.
The process software can be stored on a shared file system accessible from one or more servers. The process software is executed via transactions that contain data and server processing requests that use CPU units on the accessed server. CPU units are units of time, such as minutes, seconds, and hours, on the central processor of the server. Additionally, the accessed server may make requests of other servers that require CPU units. CPU units are an example that represents but one measurement of use. Other measurements of use include, but are not limited to, network bandwidth, memory usage, storage usage, packet transfers, complete transactions, etc.
When multiple customers use the same process software application, their transactions are differentiated by the parameters included in the transactions that identify the unique customer and the type of service for that customer. All of the CPU units and other measurements of use that are used for the services for each customer are recorded. When the number of transactions to any one server reaches a number that begins to affect the performance of that server, other servers are accessed to increase the capacity and to share the workload. Likewise, when other measurements of use, such as network bandwidth, memory usage, storage usage, etc., approach a capacity so as to affect performance, additional network bandwidth, memory usage, storage, etc. are added to share the workload.
The measurements of use employed for each service and customer are sent to a collecting server that sums the measurements of use for each customer for each service that was processed anywhere in the network of servers that provide the shared execution of the process software. The summed measurements of use units are periodically multiplied by unit costs, and the resulting total process software application service costs are alternatively sent to the customer and/or indicated on a web site accessed by the customer, who may then remit payment to the service provider.
In another embodiment, the service provider requests payment directly from a customer account at a banking or financial institution.
In another embodiment, if the service provider is also a customer of the customer that uses the process software application, the payment owed to the service provider is reconciled to the payment owed by the service provider to minimize the transfer of payments.
In the illustrated embodiment, the data center 210 comprises computer servers 220, installed on racks 230, each rack may include several assets including but not limited to compute, storage, sensors, and networking equipment. The racks may be arranged in aisles, and several servers may be installed in a rack.
In some embodiments, a data center 210 includes a cooling system comprising a chilled floor 240, and a Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) 250 external to the racks. A power distribution unit (PDU) 212 is a system fitted with multiple outputs designed to distribute electric power, especially to racks of computers and networking equipment located within a data center. Fans may be mounted, for example, in a row above a hot aisle that is adjacent to the racks. In certain embodiments, the data center provides direct evaporative cooling upstream from the racks. Controlling airflow using a hot-aisle/cold-aisle rack layout aims to maximize the separation of IT equipment exhaust air and fresh intake air by placing cold aisles where intakes are present and hot aisles where exhaust air is released. This reduces the amount of hot air drawn through the equipment's air intake.
Sensors to detect heat, moisture, air flow and other environmental parameters may be installed and placed in order to pin point the location of the environmental parameters. For example, sensors may be placed near hot zones, placed at the top, bottom, and middle of server racks to get a complete view of airflow in the data center. Placing sensors at both the front and rear of the rack allows monitoring of the incoming and exhaust air temperatures.
In some embodiments, the controller module senses a thermal event in the data center 310. In embodiments, a controller module may comprise any system that manages the workload. A workload describes any job, task, program, or application that could run on a computer. A thermal event for example, may include an air conditioning failure, a fan failure or other types of HVAC failure. The affected server is identified by sensors in the data center that can provide the pinpoint location of a server. In some embodiments, the affected server is identified from a heat map. Imaging system can be configured to capture heat signature data for a set of hardware units.
The controller module decides to deploy a workload from an affected server to a target server by sensing the metrics 320 of each of a plurality of servers in a data center. In some embodiments, the metric may comprise application type, for example, currently running critical applications and workload pressure of the server. Frequently accessed server units are gauged by network resource monitoring tool to obtain information on most/least used. IO/IOPS load is used to calculate workload pressure and heat generation.
The workload to be deployed is selected based on application type. In some embodiments, the application types may include mission critical, business critical, normal, and administrative. In another example, the application types may be categorized based on the type of volume including production, staging or test.
In some embodiments, the temperature of a server is sensed from sensors such as thermal imaging systems placed in the data center. Sensors may also be coupled to racks or servers to measure environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity.
In yet another embodiment, the controller module senses the proximity of a server from the thermal event. This may be achieved for example from the data center topology including design plans, architecture and mappings. The proximity from the thermal event may also be computed such as through triangulation or other calculations based on sensor data and placement. The proximity of a server from a thermal event may indicate the heat propagation, but also whether the server is located in a cold aisle or near a functioning cooling unit that may mitigate the risk of heat.
In some embodiments, the controller module generates the weighted score of the metric 330. In an embodiment, weights are assigned to ranges of values of each metric for example temperature, frequency of access and number of mission critical applications that are hosted on the server as shown in Table 1.
In some embodiments, the weighted score of a metric is cross referenced to generate a risk assessment as shown in Table 2.
