Steven Lloyd Hunter

US Patent:

6594784, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Nov 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/442003

Inventors:

Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H03K 19003

US Classification:

714 47, 714 38, 714 15

Abstract:

A method of enhancing software dependability, includes measuring an elapsed time in a software system running on a computer, determining whether the elapsed time matches a threshold, and when the elapsed time matches the threshold, rejuvenating at least a portion of the software system to reduce the likelihood of an outage and without modifying an application running in the software system.

US Patent:

6629266, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Nov 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/442001

Inventors:

Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC
Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan - Durham NC
William Paul Zeggert - Morrisville NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1134

US Classification:

714 38, 714 47

Abstract:

A method (and system) for increased software dependability, includes learning how to predict an outage of a software system running on a computer, and, based on the learning, predicting an imminent outage, and avoiding the outage.

US Patent:

6795928, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Mar 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/100341

Inventors:

David John Bradley - Chapel Hill NC
Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 126

US Classification:

713320, 713323, 713340, 700 22, 700291, 709105, 709226

Abstract:

A method for managing power consumption of multiple computer servers is disclosed. The current workload information and the current capacity information of a group of computer servers within a computer server pool are determined. A short term history and a long term history of the workload information are then built based on the determined workload information. Next, the information regarding short-term variations in workload is determined. Similarly, the information regarding long-term variations in workload is determined. Based on a combination of the above-mentioned determined short-term and long-term information, at least one of the computer servers is powered on or powered off.

US Patent:

6820215, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Dec 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/753050

Inventors:

Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H02H 305

US Classification:

714 15, 714 38

Abstract:

In a method for automatically rejuvenating a component of a distributed data processing environment while minimizing the disruptive effects of the rejuvenation, a usage history for a distributed data processing environment is stored. The usage history describes multiple levels of overall usage of the distributed data processing environment over time. Also, health data relating to at least one component of the distributed data processing environment is received, and, in response, the health data is automatically utilized to determine a failure time within which that component is likely to require rejuvenation. In response to determining the failure time, the usage history is automatically utilized to identify an optimum rejuvenation time. In response to identifying the optimum rejuvenation time, that component is automatically rejuvenated according to the optimum rejuvenation time. In an illustrative embodiment, the optimum rejuvenation time is identified by ascertaining a minimum level of overall usage within the failure time.

US Patent:

6964539, Nov 15, 2005

Filed:

Mar 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/100103

Inventors:

David John Bradley - Chapel Hill NC, US
Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC, US
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F001/30

US Classification:

403300

Abstract:

A method for managing power consumption of multiple computer servers is disclosed. The number of computer servers required to meet a current workload demand is initially determined. Next, a thermally optimized configuration of powered-on computer servers to meet the current workload demand is determined. At least one computer server is powered on or powered off, based on the thermally optimized configuration.

US Patent:

6978398, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Aug 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/929143

Inventors:

Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC, US
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F011/00

US Classification:

714 13, 714 47

Abstract:

A method (and system) of reducing a time for a computer system to recover from a degradation of performance in a hardware or a software in at least one first node of the computer system, includes monitoring a state of the at least one first node, and based on the monitoring, transferring a state of the at least one first node to a second node prior to the degradation in performance of the hardware or the software of the at least one first node.

US Patent:

6996751, Feb 7, 2006

Filed:

Aug 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/929142

Inventors:

Richard Edwin Harper - Chapel Hill NC, US
Steven Wade Hunter - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 48, 714 46, 719318, 702183

Abstract:

A method (and system) of reducing warranty costs includes discriminating between hardware- and software-induced problems or outages in a computer system.

US Patent:

7380046, May 27, 2008

Filed:

Feb 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/348903

Inventors:

William T. Boyd - Poughkeepsie NY, US
Douglas M. Freimuth - New York NY, US
William G. Holland - Cary NC, US
Steven W. Hunter - Raleigh NC, US
Renato J. Recio - Austin TX, US
Steven M. Thurber - Austin TX, US
Madeline Vega - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 13/00

US Classification:

710316, 370389

Abstract:

A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing environment that includes host computer systems that are coupled to adapters utilizing a switched fabric for routing packets between the host computer systems and the adapters. A unique destination identifier is assigned to one of the host computer systems. A portion of a standard format packet destination address is selected. Within a particular packet, the portion is set equal to the unique identifier that is assigned to the host computer system. The particular packet is then routed through the fabric to the host computer system using the unique destination identifier.