Remote administration in a distributed system

In a distributed system having at least one system manager in bi-directional communication with at least one client performing a plurality of processes, a method for monitoring a subset of a plurality of processes at the client, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining at least one system resource consumption by a first process of the subset;
• performing a fuzzy logic evaluation of the at least one system resource consumption to determine a first action response to be performed by the client in response to the system resource consumption by the first process, the first action response including at least one action;
• and
• performing, at the client, the at least one action of the first action response.

In a distributed system having a system manager in bi-directional communication with at least one client, a method for monitoring a communications link between the system manager and a client, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a failure in the communications link between the system manager and the client management module;
• determining an operative status of a client management module at the client;
• directing the client to restart the client management module when the operative status indicates the client management module is inoperative;
• and
• resetting the client when the status indicates the client management module is operative.

In a distributed system having a system manager in bi-directional communication with at least one client receiving power from a power distribution unit, a method for monitoring and establishing a communications link between the system manager and a client, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a failure in the communications link between the system manager and the client;
• wherein the step of detecting the failure includes:
• transmitting a heartbeat signal from the system manager to the client;
• waiting, at the system manager, for a response to the heartbeat signal from the client;
• and
• wherein a failure in the communications link is assumed when the response does not arrive at the system manager within a predetermined time period;
• restarting the client by the system manager directing the power distribution unit to cycle power to the client.

In a distributed system having a system manager in bi-directional communication with at least one client having a client management module to monitor at least one process performed by the client, a graphical user interface comprising:

• a client status field having a user-selectable client entry for each of the at least one clients, each client status field including:
• a client identifier field representing a client associated with the client entry;
• and
• a status field representing a connection status of the associated client to the system manager;
• a client properties object adapted to direct the client to present a display representative of at least one property of the associated client when selected by a user.

In a distributed system having a system manager in bi-directional communication with at least one client having a client management module to monitor at least one process performed by the client, a graphical user interface for displaying at least one property of the client management module process at the system manager comprising:

• a process status field having a user-selectable process entry for each of the at least one process, each process status field including:
• a process identifier field representing an associated process;
• a status field representing an operative status of the associated process;
• and
• at least one resource consumption field representing a consumption by the associated process of an associated system resource;
• a process operation object adapted to direct, when selected by a user, the client to restart a process associated with a process status field selected by the user when the associated process is inoperative and to stop the associated process when the associated process is operative;
• and
• at least one client action object adapted to direct, when selected by a user, the client to perform an associated action.

A system comprising:

• a first client being adapted to perform a plurality of processes, the first client including a client management module adapted to:
• determine at least one system resource consumption by a first process of plurality of processes;
• perform a fuzzy logic evaluation of the at least one system resource consumption to determine a first action response to be performed by the first client in response to the system resource consumption by the first process, the first action response including at least one action;
• perform the at least one action of the first action response;
• and
• a system manager in communication with the first client and being adapted to direct the first client to modify at least one parameter of the fuzzy logic evaluation used by the first client.

A computer readable medium being adapted to manipulate a processor to:

• determine at least one system resource consumption by a first process of a subset of processes performed by a client;
• perform a fuzzy logic evaluation of the at least one system resource consumption to determine a first action response to be performed by the client in response to the system resource consumption by the first process, the first action response including at least one action;
• and
• perform the at least one action of the first action response.