In some embodiments, the controller module ranks 340 the weighted score producing a hierarchical list of outputs, this list signifies a pyramid structure where for example the least used servers are placed at the top and most used placed at the bottom. For example, Rack 20 and Blade 0, has a temperature at time T1 of 32° C., Frequency of access is 650 Times and Apps hosted is 6
The Risk assessment calculation would be as follows:
Final scoring would be as follows:
This scoring algorithm output is then used for decision making process, the result that is obtained is further used to move the business-critical storage from Row5 Rack 5 Blade 12 in the order of priority till Row5 Rack 5 Blade 12. This operation in turn contributes to the overall extended life/duration of the business-critical workload.
In some embodiments, the system 400 comprises of a controller module 420, a sensor 430, a server 410 and a cooling system 440. The controller module 420 is connected 460 to a sensor 430 and to the server 410 via 450.
Step 640 begins the On Demand process. A transaction is created that contains the unique customer identification, the requested service type, and any service parameters that further specify the type of service (641). The transaction is then sent to the main server (642). In an On Demand environment, the main server can initially be the only server, and then as capacity is consumed other servers are added to the On Demand environment.
The server central processing unit (CPU) capacities in the On Demand environment are queried (643). The CPU requirement of the transaction is estimated, and then the server's available CPU capacity in the On Demand environment is compared to the transaction CPU requirement to see if there is sufficient CPU available capacity in any server to process the transaction (644). If there is not sufficient server CPU available capacity, then additional server CPU capacity is allocated to process the transaction (648). If there was already sufficient available CPU capacity, then the transaction is sent to a selected server (645).
Before executing the transaction, a check is made of the remaining On Demand environment to determine if the environment has sufficient available capacity for processing the transaction. This environment capacity consists of such things as, but not limited to, network bandwidth, processor memory, storage etc. (646). If there is not sufficient available capacity, then capacity will be added to the On Demand environment (647). Next the required software to process the transaction is accessed, loaded into memory, and then the transaction is executed (649).
The usage measurements are recorded (650). The usage measurements consist of the portions of those functions in the On Demand environment that are used to process the transaction. The usage of such functions as, but not limited to, network bandwidth, processor memory, storage and CPU cycles are what is recorded. The usage measurements are summed, multiplied by unit costs, and then recorded as a charge to the requesting customer (651).
If the customer has requested that the On Demand costs be posted to a web site (652), then they are posted thereto (653). If the customer has requested that the On Demand costs be sent via e-mail to a customer address (654), then they are sent (655). If the customer has requested that the On Demand costs be paid directly from a customer account (656), then payment is received directly from the customer account (657). On Demand process proceeds to 658 and exits.
While it is understood that the process software A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery may be deployed by manually loading it directly in the client, server, and proxy computers via loading a storage medium such as a CD, DVD, etc., the process software may also be automatically or semi-automatically deployed into a computer system by sending the process software to a central server or a group of central servers. The process software is then downloaded into the client computers that will execute the process software. Alternatively, the process software is sent directly to the client system via e-mail. The process software is then either detached to a directory or loaded into a directory by executing a set of program instructions that detaches the process software into a directory. Another alternative is to send the process software directly to a directory on the client computer hard drive. When there are proxy servers, the process will select the proxy server code, determine on which computers to place the proxy servers' code, transmit the proxy server code, and then install the proxy server code on the proxy computer. The process software will be transmitted to the proxy server, and then it will be stored on the proxy server.
Loading the process software directly on the client, server, and proxy computers by loading a storage medium such as a CD, DVD, etc.
Automatically or semi-automatically deploying the process software into a computer system by sending it to a central server or a group of central servers. The process software is then downloaded into the client computers that will execute the process software.
Sending the process software directly to the client system via e-mail. The process software is then either detached to a directory or loaded into a directory by executing a set of program instructions that detaches the process software into a directory.
Sending the process software directly to a directory on the client computer hard drive.
When there are proxy servers, the process will select the proxy server code, determine on which computers to place the proxy servers' code, transmit the proxy server code, and then install the proxy server code on the proxy computer. The process software will be transmitted to the proxy server and then it will be stored on the proxy server.
While it is understood that the process software A Least Hop Workload Transfer During Data Center Disaster Recovery may be deployed by manually loading it directly in the client, server, and proxy computers via loading a storage medium such as a CD, DVD, etc., the process software may also be automatically or semi-automatically deployed into a computer system by sending the process software to a central server or a group of central servers. The process software is then downloaded into the client computers that will execute the process software. Alternatively, the process software is sent directly to the client system via e-mail. The process software is then either detached to a directory or loaded into a directory by executing a set of program instructions that detaches the process software into a directory. Another alternative is to send the process software directly to a directory on the client computer hard drive. When there are proxy servers, the process will select the proxy server code, determine on which computers to place the proxy servers' code, transmit the proxy server code, and then install the proxy server code on the proxy computer. The process software will be transmitted to the proxy server, and then it will be stored on the proxy server.
The process software (fill in the names of the software) may be deployed, accessed and executed through the use of a virtual private network (VPN), which is any combination of technologies that can be used to secure a connection through an otherwise unsecured or untrusted network. The use of VPNs improves security and reduces operational costs. The VPN makes use of a public network, usually the Internet, to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased line, the VPN uses “virtual” connections routed through the Internet from the company's private network to the remote site or employee. Access to the software via a VPN can be provided as a service by specifically constructing the VPN for purposes of delivery or execution of the process software (i.e., the software resides elsewhere), wherein the lifetime of the VPN is limited to a given period of time or a given number of deployments based on an amount paid.
