Autonomic Management Mesh Hierarchy for Node Redundancy and Remedy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems face management challenges due to increasing complexity and diversity, requiring multiple autonomic management elements to operate in agreement for holistic management, but existing solutions are inadequate for large data centers with numerous distributed nodes.
Innovation Solution
A system with a hierarchy of clusters and families, where each node can act as a master or management node, communicating through an API manager to monitor and manage services, perform automatic addition of new nodes, and execute remedial or redundancy actions via an automation engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single autonomic management element is used, then the system is simple to manage, but it cannot provide holistic management of complex computer systems with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the autonomic management system into multiple management elements organized in a hierarchy of clusters and families. Each management element is responsible for specific components or services, allowing the system to handle complex management tasks through distributed intelligence rather than a single centralized manager.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the management structure by organizing management elements into clusters and families with defined relationships. This multi-level hierarchy enables the system to scale from simple to complex management scenarios without requiring a complete architectural change.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple autonomic management elements are deployed to manage complex systems, then holistic management capability is improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The management system is segmented into distinct clusters and families, where each cluster manages specific hardware components and each family manages software services. This segmentation allows independent management of different system aspects while maintaining overall coordination through the hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as the cluster manager and family manager that mediate between individual management elements and the overall system. These intermediaries coordinate actions across multiple management elements, reducing direct coordination overhead and simplifying the management architecture.
3Productivity
If distributed nodes are used to offload management intelligence, then system scalability is improved, but coordination and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Management intelligence is distributed across multiple nodes organized in clusters and families. Each node handles local management tasks independently, reducing the need for constant communication with a central manager and thereby reducing communication overhead while maintaining scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes predefined hierarchical relationships and communication protocols between management elements before runtime. This preliminary structuring allows nodes to autonomously determine their roles and communication paths, reducing runtime coordination overhead and improving scalability.
4Ease of operation
If master-slave mode is used for autonomic management elements, then control hierarchy is simplified, but flexibility and redundancy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control hierarchy into multiple levels (clusters and families) where each level has its own management elements. This segmentation allows for distributed control where failure at one level does not necessarily propagate to other levels, maintaining system redundancy while preserving hierarchical control.
Solution Approach 2:
The management structure is designed to be dynamic, allowing management elements to assume different roles (master or slave) based on operational needs and failure conditions. This dynamic role assignment provides flexibility and redundancy, as any management element can potentially take over control functions if needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for providing self-diagnostic, remedy and redundancy of autonomic modules in a management mesh. The system defines a plurality of hierarchy clusters and a plurality of families in each hierarchy cluster. Each node of the system is configured as a master node of a corresponding hierarchy cluster or one of a plurality of management nodes of the corresponding hierarchy cluster. Specifically, each management node of the corresponding hierarchy cluster belongs to one family of the corresponding hierarchy cluster. In operation, the master node of the corresponding hierarchy cluster is configured to manage the management nodes of the corresponding hierarchy cluster and communicate with a management application of the system. The system allows automatic addition of new management nodes into a corresponding hierarchy cluster, and provides automation features to perform resource management, remedial actions and redundancy management of the nodes.