Methods of managing loads on a plurality of secondary data servers whose workflows are controlled by a primary control server
View Patent ↗A method is provided of managing workflow loads on a plurality of secondary data servers whose workflows are controlled by a primary control server. The method comprises initially directing workflow to only an active first data server of the plurality of secondary data servers, monitoring at least one server capacity factor associated with the active first data server, after a first predetermined minimum load level of work to the active first data server has been reached, continue directing work to only the active first data server until a first predetermined maximum load level of work to the active first data server is reached, determining if a minimum load level of work can be maintained on an idle second data server of the plurality of secondary data servers based upon the monitored capacity factor associated with the active first data server, and directing workflow to the idle second data server when a determination is made that the minimum load level of work can be maintained on the idle second data server.
1. A method of controlling workflow loads on a plurality of secondary data server computers, implemented by a primary control server computer in communication with the secondary data server computers, the method comprising:
initially directing workflow over a network to only an active first data server computer of the plurality of secondary data server computers;
calculating at least one server capacity factor associated with the active first data server computer;
after a first predetermined minimum load level of work to the active first data server computer has been reached, continue directing work to only the active first data server computer until a first predetermined maximum load level of work to the active first data server computer is reached;
after the predetermined maximum load level of work to the active first data server computer is reached, determining, based upon the calculated capacity factor associated with the active first data server computer, if a second predetermined minimum load level of work can be maintained on an idle second data server computer of the plurality of secondary data server computers while still maintaining the first predetermined minimum load level of work on the active first data server computer if workflow is directed to the idle second data server computer; and
directing workflow to the idle second data server computer when a determination is made that the second predetermined minimum load level of work can be maintained on the idle second data server computer only after the first predetermined maximum load level of work to the active first data server computer is reached and the arrival rate of workflow to the active first data server computer exceeds a predetermined arrival rate value.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring an arrival rate of workflow to the active first data server computer.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one capacity factor comprises (i) size of a work queue associated with the active first data server computer, and (ii) rate at which work in the work queue is being completed.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one capacity factor comprises (i) central processor unit (CPU) utilization associated with the active first data server computer, and (ii) disk capacity associated with the active first data server computer.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one capacity factor comprises a daily maximum work volume expected to be performed.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by the primary control server computer having a memory executing one or more programs of instructions which are tangibly embodied in a non-transitory program storage medium readable by the computer.
7. A method of controlling workflow loads on a plurality of secondary data server computers, implemented by a primary control server computer in communication with the secondary data server computers, the method comprising:
initially directing workflow to only a first data server computer of the plurality of secondary data server computers;
computing an arrival rate of workflow to the first data server computer;
after a first predetermined minimum load level of work to the first data server computer has been reached, continue directing work to the first data server computer until a first predetermined maximum load level of work to the first data server computer is reached; and
directing workflow from the first data server computer to a second data server computer of the plurality of secondary data server computers only after the first predetermined maximum load level of work to the first data server computer is reached based on the computed arrival rate of workflow to the first data server computer and the arrival rate of workflow to the first data server computer exceeds a first predetermined arrival rate value which indicates an arrival workflow rate sufficient to maintain the first predetermined minimum load level of work to the first data server computer and a second predetermined minimum load level of work to the second data server computer.
8. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining an arrival rate of workflow to the second data server computer;
after the second predetermined minimum load level of work to the second data server computer has been reached, continue directing work to the second data server computer until a second predetermined maximum load level of work to the second data server computer is reached; and
directing workflow from the second data server computer to a third data server computer of the plurality of secondary data server computers after the second predetermined maximum load level of work to the second data server computer is reached and the arrival rate of workflow to the second data server computer exceeds a second predetermined arrival rate value which indicates an arrival rate of workflow sufficient to maintain the second predetermined minimum load level of work to the second data server computer and a third predetermined minimum load level of work to the third data server computer.
9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
taking offline any idle data server computers of the plurality of secondary data server computers when a maintenance request is received so that maintenance can be performed on the idle data server computers that have been taken offline.
10. A method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
after maintenance has been performed on the idle data server computers which have been taken offline, transitioning loads from active data server computers to the idle data server computers so that the previously active data server computers can be taken offline later to perform maintenance on these data server computers.
11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is performed by the primary control server computer having a memory executing one or more programs of instructions which are tangibly embodied in a non-transitory program storage medium readable by the computer.