Autonomic Server Configuration Adjustment for Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In networked computer systems, when a server fails, the remaining servers often struggle to handle the increased workload, leading to performance degradation due to configuration parameters optimized for normal operation, rather than failure scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A load balancer detects server failures and sends notification messages to remaining servers, allowing them to autonomically adjust configuration parameters to handle increased loads, with performance measurement mechanisms to determine the effectiveness of these adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If configuration parameters are optimized for normal operation, then system performance under normal conditions is improved, but system performance deteriorates when a server fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration parameter adjustment where servers automatically modify their operational parameters based on real-time failure detection. When a server failure is detected, the remaining servers dynamically increase their processing capacity, thread pools, and connection limits to handle the redistributed load, transforming static configuration parameters into adaptive, dynamic settings that respond to system conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the load balancer continuously monitors server health and sends failure notifications to remaining servers. This feedback loop enables servers to detect the failure condition and automatically adjust their configuration parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that responds to changing operational conditions without manual intervention.
2Productivity
If remaining servers handle increased workload without configuration adjustment, then system simplicity is maintained, but system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where servers automatically detect failures and adjust their own configuration parameters without requiring manual administrator intervention. The load balancer sends failure notifications to remaining servers, which then autonomously modify their thread pools, connection limits, and processing capacities, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration management during failure scenarios.
3Productivity
If configuration parameters are adjusted manually in response to failure, then system performance can be optimized, but response time increases and automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares servers with pre-defined alternative configuration parameters that can be automatically activated upon failure detection. Instead of requiring real-time manual configuration decisions, the system has pre-established failure response protocols and parameter sets that are automatically applied when failures occur, eliminating decision-making delays and enabling immediate response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service automation where servers automatically detect failures and adjust their own configuration parameters without requiring manual administrator intervention. The load balancer sends failure notifications to remaining servers, which then autonomously modify their thread pools, connection limits, and processing capacities, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration management during failure scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A load balancer detects a server failure, and sends a failure notification message to the remaining servers. In response, one or more of the remaining servers may autonomically adjust their configuration parameters, thereby allowing the remaining servers to better handle the increased load caused by the server failure. One or more of the servers may also include a performance measurement mechanism that measures performance before and after an autonomic adjustment of the configuration parameters to determine whether and how much the autonomic adjustments improved the system performance. In this manner server computer systems may autonomically compensate for the failure of another server computer system that was sharing the workload.