Predictive processing resource level control

1. A method of controlling the activation of pooled resources in a network, wherein the pooled resources include remotely startable and stoppable computing resources, wherein starting of each of the computing resources requires a respective startup time, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a resource utilization model including alert events for providing respective resource activation levels representing changes in said resource utilization model predicted to occur after the respective alert events;

detecting occurrence of an alert event;

when the detected alert event corresponds to an increase, then starting selected ones of the pooled resources; and

when the detected alert event corresponds to a decrease, then checking an actual load level and stopping selected ones of the pooled resources when the actual load level is less than the respective resource activation level corresponding to the detected alert event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said alert events comprise time-of-day events.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said alert events comprise day-of-week events.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said alert events comprise date events.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said alert events comprise a predetermined occurrence.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a retry alert event after a predetermined period of time if said actual load level is not less than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event representing a decrease.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of logging a resource utilization variance if said actual load level is not less than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event representing a decrease.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring said actual load level; and

adjusting said resource utilization model in response to said monitored actual load level.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said computing resources are comprised of a plurality of blade servers, wherein said blade servers are mounted in at least one rack, and wherein each of said blade servers is each separately startable and stoppable under control of a predetermined blade server configured to operate as a management and control blade.

10. A network comprising:

pooled resources including remotely startable and stoppable computing resources for performing data processing functions, wherein starting of each of the computing resources requires a respective startup time; and

a management and control resource coupled to the pooled resources for remotely starting and stopping the computing resources, wherein the management and control resource executes a resource utilization model including alert events for providing respective resource activation levels representing changes in the resource utilization model predicted to occur after the respective alert events, wherein the management and control resource detects occurrence of an alert event, wherein the management and control resource starts selected ones of the pooled resources when the detected alert event corresponds to an increase, wherein the management and control resource monitors an actual load level, and wherein the management and control resource stops selected ones of the pooled resources when the detected alert event corresponds to a decrease and when the actual load level is less than the respective resource activation level corresponding to the detected alert event.

11. The network of claim 10 wherein said management and control resource includes a load balancer for monitoring actual load level of said pooled resources, and wherein said selected ones of said pooled resources are not stopped if said monitored actual load level is greater than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event.

12. The network of claim 11 wherein said management and control resource modifies said resource utilization model in response to said monitored actual load level.

13. The network of claim 10 wherein said management and control resource generates a retry alert event after a predetermined period of time if said actual load level is not less than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event representing a decrease.

14. The network of claim 10 wherein said management and control resource logs a resource utilization variance if said actual load level is not less than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event representing a decrease.

15. The network of claim 10 wherein said management and control resource comprises an event comparator for comparing said alert events with a time register.

16. The network of claim 10 wherein said management and control resource comprises an event comparator for comparing said alert events with a predetermined occurrence.

17. The network of claim 10 wherein said computing resources are comprised of a plurality of blade servers, wherein said blade servers are mounted in at least one rack, and wherein each of said blade servers is each separately startable and stoppable under control of said management and control resource.

18. A management and control resource for coupling to pooled resources including remotely startable and stoppable computing resources for performing data processing functions, wherein starting of each of said computing resources requires a respective startup time, said management and control resource comprising:

a resource utilization model including alert events for providing respective resource activation levels representing changes in said resource utilization model predicted to occur after said respective alert events;

an event comparator for detecting occurrence of an alert event; and

a controller for starting selected ones of said pooled resources when a detected alert event corresponds to a predicted increase in said resource activation levels, for monitoring an actual load level of said pooled resources, and for stopping selected ones of said pooled resources when a detected alert event corresponds to a predicted decrease in said resource activation levels and when said actual load level is less than said respective resource activation level corresponding to said detected alert event.