Providing metered accounting of computer resources

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus;
• at least one hardware resource that provides temporary capacity on demand;
• and
• a capacity manager residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the capacity manager managing access to a selected hardware resource, the capacity manager performing the steps of:
• determining when the selected hardware resource is required;
• determining whether the selected hardware resource has already been billed;
• if the selected hardware resource has not already been billed, determining whether unused billed capacity for a same type of hardware resource as the selected hardware resource is available;
• if unused billed capacity for the same type of hardware resource is available, assigning the unused billed capacity of the same type of hardware resource to the selected hardware resource;
• and
• if unused billed capacity for the same type of hardware resource is not available, billing a predetermined resource-time for the selected hardware resource.

A computer readable program product comprising:

• (A) a capacity manager managing access to a selected computer system hardware resource, the capacity manager performing the steps of:
• determining when the selected hardware resource is required;
• determining whether the selected hardware resource has already been billed;
• if the selected hardware resource has not already been billed, determining whether unused billed capacity for a same type of hardware resource as the selected hardware resource is available;
• if unused billed capacity for the same type of hardware resource is available, assigning the unused billed capacity of the same type of hardware resource to the selected hardware resource;
• and
• if unused billed capacity for the same type of hardware resource is not available, billing a predetermined resource-time for the selected hardware resource;
• and
• (B) computer readable recordable media bearing the capacity manager.