Managing computing devices in a computing system

1. A method comprising:

by first program instructions on a first computing device,

receiving image data from a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor coupled to a computing device in a computing system, wherein multiple computing devices in the computing system are coupled to multiple image sensors;

identifying, in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors, one or more characteristics of the computing system, including:

aggregating the image data from the plurality of image sensors using overlapping image data to construct a visual map of the physical computing system;

identifying one or more computing devices located in a physical hotspot in the computing system, wherein the hotspot comprises a physical location determined based upon the arrangement of physical features in the visual map of the physical computing system showing greater concentrations of heat producing computing devices, and

identifying an operational state of one or more computing components of a particular computing device, including identifying, using the image data from the plurality of image sensors, whether a fan is moving and whether a door is open; and

initiating, in dependence upon the one or more characteristics of the computing system, one or more desired system management actions, the system management actions comprising allocating workloads to the computing devices in the computing system in dependence upon which computing devices are located in the physical hotspot and in dependence upon the operational state of one or more computing components of the particular computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

identifying one or more characteristics of the computing system in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors further comprises determining an identity of one or more of the computing devices in the computing system; and

initiating the one or more desired system management actions further comprises:

performing a system inventory check; and

notifying a system administrator of any discrepancies discovered in the system inventory check.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein constructing the map of the computing system further comprises, for each computing device in the computing system, determining the location of the computing device relative to one or more other computing devices in the computing system.

4. An apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

receiving image data from a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor coupled to a computing device in a computing system, wherein multiple computing devices in the computing system are coupled to multiple image sensors;

identifying, in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors, one or more characteristics of the computing system, including:

aggregating the image data from the plurality of image sensors using overlapping image data to construct a visual map of the physical computing system;

identifying one or more computing devices located in a physical hotspot in the computing system, wherein the hotspot comprises a physical location determined based upon the arrangement of physical features in the visual map of the physical computing system showing greater concentrations of heat producing computing devices, and

identifying an operational state of one or more computing components of a particular computing device, including identifying, using the image data from the plurality of image sensors, whether a fan is moving and whether a door is open; and

initiating, in dependence upon the one or more characteristics of the computing system, one or more desired system management actions, the system management actions comprising allocating workloads to the computing devices in the computing system in dependence upon which computing devices are located in the physical hotspot and in dependence upon the operational state of one or more computing components of the particular computing device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

identifying one or more characteristics of the computing system in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors further comprises determining an identity of one or more of the computing devices in the computing system; and

initiating the one or more desired system management actions further comprises:

performing a system inventory check; and

notifying a system administrator of any discrepancies discovered in the system inventory check.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein constructing the map of the computing system further comprises, for each computing device in the computing system, determining the location of the computing device relative to one or more other computing devices in the computing system.

7. A computer program product disposed upon a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

receiving image data from a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor coupled to a computing device in a computing system, wherein multiple computing devices in the computing system are coupled to multiple image sensors;

identifying, in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors, one or more characteristics of the computing system, including:

aggregating the image data from the plurality of image sensors using overlapping image data to construct a visual map of the physical computing system;

identifying one or more computing devices located in a physical hotspot in the computing system, wherein the hotspot comprises a physical location determined based upon the arrangement of physical features in the visual map of the physical computing system showing greater concentrations of heat producing computing devices, and

identifying an operational state of one or more computing components of a particular computing device, including identifying, using the image data from the plurality of image sensors, whether a fan is moving and whether a door is open; and

initiating, in dependence upon the one or more characteristics of the computing system, one or more desired system management actions, the system management actions comprising allocating workloads to the computing devices in the computing system in dependence upon which computing devices are located in the physical hotspot and in dependence upon the operational state of one or more computing components of the particular computing device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein:

identifying one or more characteristics of the computing system in dependence upon the image data from the plurality of image sensors further comprises determining an identity of one or more of the computing devices in the computing system; and

initiating the one or more desired system management actions further comprises:

performing a system inventory check; and

notifying a system administrator of any discrepancies discovered in the system inventory check.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein constructing the map of the computing system further comprises, for each computing device in the computing system, determining the location of the computing device relative to one or more other computing devices in the computing system.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the computer readable medium comprises a signal medium.