Method and apparatus for predicting scheduled system downtime

1. An apparatus for predicting scheduled downtime for a system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a scheduled system downtime analyzer configured for determining a plurality of scheduled system downtime estimates comprising first and second scheduled system downtime estimates for the system;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates are determined using at least one scheduled system downtime event model and downtime metrics;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates each comprise at least one of a hardware downtime estimate determined using a hardware model, a firmware downtime estimate determined using a firmware model, and a software downtime estimate determined using a software model;

wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models used for determining at least one of the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates is configured for determining a scheduled system downtime estimate using pro-rating based at least in part on a percentage of system capacity expected to be affected by an associated event for which the scheduled system downtime estimate is determined; and

a system downtime aggregator configured for aggregating the scheduled system downtime estimates to produce thereby scheduled system downtime results for the system, and for updating at least one scheduled system downtime event model using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the downtime metrics used for determining the scheduled system downtime estimates comprise at least one of actual downtime metrics and estimated downtime metrics.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the downtime metrics comprise estimated downtime metrics.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the system downtime aggregator is configured for updating at least a portion of the estimated downtime metrics using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime estimates is determined using a system model.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the system model comprises at least one of a hardware component type associated with a system type, a firmware component type associated with a system type, and a software component type associated with a system type.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scheduled system downtime analyzer is configured for identifying a system model associated with the system, determining at least one scheduled system downtime event type associated with the system model, and selecting at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models using the at least one scheduled system downtime event type.

8. A method for predicting scheduled downtime for a system, the method comprising:

using a processor for:

determining a plurality of scheduled system downtime estimates comprising first and second scheduled system downtime estimates for the system;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates are determined using at least one scheduled system downtime event model and downtime metrics;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates each comprise at least one of a hardware downtime estimate determined using a hardware model, a firmware downtime estimate determined using a firmware model, and a software downtime estimate determined using a software model;

wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models used for determining at least one of the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates is configured for determining a scheduled system downtime estimate using pro-rating based at least in part on a percentage of system capacity expected to be affected by an associated event for which the scheduled system downtime estimate is determined;

aggregating the scheduled system downtime estimates for the system to produce thereby scheduled system downtime results for the system; and

updating at least one scheduled system downtime event model using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the downtime metrics used for determining the scheduled system downtime estimates comprise at least one of actual downtime metrics and estimated downtime metrics.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the downtime metrics comprise estimated downtime metrics.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

updating at least a portion of the estimated downtime metrics using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime estimates is determined using a system model.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the system model comprises at least one of a hardware component type associated with a system type, a firmware component type associated with a system type, and a software component type associated with a system type.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying a system model associated with the system;

determining at least one scheduled system downtime event type associated with the system model; and

selecting at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models using the at least one scheduled system downtime event type.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for predicting scheduled downtime for a system, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of scheduled system downtime estimates comprising first and second scheduled system downtime estimates for the system;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates are determined using at least one scheduled system downtime event model and downtime metrics;

wherein the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates each comprise at least one of a hardware downtime estimate determined using a hardware model, a firmware downtime estimate determined using a firmware model, and a software downtime estimate determined using a software model;

wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models used for determining at least one of the first and second scheduled system downtime estimates is configured for determining a scheduled system downtime estimate using pro-rating based at least in part on a percentage of system capacity expected to be affected by an associated event for which the scheduled system downtime estimate is determined;

aggregating the scheduled system downtime estimates for the system to produce thereby scheduled system downtime results for the system; and

updating at least one scheduled system downtime event model using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the downtime metrics used for determining the scheduled system downtime estimates comprise at least one of actual downtime metrics and estimated downtime metrics.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the downtime metrics comprise estimated downtime metrics.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the method further comprising:

updating at least a portion of the estimated downtime metrics using at least a portion of the scheduled system downtime results.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the scheduled system downtime estimates is determined using a system model.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the system model comprises at least one of a hardware component type associated with a system type, a firmware component type associated with a system type, and a software component type associated with a system type.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:

identifying a system model associated with the system;

determining at least one scheduled system downtime event type associated with the system model; and

selecting at least one of the scheduled system downtime event models using the at least one scheduled system downtime event type.