Dynamic and automatic colocation and combining of service providers and service clients in a grid of resources

Abstract

A method for providing a servicing operation in a computing environment includes providing a plurality of resources including at least a client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation, a service provider resource capable of providing that servicing operation. At least one of the client resource and the service provider resource are defined by virtual machines. The client resource and the service provider resource are transparently co-located by transferring the resource defined by a virtual machine, and the service provider resource performs the servicing operation. Methods, computer systems, and computer programs available as a download or on a computer-readable medium for installation according to the invention are provided.

1 . In a computing environment, a method for providing a servicing operation, comprising:
 providing a plurality of resources comprising at least a client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation, a service provider resource capable of providing the servicing operation, and a storage area network;   transparently co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource; and   causing the service provider resource to perform the servicing operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the client resource and the service provider resource are provided as virtual machines. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of transferring a virtual machine providing the client resource to a computing device hosting the service provider resource or transferring a virtual machine providing the service provider resource to a computing device hosting the client resource. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of booting up the service provider resource in a computing device hosting the client resource or booting up the client resource in a computing device hosting the service provider resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the servicing operation is a data backup operation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the servicing operation is a data backup operation. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing a servicing operation to a computing device, comprising:
 providing at least one client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation;   providing at least one service provider resource capable of providing the servicing operation;   providing a storage area network;   automatically and transparently co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource; and   performing the periodic servicing operation.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the client resource and the service provider resource are provided as virtual machines. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of transferring a virtual machine providing the client resource to a computing device hosting the service provider resource or transferring a virtual machine providing the service provider resource to a computing device hosting the client resource. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of booting up the service provider resource in a computing device hosting the client resource or booting up the client resource in a computing device hosting the service provider resource. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the servicing operation is a data backup operation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the servicing operation is a data backup operation. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a servicing operation, comprising:
 providing at least one client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation;   providing at least one service provider resource capable of providing the periodic servicing operation;   providing a storage area network; and   automatically and transparently co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource whereby the servicing operation may be performed entirely on the storage area network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the client resource and the service provider resource are provided as virtual machines. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of transferring a virtual machine providing the client resource to a computing device hosting the service provider resource or transferring a virtual machine providing the service provider resource to a computing device hosting the client resource. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of co-locating the client resource and the service provider resource is performed by one of booting up the service provider resource in a computing device hosting the client resource or booting up the client resource in a computing device hosting the service provider resource. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the servicing operation is a data backup operation.