System and method for allocating computing resources

A system, comprising:

• means for receiving one or more reservations for use of at least a first subset of a plurality of computing resources of a distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more reservations specifies a period of time for use of said computing resources;
• means for allocating said first subset of said computing resources for use in accordance with said one or more reservations;
• means for receiving one or more requests for use of at least a second subset of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more requests specifies a period of time for use of said computing resources;
• means for determining whether a sufficient amount of one or more unallocated computing resources are available to fulfill all of said one or more requests, wherein said one or more unallocated computing resources comprises said computing resources of said distributed computing system that are not allocated in accordance with said one or more reservations;
• means for allocating said unallocated computing resources in accordance with said one or more requests and in response to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources being available;
• and
• means for allocating said unallocated computing resources in accordance with an allocation criteria and in response to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources not being available.

A system, comprising:

• a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of computing resources;
• and
• a computing device configured to:
• receive one or more reservations for use of at least a first subset of said plurality of computing resources, wherein each of said one or more reservations specifies a period of time for use of said computing resources;
• allocate said first subset of said computing resources for use in accordance with said one or more reservations;
• receive one or more requests for use of at least a second subset of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more requests specifies a period of time for use of said computing resources;
• determine whether a sufficient amount of one or more unallocated computing resources are available to fulfill all of said one or more requests, wherein said one or more unallocated computing resources comprises said computing resources of said distributed computing system that are not allocated in accordance with said one or more reservations;
• responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources being available, allocate said unallocated computing resources in accordance with said one or more requests;
• and
• responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources not being available, allocate said unallocated computing resources in accordance with an allocation criteria.