US 5,978,594 A · System for managing computer resources across a distributed computing environment by first reading discovery information about how to determine system resources presence

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing a computer network. A manager software system is installed on a network management computer system within the network, and one agent software system is installed on each of the server computer systems in the network. A knowledge module in the form of a text fie is stored on the network manager computer system so that the manager software system can transmit knowledge to the various agent software systems throughout the network, for use by the agents in monitoring and managing the server on which they are installed. Interpretable script language programs are present on all computers in the network, expanding and customizing the functionality of the agent software systems. A method is disclosed for using the high level interpretable script language programs in connection with the agent software systems for discovering resources on the network, monitoring aspects of resources, and taking recovery actions automatically in the event of an alarm condition.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of determining whether a resource is present on a computer system, comprising the steps of:

(a) reading, from a storage device coupled to the computer system, discovery information about how to determine whether the resource is present on the computer system;
(b) finding, on the storage device, instructions that are referred to in the discovery information, that are written in an interpretable high-level computer programming language, and that are stored on the storage device in their uninterpreted form;
(c) interpreting the instructions for the purpose of collecting data for use in determining whether the resource is present on the computer system;
and
(d) determining, responsive to the collected data, whether the resource is present on the computer system.

2 more elements

A method of monitoring a computer network that includes a network management computer system and a server computer system, comprising the steps of:

(a) reading, from a storage device coupled to the server computer system, discovery information about how to determine whether a resource is present on the server computer system;
(b) finding, on the storage device, instructions that are referred to in the discovery information, that are written in an interpretable high-level computer programming language, and that are stored on the storage device in their uninterpreted form;
(c) interpreting the instructions for the purpose of collecting data for use in determining whether the resource is present on the server computer system;
(d) determining, responsive to the collected data, whether the resource is present on the server computer system;
(e) responsive to the determination of step (d), sending a first transmission from the server computer system to the network management computer system, said first transmission containing information about the resource;
(f) receiving a second transmission from the network management computer system to the server computer system, said second transmission containing information for monitoring or managing the resource;
and
(g) gathering information about the resource responsive to the information contained in said second transmission.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for managing computer resources across a distributed computing environment by first reading discovery information about how to determine system resources presence

Life of this patent

System for managing computer resources across a distributed computing environment by first reading discovery information about how to determine system resources presence

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14