Resource provisioning systems and methods

A method for storing and retrieving data, the method comprising:

• deploying an execution platform as an interface between (1) a plurality of remote, shared storage devices collectively storing data and (2) a plurality of computerized query sources sending queries directed to the data, wherein
• the execution platform is independent of the plurality of remote, shared storage devices,
• the execution platform is independent of the plurality of computerized query sources, and
• the execution platform comprises a plurality of nodes, each node thereof comprising (1) at least one processor and (2) at least one local cache caching at least a portion of the data;
• monitoring, by a resource manager, current processing delays of the execution platform as the execution platform processes queries directed to the data by the plurality of computerized query sources, wherein the resource manager comprises a software program stored in memory and executed by one or more processors connected to the execution platform;
• determining, by the resource manager, that the current processing delays are greater than a threshold;
• and
• increasing, by the resource manager in response to the determining, an amount of the data cached by the execution platform by adding one or more nodes to the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the one or more nodes added comprise (1) at least one processor and (2) at least one local cache.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of shared storage devices collectively storing data;
• an execution platform independent of the plurality of shared storage devices, the execution platform executing data processing requests directed to the data by a plurality of computerized query sources;
• the execution platform comprising a plurality of nodes, each node thereof being independent of the plurality of computerized query sources and comprising (1) at least one processor and (2) at least one local cache caching at least a portion of the data;
• and
• a resource manager comprising a software program stored in memory and executed by one or more processors connected to the execution platform, the resource manager programmed to:
• monitor received data processing requests directed to the data;
• determine that at least one of additional data storage capacity and additional processing capacity are needed based on the data processing requests;
• and
• increase, in response to the determining, an amount of the data cached by the execution platform by adding one or more nodes to the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the one or more nodes added comprise (1) at least one processor and (2) at least one local cache.