Automation system uses resource manager and resource agents to automatically start and stop programs in a computer network

Automation system to start and stop programs in a computer network, wherein the computers communicate with each other over a computer coupling facility, at least including the following components:

• a) a Resource Manager installed in a non-volatile memory on one of the computers, at least comprising:
• aa) a component to register the resources of a computer;
• bb) a component to display the start and stop dependencies of the resources by means of a non-resource-dependent Logic Deck;
• cc) a component to access desired status information of a resource;
• dd) a component to update the status information of the resources;
• and
• ee) an interface component to activate the Resource Agent to start and stop a resource;
• and
• b) a Resource Agent for each individual resource to execute the resource-specific start and stop orders, wherein the Resource Agent is installable on any computer.

Method for automatic starting of a resource comprising:

• initiation of a resource start;
• transmission of a start request to a memory of a computer coupling facility;
• retrieval of the request from the memory of the computer coupling facility by a Resource Manager;
• determination of start dependencies for the respective resource based on a multi-graph structure;
• determination of a current state of the start-dependent resources;
• transmission of a start request to the memory of the computer coupling facility to start the start-dependent resources if the start-dependent resources are not active;
• retrieval of the request to start the start-dependent resource from the memory of the computer coupling facility by an assigned Resource Agent;
• starting of the start-dependent resource by the assigned Resource Agent;
• notification of an active state of the resource by the assigned Resource Agent to the Resource Manager;
• updating of the status information for the start-dependent resources by the Resource Manager
• starting of the resource by the assigned Resource Agent if all start conditions are met;
• and
• updating of the status information for the resource by the Resource Manager.