Method, apparatus and program storage device for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment

Abstract

A method, apparatus and program storage device for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment is disclosed. A parameter for a computer system is monitored to detect a need to perform at least one maintenance task. At least one maintenance task is performed when the monitoring detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task or at least once within a predetermined period.

1 . A method for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment, comprising: 
 monitoring a parameter for a computer system to detect a need to perform at least one maintenance task; and    performing at least one maintenance task when the monitoring detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task or at least once within a predetermined period.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring a computer system parameter further comprises monitoring conditions on a server.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task when the monitoring detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task further comprises performing at least one maintenance task when the server meets a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises disk space for the server becoming too low.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task further comprises running a maintenance routine for improving computer system operation.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task further comprises backing up settings to an archive.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the backing up settings to an archive further comprises saving configurations and authorizations for applications running on a server.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task further comprises writing log files.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task further comprises reducing a size for files stored on the computer system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising alerting an administrator upon an occurrence of an event.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alerting an administrator upon an occurrence of an event further comprises alerting an administrator when a maintenance task fails.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alerting an administrator upon an occurrence of an event further comprises alerting an administrator when a maintenance task is ran too often.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one maintenance task at least once within a predetermined period further comprising performing at least one maintenance task once a day.  
     
     
         14 . A system for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment, comprising: 
 a maintenance tool for providing resources for performing at least one maintenance task; and    a maintenance scheduling device for monitoring a parameter for a computer system to detect a need to perform at least one maintenance task and causing the maintenance tool to perform at least one maintenance task when the maintenance scheduling device detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task or at least once within a predetermined period.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer system further comprises a server.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the maintenance scheduling device causes the maintenance tool to performs at least one maintenance task when the server meets a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises disk space for the server becoming too low.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one maintenance task further comprises a maintenance routine for improving computer system operation.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one maintenance task further comprises a backup of system settings to an archive.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system settings further comprise configurations and authorizations for applications running on a server.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one maintenance task further comprises writing log files.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one maintenance task further comprises reducing a size for files stored on the computer system.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the maintenance tool alerts an administrator upon an occurrence of an event.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the event further comprises a failure of a maintenance task.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the event further comprises a maintenance task running too often.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined period further comprises once a day.  
     
     
         27 . A system for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment, comprising: 
 means for providing resources for performing at least one maintenance task; and    means for monitoring a parameter for a computer system to detect a need to perform at least one maintenance task and causing the means for providing resources to perform at least one maintenance task when the means for monitoring detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task or at least once within a predetermined period.    
     
     
         28 . A program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for scheduling the performance of maintenance tasks to maintain a system environment, the method comprising: 
 monitoring a parameter for a computer system to detect a need to perform at least one maintenance task; and    performing at least one maintenance task when the monitoring detects the need to perform at least one maintenance task or at least once within a predetermined period.