Distributed computer platform with flexible configuration

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of modeling a computer system. The computer system is modeled by a plurality of components and a plurality of interface enabling interactions between the components. A searchable tree data structure defining the components and the interactions between the components is generated and stored. The searchable tree data structure may be utilized to determine a status of a particular component. Based upon the status of the component, one or more interactions between the component and another may be enabled.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer system comprising: 
 a plurality of components;    a plurality of interfaces enabling interactions between said plurality of components;    a repository of data representing a current condition of said plurality of components and an interaction between said plurality of components, wherein at least some of said data includes a historic indication being at least one of a version and an update level; and    a search code enabling said repository of data to be searched for determining a status of a particular one of said plurality of components.    
     
     
         2 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data is arranged as a tree structure.  
     
     
         3 . The computer system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a table enabling correspondence between a non-historic identifier of a particular one of said plurality of components and a portion of said repository of said data corresponding to said particular one of said components identified by a historic identifier.  
     
     
         4 . The computer system according to  claim 3 , wherein said historic indication comprises an identifier in said tree structure.  
     
     
         5 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said search code is arranged as a directory server cooperating with said repository.  
     
     
         6 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data comprises separate subsets of data for modeling said condition of said plurality of components and said interactions of said plurality of components.  
     
     
         7 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data comprises data modeling software components and data modeling hardware components.  
     
     
         8 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data comprises a first subset of data defining a directional interaction between a server component providing and interface and a client component using said interface.  
     
     
         9 . The computer system according to  claim 8 , wherein said first subset of data is arranged to attach a “provide” version range identifying value to said server component and a “use” version range identifying value to said client component.  
     
     
         10 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said repository of data includes a current group of data and is adapted to received a new group of data; and    further comprising an update code capable of concurrently processing said current group of data and said new group of data, with a view to update said computer system.    
     
     
         11 . The computer system according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said update code is capable of commit from said current group of data to said new group of data; and    said update code is capable of rollback from said new group of data to said current group of data.    
     
     
         12 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data comprises data relating to a configuration state of said computer system.  
     
     
         13 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said repository of data relating to a schema of a configuration state of said computer system.  
     
     
         14 . The computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein said search code is accessible to a management service code.  
     
     
         15 . A method of managing a computer system, comprising: 
 defining a plurality of entities in said computer system as a plurality of components and a plurality of interactions between said plurality of components; and    storing a group of data forming a searchable representation of said plurality of components and said plurality of interactions.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said searchable representation is arranged as a tree structure.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising maintaining a table enabling correspondence between a non-historic identifier of a particular one of said plurality of components and said group of data for said particular one of said plurality of components, wherein said group of data comprises a historic indication.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said historic identifier comprises part of a designation of a corresponding portion of said group of data in said tree structure.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data comprises a first subset for modeling said plurality of components and a second subset for modeling said plurality of interactions.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data comprises data for modeling software components and data for modeling hardware components.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data comprises data defining a plurality of direction interactions, wherein each direction interaction is between a server component providing an interface and a client component utilizing said interface.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said data defining a plurality of direction interactions comprises data arranged to attach a “provide” version range identifying value to said server component and a “use” version range identifying value to said client component.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 wherein said group of data comprises a current group of data and is adapted to received a new group of data; and    concurrently processing said current group of data and said new group of data, with a view to update said computer system.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein concurrently processing said current group of data and said new group of data comprises: 
 committing from said current group of data to said new group of data, when an update is authorized; and    rolling back from said new group of data to said current group of data, when said update is not authorized.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data comprises data relating to a configuration state of said computer system.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data relating to a schema of a configuration state of said computer system.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising determining a status of a particular one of said plurality of components.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said determining said status is accessible to a management service.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said group of data comprises data referred to component instances and data referred to component assignments.  
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable medium containing a plurality of instructions which when executed cause a computer device to implement a method of managing a computer system, comprising: 
 generating a plurality of data defining a plurality of components and a plurality of interactions between said plurality of components;    storing said plurality of data as a searchable tree structure;    searching said tree structure wherein a status of a particular component is determined; and    enabling an interaction between a first and second ones of said plurality of components as a function of said status.    
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 30 , further comprising maintaining a table defining a mapping between a non-historic identifier of each of said plurality of components and a portion of said plurality of data corresponding to each of said plurality of components identified by a historic indication, wherein said historic indication is associated with a particular leaf of said searchable tree structure.  
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 30 , wherein said plurality of data comprises: 
 a first subset of data for modeling said components; and    a second subset of data for modeling said interactions between said plurality of components.    
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 32 , wherein said plurality of data comprises: 
 a third subset of data for modeling software components of said plurality of components; and    a fourth subset of data for modeling hardware components of said plurality of components.    
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 updating a portion of said plurality of data if a configuration update is authorized; and    rolling back an updated portion of said plurality of data if a configuration update is not authorized.