System and method for performance management in a multi-tier computing environment

Abstract

The invention relates to monitoring a selected tier in a multi-tier computing environment with an apparatus that includes a context agent and a dynamic tier extension. The context agent is associated with the selected tier and is coupled with other context agents, each of which is associated with a respective tier. The dynamic tier extension is coupled with the context agent and with specific predetermined points of the selected tier. The dynamic tier extension monitors request traffic passing through the selected tier.

1 . An apparatus for monitoring a selected tier in a multi-tier computing environment, said apparatus comprising:
 a context agent associated with said selected tier of said computing environment, said context agent being coupled with other context agents, each of said other context agents associated with a respective tier of said computing environment; and   a dynamic tier extension, said dynamic tier extension coupled with said context agent and with at least a request entry port of said selected tier, at least for monitoring request traffic passing through said selected tier, said monitored request traffic including at least one entering request received at said request entry port from an adjacent tier of said computing environment, said dynamic tier extension providing request information to said context agent, said request information at least identifying each request included in said monitored request traffic,   wherein said context agent receives context information, from another context agent associated with said adjacent tier, said received context information relating to the request context of said at least one entering request; and   wherein for each said at least one entering request, said context agent associates said context information with said request information, respectively.   
     
     
         2 - 61 . (canceled)