Granted Patent B1

US 7,340,477 · App. 10/737,675 · Granted Mar 4, 2008

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. In a network of local and remote server machines, incorporated as software on a computer medium, which supports a multi-function, multi-partitioned series of operating systems, a method for establishing an original warehouse database of performance data, usable by clients, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting performance data directly from said local and remote server machines including the step of:

(a1) interfacing a collection manager API for allowing clients direct access to a data collection system to initiate collection of performance data;

said interfacing including the steps of:

(a1a) defining and managing groups of performance counters;

(a1b) initiating the start of data collection;

(a1c) stopping the cycle of data collection;

(a1d) checking the status of a data collection cycle;

(b) organizing and storing said performance data in a relational database and including the steps of:

(b1) developing said original warehouse database having a multidimensional data store as a star schema, and which includes the step of:

(b1a) establishing a star schema of tables wherein a fact table, having rows each containing

(i) a single measured numeric value;

(ii) an optional text string: and

(iii) cross references to other tables, is surrounded by and interconnected to multiple dimension tables which provide various metric attributes for each row in said fact table; and

(b1b) providing information from said series of operating systems directly to said star schema without need to reconfigure said original database;

(b2) storing collected performance data in cube formats in said multidimensional data store, arranged as a star schema said collected performance data being capable of storing various kinds of performance data at various times without requiring schema changes;

(b3) accessing said collected performance data for analysis of server operations.

2. A computer readable storage medium storing computer program including instructions, executed by a computing system, causes the computing system to implement the method of claim 1 .

3. A computer readable storage medium incorporating a computer program which operates to perform the method of claim 1 .

4. A system utilizing local and remote servers and which supports a multi-function, multi-partition series of operating systems, said system for creating a warehouse database made up of performance data comprising:

(a) collection manager means for gathering performance data on remote machines and including:

(a1) managing means for multiple collection means having directly connected data collectors for Perfmon counters, for event logs and component performance information;

(a2) said managing means providing data collection on local digital machines and multiple remote digital machines, including servers;

(b) means for directly loading said data collectors into a System Telemetry Warehouse means to provide an original database:

(c) said System Telemetry means including:

(c1) star schema means for storing various types of performance data Provided by said series of operating systems without the need for schema changes, said star schema means including:

(c1a) a fact table of rows where each row contains

(i) a single measured numeric value;

(ii) an optional text string;

(iii) cross references to other tables;

(c1b) multiple dimensional tables which surround each said fact table wherein said dimension tables hold descriptive information about measured values including measurement name, machine on which it was collected, and the time of collection;

(d) means for using SQL queries for enabling data retrieval and analysis from said original database;

(e) means for creating multi-dimensional data stores in a star schema permitting clients to use multi-dimensional queries to access performance data for analysis.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said (d) means for using SQL queries includes:

(d1) means for clients of said System Telemetry Warehouse means to directly interface said collection system managing means in order to define and to initiate collection of performance data without need to make schema changes to said original database;

(d2) interface means permitting clients to:

(i) define and manage performance counters;

(ii) initiate and stop data collection;

(iii) check on the status of data collection.

6. A computer readable storage medium storing computer program including instructions executed bv a computing system, causes the computing system to utilize the listed means of claim 4 .

Assignments (14)