Method and apparatus for identifying slow links and for providing application-based responses to slow links in a distributed computer network

A computer implemented method for dynamically adjusting application usage of links of a plurality of links of a distributed network comprising a plurality of computers having a plurality of endpoints, said endpoints being connected in said network by a plurality of links, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining an original link speed factor by a system administrator with a predicted speed value of each of said plurality of links;
• dynamically performing at least one runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• calculating a runtime link speed factor based on said runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• comparing the original link speed factor with the runtime link speed factor of each of said plurality of links;
• designating at least one link as a slow link when the runtime link speed factor satisfies a desired relationship to the original link speed factor;
• determining which specific applications require access to the at least one slow link;
• and
• adjusting application usage of the at least one slow link by said each of said specific applications.

Apparatus for identifying slow links from a plurality of links of a distributed network comprising a plurality of computers having a plurality of endpoints, said endpoints being connected in said network by a plurality of links comprising:

• at least one storage location for storing an original link speed factor defined by a system administrator with a predicted speed value of each of said plurality of links;
• at least one measurement component for dynamically performing at least one runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• a processing component for calculating a runtime link speed factor based on said runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• a comparator component for comparing the original link speed factor with the runtime link speed factor of each of said plurality of links;
• and
• wherein said processing component further comprises a component for designating at least one link as a slow link when the runtime link speed factor satisfies a desired relationship to the original link speed factor and for notifying a system administrator by generating and sending a notification to at least one of said plurality of computers about the at least one slow link.

Apparatus for dynamically adjusting application usage of links from a plurality of links of a distributed network comprising a plurality of computers having a plurality of endpoints, said endpoints being connected in said network by a plurality of links comprising:

• at least one storage location for storing an original link speed factor defined by a system administrator with a predicted speed value of each of said plurality of links;
• at least one measurement component for dynamically performing at least one runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• a processing component for calculating a runtime link speed factor based on said runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• a comparator component for comparing the original link speed factor with the runtime link speed factor of each of said plurality of links;
• and
• wherein said processing component further comprises a component for designating at least one link as a slow link when the runtime link speed factor satisfies a desired relationship to the original link speed factor and a component for determining which specific applications requires access to said at least one slow link;
• and for adjusting application usage of at least one link by said each of said specific applications.

A program storage device readable by machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for identifying slow links from a plurality of links of a distributed network comprising a plurality of computers having a plurality of endpoints, said endpoints being connected in said network by a plurality of links, said method comprising the steps of:

• defining an original link speed factor by a system administrator with a predicted speed value of each of said plurality of links;
• dynamically performing at least one runtime measurement of at least one runtime fink speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• calculating a runtime link speed factor based on said runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• comparing the original link speed factor to the runtime link speed factor of each of said plurality of links;
• designating at least one link as a slow link when the runtime link speed factor satisfies a desired relationship to the original link speed factor;
• and
• notifying the system administrator by sending a notification to at least one of said plurality of computers about the at least one slow link.

A program storage device readable by machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for dynamically adjusting application usage of links of a plurality of links of a distributed network comprising a plurality of computers having a plurality of endpoints, said endpoints being connected in said network by a plurality of links, said method comprising the steps of:

• defining an original link speed factor by a system administrator with a predicted speed value of each of said plurality of links;
• dynamically performing at least one runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• calculating a runtime link speed factor based on said runtime measurement of at least one runtime link speed indicator of each of said plurality of links;
• comparing the original link speed factor with the runtime link speed factor of each of said plurality of links;
• designating at least one link as a slow link when the runtime link speed factor satisfies a desired relationship to the original link speed factor;
• determining which specific applications require access to the at least one said detected slow link;
• and
• adjusting application usage of the at least one slow link by said each of said specific applications.