Method and apparatus for publishing and monitoring entities providing services in a distributed data processing system

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for providing identification and monitoring of entities. A distributed data processing system includes one or more distributed publishing entities, which publish computer readable announcements in a standard language. These announcements may contain a description of a monitoring method that may be used to monitor the behavior of one or more distributed monitored entities. These announcements also may include information used to identify a monitoring method that may be used by the distributed monitored entity to monitor its own behavior or by a distributed consumer entity to monitor the behavior of the distributed monitored entity. The monitoring also may be performed by a third-party distributed monitoring entity.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A method for providing testing in a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: 
 responsive to a request from a client for information for a selected service, identifying a registered entity providing the selected service; and    sending a reply to the client, wherein the reply includes information identifying the registered entity providing the selected service and a monitoring method for the entity, wherein the information is in a computer readable format, and wherein the information allows the client to monitor the registered entity providing the selected service.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the identifying and sending steps are performed in at least one of the registered entity and a distributed publishing entity.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 receiving a request to register the selected service from the registered entity, wherein the request includes information about the selected service and how the registered entity can be monitored for proper operation of the selected service; and    responsive to receiving the request, registering the selected service, wherein the registered entity providing the selected service may be identified in response to the request from the client.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the client is the registered entity providing the selected service.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein identifications of registered entities are stored in a directory.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 storing monitoring information on registered entities.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the monitoring information includes at least one of registered entities currently being monitored, registered entities previously monitored, and registered entities expected to be monitored.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 sending the monitoring information to the client in response to a request from the client for the monitoring information.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the monitoring method includes at least one of an identification of a monitoring interface in the registered entity, sending a request to the monitoring interface in which a response indicates that the registered entity is functioning correctly, sending a request to the monitoring interface in which a response indicates that at least one service in the registered entity is functioning correctly, sending an invalid request to the registered entity in which a selected error is expected, sending a pattern of data to a port in the registered entity in which a particular pattern is expected in response to the pattern of data, sending a request to the registered entity in which a response is expected within a selected period of time to indicate that the registered entity is functioning correctly, a program, a PERL script, a RMI client, a RMI stub, and a binary executable.  
   
   
       30 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . A data processing system for providing testing in a distributed data processing system, the data processing system comprising: 
 identifying means, responsive to a request from a client for information for a selected service, for identifying a registered entity providing the selected service; and    sending means for sending a reply to the client, wherein the reply includes information identifying the registered entity providing the selected service and a monitoring method for the entity, wherein the information is in a computer readable format, and wherein the information allows the client to monitor the registered entity providing the selected service.    
   
   
       59 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein the identifying and sending means are performed in at least one of the registered entity and a distributed publishing entity.  
   
   
       60 . The data processing system of  claim 58  further comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving a request to register the selected service from the registered entity, wherein the request includes information about the selected service and how the registered entity can be monitored for proper operation of the selected service; and    registering means, responsive to receiving the request, for registering the selected service, wherein the registered entity providing the selected service may be identified in response to the request from the client.    
   
   
       61 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein the client is the registered entity providing the selected service.  
   
   
       62 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein identifications of registered entities are stored in a directory.  
   
   
       63 . The data processing system of  claim 58  further comprising: 
 storing means for storing monitoring information on registered entities.    
   
   
       64 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein the monitoring information includes at least one of registered entities currently being monitored, registered entities previously monitored, and registered entities expected to be monitored.  
   
   
       65 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein the sending means is a first sending means and further comprising: 
 second sending means for sending the monitoring information to the client in response to a request from the client for the monitoring information.    
   
   
       66 . The data processing system of  claim 58 , wherein the monitoring method includes at least one of an identification of a monitoring interface in the registered entity, sending a request to the monitoring interface in which a response indicates that the registered entity is functioning correctly, sending a request to the monitoring interface in which a response indicates that at least one service in the registered entity is functioning correctly, sending an invalid request to the registered entity in which a selected error is expected, sending a pattern of data to a port in the registered entity in which a particular pattern is expected in response to the pattern of data, sending a request to the registered entity in which a response is expected within a selected period of time to indicate that the registered entity is functioning correctly, a program, a PERL script, a RMI client, a RMI stub, and a binary executable.  
   
   
       67 - 84 . (canceled)  
   
   
       85 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for providing testing in a distributed data processing system, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions, responsive to a request from a client for information for a selected service, for identifying a registered entity providing the selected service; and    second instructions for sending a reply to the client, wherein the reply includes information identifying the registered entity providing the selected service and a monitoring method for the entity, wherein the information is in a computer readable format, and wherein the information allows the client to monitor the registered entity providing the selected service.    
   
   
       86 - 87 . (canceled)