Systems, Methods and Computer Programs for Monitoring Distributed Resources in a Data Processing Environment
Methods, apparatus and computer programs are described for monitoring resources within a data processing network. Monitoring entities can be selected, and a set of active monitoring functions can be modified, based on the requirements of consumers of monitored data. A first method involves monitoring resources on behalf of consumer entities within the network. A description of the consumer entity's monitoring requirements are published by the consumer entity and stored in a repository. The monitoring requirements of the consumer entity are compared with the monitoring capabilities of a plurality of monitoring entities, to identify a monitoring entity capable of satisfying the monitoring requirements of the consumer entity. An identified monitoring entity is selected, and a connection is established between the selected monitoring entity and the consumer entity. A second method involves modifying an active set of monitoring functions in response to changes to monitoring requirements of a currently active set of consumer entities.
1 . A method for monitoring resources of a data processing system, comprising the steps of:
identifying the monitoring requirements of a currently active set of consumer entities;
determining whether a currently active set of monitoring functions of monitoring entities are consistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities; and
in response to determining that the currently active set of monitoring functions are inconsistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities, modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining step comprises comparing a set of monitoring descriptions of monitoring entities and consumer entities, which monitoring descriptions are stored in a repository, and wherein said step of determining is performed in response to change of a monitoring description in said repository.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises configuring a monitoring entity to commence monitoring a resource.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises configuring a monitoring entity to commence monitoring a metric.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises configuring a monitoring entity to change the granularity of monitoring for a monitored metric.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises configuring a monitoring entity to change the monitoring period for a monitored metric.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises terminating a monitoring entity.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises terminating monitoring of a metric for a monitored resource.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises terminating monitoring for a resource.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions comprises terminating reporting of monitoring data to a consumer entity.
11 . A data processing system for monitoring resources of a data processing network, comprising:
a data storage unit for storing monitoring capabilities of each of a set of monitoring entities;
a monitoring manager configured to respond to monitoring requirements of a data consumer entity by determining whether a currently active set of monitoring functions of monitoring entities are consistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities, and configured to respond to a determination that the currently active set of monitoring functions are inconsistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities by modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions.
12 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring manager comprises:
a component for handling registration and de-registration of consumer entities and monitoring entities with a monitoring subsystem;
a selector for selecting at least one monitoring entity for a consumer entity; and
a connection manager for establishing a connection between the consumer entity and the selected monitoring entity.
13 . The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring manager comprises a resource optimizer for determining a set of one or more monitoring entities capable of generating required monitoring data from data measured for a resource.
14 . A computer program product, comprising program code recorded on a recording medium, for managing monitoring of resources within a data processing network on behalf of one or more data consumer entities within the network, the program code comprising:
a monitoring manager configured to respond to monitoring requirements of a data consumer entity by determining whether a currently active set of monitoring functions of monitoring entities are consistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities, and configured to respond to a determination that the currently active set of monitoring functions are inconsistent with the monitoring requirements of the currently active set of consumer entities by modifying the currently active set of monitoring functions.
15 . The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the monitoring manager comprises:
a component for handling registration and de-registration of consumer entities and monitoring entities with a monitoring subsystem;
a selector for selecting at least one monitoring entity for a consumer entity; and
a connection manager for establishing a connection between the consumer entity and the selected monitoring entity.
16 . The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the monitoring manager comprises a resource optimizer for determining a set of one or more monitoring entities capable of generating required monitoring data from data measured for a resource.