Configuration information management system, method, program, and program storage device

Abstract

A method for enabling logical configuration information to be divided into those in specific ranges, thereby making it easier to manage logical configuration information of each of distributed computers. The above method, which manages configuration information of each of distributed computers, comprises a step of setting up configuration information in a specific range in a computer in the specific range; a step of requesting acquisition of configuration information set up in another computer; a step of sending configuration information set up in a subject computer to above-described another computer; and a step of updating configuration information of the subject computer with configuration information received from above-described another computer.

1 . A method for managing information relating to a hierarchical configuration of computers in a distributed computer system, said information being managed in a subject computer, the method comprising: 
 receiving a synchronization request from at least a first lower-order computer from among a plurality of lower-order computers relative to said subject computer, said synchronization request being a request for updating hierarchical information stored in some of said lower-order computers;    if an upper-order computer relative to said subject computer exists, then communicating said received synchronization request to said upper-order computer;    receiving a lower-order hierarchical information acquisition request from said upper-order computer based on said synchronization request;    communicating said lower-order hierarchical information acquisition request to at least one of said lower-order computers;    receiving first lower-order hierarchical information from at least one of said lower-order computers;    updating hierarchical information stored in said subject based on said first lower-order hierarchical information to produce updated hierarchical information; and    communicating said updated hierarchical information to said upper-order computer.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 communicating said lower-order hierarchical information acquisition request to a second lower-order computer and to a third lower-order computer;    receiving second lower-order hierarchical information from said second lower-order computer; and    receiving third lower-order hierarchical information from said third lower-order computer,    wherein said update hierarchical information is based on said second lower-order hierarchical information and on said third lower-order hierarchical information.    
   
   
       3 . A method for operating a subject computer to manage hierarchical information relating to computers in a distributed computer system, said method comprising: 
 receiving an information acquisition request from an upper-order computer relative to said subject computer, said information acquisition request being associated with a synchronization request from a lower-order computer relative to said subject computer, said synchronization request being a request for updating hierarchical information stored in each of a plurality of lower-order computers;    communicating said information acquisition request to a first lower-order computer;    receiving hierarchical information from said first lower-order computer;    updating hierarchical information stored on said subject computer based on said hierarchical information from said first lower-order computer to produce updated hierarchical information; and    communicating said updated hierarchical information to said upper-order computer.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising communicating said information acquisition request to a second lower-order computer and receiving second hierarchical information from said second lower-order computer, wherein updated hierarchical information is further based on said second hierarchical information.