Model-driven monitoring architecture

1. A method comprising:

providing a machine-readable monitoring model that describes a configuration of a monitoring environment, the monitoring model describing a metric model identifying which monitoring data is collected at a data collection agent; and

an element of the monitoring environment reading said machine-readable monitoring model and adapting its operation to said configuration defined thereby, including adapting its operation to the metric model.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration comprises:

information affecting the ability of a monitoring tool to be capable of receiving and understanding monitoring data that the monitoring tool desires for monitored components.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuration comprises:

a topology of the monitoring environment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said machine-readable monitoring model comprises:

at least one meta-model that defines a structure of how information is represented in at least one data model;

information defining topology of the monitoring environment;

information specifying data consumer desires; and

information specifying reporting network desires.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing comprises:

making said machine-readable monitoring model accessible by said element of the monitoring environment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said element of the monitoring environment comprises at least one of the following:

monitoring tool consuming monitoring data collected for a monitored component;

reporting network; and

monitoring source.

7. A method comprising:

providing a machine-readable monitoring model that defines configuration of a monitoring environment;

responsive to a change occurring in said monitoring environment's configuration, said machine-readable monitoring model updating to reflect said change; and

an element of said monitoring environment reading said machine-readable model and autonomously adapting its operation to the changed configuration.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said configuration comprises:

information affecting the ability of a monitoring tool to be capable of receiving and understanding monitoring data that the monitoring tool desires for monitored components.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said configuration comprises:

a metric model according to which monitoring data is collected at a data collection agent; and topology of the monitoring environment.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said machine-readable monitoring model comprises:

at least one meta-model that defines a structure of how information is represented in at least one data model;

information defining topology of the monitoring environment;

information specifying data consumer desires; and

information specifying reporting network desires.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing comprises:

making said machine-readable monitoring model accessible by said element of the monitoring environment.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said element of the monitoring environment comprises at least one of the following:

monitoring tool consuming monitoring data collected for a monitored component;

reporting network; and

monitoring source.

13. A system comprising:

dynamically changing monitored environment comprising at least one monitored component and instrumentation for collecting monitored data about said at !east one monitored component;

model-driven monitoring environment comprising at least one data consumer for receiving said monitored data and a reporting service for reporting said monitored data to said at least one data consumer;

data collection agent exposing said instrumentation to said model-driven monitoring architecture; and

information services comprising a machine-readable monitoring model that defines configuration of said monitoring environment and the configuration including a metric model identifying which monitoring data is collected by the data collection agent, wherein said information services dynamically changes said machine-readable model to change the configuration of said monitoring environment responsive to changes in the monitored environment.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said information services is communicatively accessible to said at least one data consumer.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said information services is communicatively accessible to said reporting service.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said machine-readable monitoring model comprises:

at least one meta-model that defines a structure of how information is represented in at least one data model;

information defining topology of the monitoring environment;

information specifying data consumer desires; and

information specifying reporting network desires.

17. An article comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause said at least one processor to:

provide information services logic that is communicatively accessible by at least one component of a monitoring environment, said information services logic comprising a machine-readable monitoring model defining configuration of said monitoring environment, the monitoring model describing a metric model identifying which monitoring data is collected at a data collection agent; and

wherein said information services logic is operable to autonomously change said machine-readable monitoring model to specify a proper configuration of said monitoring environment responsive to changes in a monitored environment.

18. The article of claim 17 wherein said machine-readable monitoring model comprises:

at least one meta-model that defines a structure of how information is represented in at least one data model;

information defining topology of the monitoring environment;

information specifying data consumer desires; and

information specifying reporting network desires.

19. The article of claim 17 wherein said configuration comprises:

information affecting the ability of a monitoring tool to be capable of receiving and understanding monitoring data that the monitoring tool desires for monitored components in said monitored environment.

20. The article of claim 17 wherein said configuration comprises: information defining topology of the monitoring environment.

21. A system comprising:

dynamically changing monitored environment comprising at least one monitored component and instrumentation for collecting monitored data about said at least one monitored component;

model-driven monitoring environment comprising at least one data consumer for receiving said monitored data and a reporting service for reporting said monitored data to said at least one data consumer;

data collection agent exposing said instrumentation to said model-driven monitoring architecture; and

information services comprising a machine-readable monitoring model that defines configuration of said monitoring environment, wherein said information services dynamically changes said machine-readable model to change the configuration of said monitoring environment responsive to changes in the monitored environment, wherein said machine-readable monitoring model comprises:

at least one meta-model that defines a structure of how information is represented in at least one data model;

information defining topology of the monitoring environment;

information specifying data consumer desires; and

information specifying reporting network desires;

at least one tool to request monitoring data from one or more monitoring data sources; and

a reporting network to connect and disconnect with said at least one tool, wherein said tool is adapted to register and deregister with the information services.