The process software may be deployed, accessed, and executed through either a remote-access or a site-to-site VPN. When using the remote-access VPNs, the process software is deployed, accessed, and executed via the secure, encrypted connections between a company's private network and remote users through a third-party service provider. The enterprise service provider (ESP) sets up a network access server (NAS) and provides the remote users with desktop client software for their computers. The telecommuters can then dial a toll-free number or attach directly via a cable or DSL modem to reach the NAS and use their VPN client software to access the corporate network and to access, download, and execute the process software.
When using the site-to-site VPN, the process software is deployed, accessed and executed through the use of dedicated equipment and large-scale encryption used to connect a company's multiple fixed sites over a public network, such as the Internet.
The process software is transported over the VPN via tunneling, which is the process of placing an entire packet within another packet and sending it over a network. The protocol of the outer packet is understood by the network and both points, called tunnel interfaces, where the packet enters and exits the network.
Step 760 begins the Virtual Private Network (VPN) process. A determination is made to see if a VPN for remote access is required (761). If it is not required, then VPN process proceeds to 762. If it is required, then VPN process determines if the remote access VPN exists (264).
If it does exist, then VPN process proceed to 765. Otherwise, VPN process identifies the third-party provider that will provide the secure, encrypted connections between the company's private network and the company's remote users (776). The company's remote users are identified (777). The third-party provider then sets up a network access server (NAS) (778) that allows the remote users to dial a toll free number or attach directly via a cable or DSL modem to access, download, and install the desktop client software for the remote-access VPN (779).
After the remote access VPN has been built or if it been previously installed, the remote users can then access the process software by dialing into the NAS or attaching directly via a cable or DSL modem into the NAS (765). This allows entry into the corporate network where the process software is accessed (766). The process software is transported to the remote user's desktop over the network via tunneling. That is, the process software is divided into packets and each packet (including the data and protocol) is placed within another packet (767). When the process software arrives at the remote user's desktop, it is removed from the packets, reconstituted, and then executed on the remote user's desktop (768).
A determination is made to see if a VPN for site to site access is required (762). If it is not required, then VPN process proceeds to exit (763). Otherwise, VPN process determines if the site to site VPN exists (769). If it does exist, then VPN process proceeds to (772). Otherwise, VPN process installs the dedicated equipment required to establish a site to site VPN (770). Then VPN process builds the large scale encryption into the VPN (771).
After the site to site VPN has been built or if it had been previously established, the users access the process software via the VPN (772). The process software is transported to the site users over the network via tunneling. That is, the process software is divided into packets and each packet (including the data and protocol) is placed within another packet (774). When the process software arrives at the remote user's desktop, it is removed from the packets, reconstituted, and executed on the site user's desktop (775). VPN process proceeds to 763 and exits.
The following definitions and abbreviations are to be used for the interpretation of the claims and the specification. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” “contains” or “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, a mixture, process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, mixture, process, method, article, or apparatus.
Additionally, the term “illustrative” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” are understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to one, i.e., one, two, three, four, etc. The terms “a plurality” are understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to two, i.e., two, three, four, five, etc. The term “connection” can include an indirect “connection” and a direct “connection.”
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described can include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The terms “about,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and variations thereof, are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of +8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments described herein.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments described herein.
Thus, a computer implemented method, system or apparatus, and computer program product are provided in the illustrative embodiments for managing participation in online communities and other related features, functions, or operations. Where an embodiment or a portion thereof is described with respect to a type of device, the computer implemented method, system or apparatus, the computer program product, or a portion thereof, are adapted or configured for use with a suitable and comparable manifestation of that type of device.
Where an embodiment is described as implemented in an application, the delivery of the application in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model is contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. In a SaaS model, the capability of the application implementing an embodiment is provided to a user by executing the application in a cloud infrastructure. The user can access the application using a variety of client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail), or other light-weight client-applications. The user does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including the network, servers, operating systems, or the storage of the cloud infrastructure. In some cases, the user may not even manage or control the capabilities of the SaaS application. In some other cases, the SaaS implementation of the application may permit a possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
Embodiments of the present invention may also be delivered as part of a service engagement with a client corporation, nonprofit organization, government entity, internal organizational structure, or the like. Aspects of these embodiments may include configuring a computer system to perform, and deploying software, hardware, and web services that implement, some or all of the methods described herein. Aspects of these embodiments may also include analyzing the client's operations, creating recommendations responsive to the analysis, building systems that implement portions of the recommendations, integrating the systems into existing processes and infrastructure, metering use of the systems, allocating expenses to users of the systems, and billing for use of the systems. Although the above embodiments of present invention each have been described by stating their individual advantages, respectively, present invention is not limited to a particular combination thereof. To the contrary, such embodiments may also be combined in any way and number according to the intended deployment of present invention without losing their beneficial effects.
