IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,805,734
Granted Patent B2
US 7,805,734 · App. 11/324,730 · Granted Sep 28, 2010

Platform management of high-availability computer systems

Assignee: Augmentix Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,805,734
App. No.
11/324,730
Filed
Dec 30, 2005
Granted
Sep 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Examiner
HO, ANDY
Art Unit
2194
USPC
719/311
Abstract

Software for platform management of high-availability computer systems is provided. A management database can be configured for storing the data about the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities that are required for the platform management. Further, an application program interface (API) and a command line interface (CLI) are provided for administering of the hardware platform by reading and updating the state of set of management instruments, and the set of management capabilities. Execution of a policy in the occurrence of a pre-defined trigger event can be enabled by a policy execution module.

Claims (57)

1. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium including computer program code for platform management of high-availability computer systems, the computer program code comprising instructions for:

a) a management database for modeling a computer system of the one or more high-availability computer systems, the management database comprising a set of management instruments and a set of management capabilities, the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities being used for reflecting and changing the current state of the computer system;

b) an application program interface (API) for administering the hardware platform of the computer system, the hardware platform being administered by reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database, and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database;

c) a command line interface (CLI) for administering the hardware platform of the computer system, the CLI being capable of reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database; and

d) a policy execution module for enabling execution of a policy of one or more policies stored in the management database, the policy including one or more policy commands to be executed by the CLI automatically on the occurrence of a pre-defined trigger event of one or more pre-defined trigger events, the policy being used to perform autonomous functions on the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities defined in the management database.

2. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the software further comprises a database initialization module for building the management database by means of a resource configuration file, the resource configuration file being used by a system integrator to configure the information about the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities.

3. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the software further comprises an interface to one or more hardware management interfaces for providing information about the hardware platform to the management database, the one or more hardware management interfaces collecting status information from the hardware platform.

4. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the software further comprises instruction means for configuring one or more management instruments from the set of management instruments as private management instruments, the private management instruments not being accessible by the API.

5. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the software further comprises instruction means for implementing a set of virtual management instruments and a set of virtual management capabilities by executing a set of pre-defined policies of the one or more policies.

6. The computer program according to claim 5 , wherein the instruction means for implementing the set of virtual management instruments and the set of virtual management capabilities comprises instruction means for referencing one or more management instruments from the set of the management instruments.

7. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the management database comprises a database maintenance module for continuously updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities.

8. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the set of management instruments comprises one or more of sensors, controls, watchdog timers, inventory data repositories, and annunciators.

9. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the set of management capabilities comprises one or more of power control, reset control, configuration parameter control, hot swap management, event generation, and event log maintenance.

10. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the CLI being accessible from an administrative interface for allowing a system administrator to execute commands by the CLI.

11. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the API conforms to the standards as defined in the Hardware Platform Interface (HPI) specification provided by the Service Availability Forum (SAF).

12. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the policy execution module comprises:

a) instruction means for initiating the execution of the policy;

b) instruction means for extracting a policy command of the one or more policy commands;

c) instruction means for submitting the policy command to the CLI for the execution if the policy command is not a special policy command; and

d) instruction means for controlling the execution of the policy if the policy command is a special policy command.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein the instruction means for initiating the execution of the policy comprises:

a) instruction means for detecting the pre-defined trigger event;

b) instruction means for identifying the policy of the one or more policies, the policy corresponding to the pre-defined trigger event; and

c) instruction means for initiating a policy context for facilitating the execution of the policy.

14. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the policy execution module comprises instruction means for evaluating zero or more expressions contained in the policy command, the policy command being updated with the computed value of each of the zero or more expressions.

15. A method for platform management of one or more high-availability computer systems, the method comprising:

a) configuring a management database for modeling a computer system of the one or more high-availability computer systems, the management database comprising a set of management instruments and a set of management capabilities, the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities being used for reflecting and changing the current state of the computer system;

b) administering the hardware platform of the computer system using an application program interface (API), the hardware platform being administered by reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database, and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database;

c) administering the hardware platform of the computer system using a command line interface (CLI), the hardware platform being administered by reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database, and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database; and

d) enabling execution of a policy of one or more policies stored in the management database, the policy including one or more policy commands to be executed by the CLI automatically on the occurrence of a pre-defined trigger event of one or more pre-defined trigger events, the policy being used to perform autonomous functions on the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising configuring one or more management instruments from the set of management instruments as private management instruments, the private management instruments not being accessible by the API.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising implementing a set of virtual management instruments and a set of virtual management capabilities by executing a set of pre-defined policies of the one or more policies.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the implementing the set of virtual management instruments and the set of virtual management capabilities comprises referencing one or more management instruments from the set of the management instruments.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the enabling the execution of the policy comprises:

a) initiating the execution of the policy;

b) extracting a policy command of the one or more policy commands;

c) submitting the policy command to the CLI for the execution if the policy command is not a special policy command; and

d) controlling the execution of the policy if the policy command is a special policy command.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the initiating the execution of the policy comprises:

a) detecting the pre-defined trigger event;

b) identifying the policy of the one or more policies, the policy corresponding to the pre-defined trigger event; and

c) initiating a policy context for facilitating the execution of the policy.

21. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the enabling the execution of the policy further comprises evaluating zero or more expressions contained in the policy command, the policy command being updated with the computed value of each of the zero or more expressions.

22. A system for platform management of one or more high-availability computer systems, the system comprising:

a computing device, including a processor, the processor executing instructions configured to provide:

a) a management database for modeling a computer system of the one or more high-availability computer systems, the management database comprising a set of management instruments and a set of management capabilities, the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities being used for reflecting and changing the current state of the computer system;

b) an application program interface (API) for administering the hardware platform of the computer system, the hardware platform being administered by reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database, and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database;

c) a command line interface (CLI) for administering the hardware platform of the computer system, the CLI being capable of reading the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities from the management database and updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities in the management database; and

d) a policy execution module for enabling execution of a policy of one or more policies stored in the management database, the policy including one or more policy commands to be executed by the CLI automatically on the occurrence of a pre-defined trigger event of one or more pre-defined trigger events, the policy being used to perform autonomous functions on the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities defined in the management database.

23. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the set of management instruments comprises one or more of sensors, controls, watchdog timers, inventory data repositories, and annunciators.

24. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the set of management capabilities comprises one or more of power control, reset control, configuration parameter control, hot swap management, event generation, and event log maintenance.

25. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the API conforms to the standards as defined in the HPI specification provided by the SAF.

26. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the management database comprises a database maintenance module for continuously updating the state of the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities, stored in the management database.

27. The system according to claim 22 further comprising a database initialization module for building the management database by means of a resource configuration file, the resource configuration file being used by a system integrator to configure the information about the set of management instruments and the set of management capabilities.

28. The system of claim 22 further comprising an interface to one or more hardware management interfaces for providing information about the hardware platform to the management database, the one or more hardware management interfaces collecting status information from the hardware platform.

29. The system according to claim 22 , wherein one or more management instruments from the set of management instruments being configured as private management instruments, the private management instruments not being accessible by the API.

30. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the CLI being accessible from an administrative interface for allowing a system administrator to execute commands by the CLI.

Assignments (17)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2026
From: ALPHA 1 BIOLOGICS LLC
To: INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN GENETICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Reel/Frame 075771/0821 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2013
From: AUGMENTIX CORPORATION
To: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 029775/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2006
From: MCKINLEY, DAVID J.
To: AUGMENTIX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018667/0319 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080010315A1 · Jan 10, 2008