Systems and methods for providing an automated diagnostic audit for cluster computer systems

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the audit information to a network management entity associated with the cluster computer system.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 , wherein the audit information provided to the network management entity is configured to be presented on a graphical user interface.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 , wherein the receiving the information associated with the cluster computer system and the providing the audit information are via a communications network.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving payment for providing the audit information.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of system configuration comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 15

The system of claim 11 , further comprising means for providing the audit information to a network management entity associated with the cluster computer system.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 , further comprising means for receiving payment for providing the audit information.

Claim 17

The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 18

The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 19

The system of claim 11 , wherein the audit information provided to a network management entity is configured to be presented on a graphical user interface.

Claim 20

The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiving the information associated with the cluster computer system and the generating the audit information are via a communications network.

Claim 21

The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 22

The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 23

A computer-readable medium comprising a program for providing an automated diagnostic audit for a cluster computer system, the cluster computer system comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes providing a mission-critical application to a plurality of clients, the program comprising: a first portion of logic configured to receive information associated with the cluster computer system, the information comprising a plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes in the cluster computer system; a second portion of logic configured to define a plurality of system configuration categories associated with the plurality of system configuration parameters; a third portion of logic configured to define a threshold benchmark for each system configuration category of the plurality of system configuration categories, each threshold benchmark of a plurality of threshold benchmarks based on a predefined set of rules; a fourth portion of logic configured to associate each of a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes with one of the plurality of system configuration categories; and a fifth portion of logic configured to generate audit information, the audit information based on a comparison of each of the portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes to the threshold benchmark for the associated system configuration category.

Claim 24

A computer-readable medium comprising a program for providing an automated diagnostic audit for a cluster computer system, the cluster computer system comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes providing a mission-critical application to a plurality of clients, the program comprising: a first portion of logic configured to receive information associated with the cluster computer system, the information comprising a plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes in the cluster computer system; a second portion of logic configured to define a plurality of system configuration categories associated with the plurality of system configuration parameters; a third portion of logic configured to define a threshold benchmark for each system configuration category of the plurality of system configuration categories, each threshold benchmark of a plurality of threshold benchmarks based on a predefined set of rules; a fourth portion of logic configured to associate each of a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes with one of the plurality of system configuration categories; and a fifth portion of logic configured to generate audit information, the audit information based on a comparison of each of the portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes to the threshold benchmark for the associated system configuration category.

Claim 25

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 26

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , further comprising a sixth portion of logic configured to provide the audit information to a network management entity associated with the cluster computer system.

Claim 27

The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the audit information provided to the network management entity is configured to be presented on a graphical user interface.

Claim 28

The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the receiving the information associated with the cluster computer system and the generation the audit information are via a communications network.

Claim 29

The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further comprising a seventh portion of logic configured to receive payment for providing the audit information.

Claim 30

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 31

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 32

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 33

The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 36

The method of claim 31 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 37

The method of claim 31 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 38

The method of claim 31 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 39

The method of claim 31 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 40

The method of claim 31 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 41

The method of claim 31 , further comprising presenting the audit information on a graphical user interface.

Claim 42

The method of claim 31 , wherein the providing the information associated with the cluster computer system to an application service provider is via electronic mail.

Claim 43

The method of claim 31 , wherein the providing the information associated with the cluster computer system to an application service provider is via the Internet.

Claim 44

The method of claim 31 , further comprising paying for the diagnostic audit information.

Claim 47

The system of claim 41 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 48

The system of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 49

The system of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 50

The system of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 51

The system of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 52

The system of claim 41 , further comprising means for presenting the audit information on a graphical user interface.

Claim 53

The system of claim 41 , wherein the information associated with the cluster computer system is provided to the application service provider via electronic mail.

Claim 54

The system of claim 41 , wherein the information associated with the cluster computer system is provided to the application service provider via the Internet.

Claim 55

The system of claim 41 , further comprising paying for the diagnostic audit information.

Claim 56

A computer-readable medium comprising a program for providing an automated diagnostic audit for a cluster computer system, the cluster computer system comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes providing a mission-critical application to a plurality of clients, the program comprising: a first portion of logic configured to collect information associated with the cluster computer system, the information comprising a plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes in the cluster computer system; a second portion of logic configured to provide the information associated with the cluster computer system to an application service provider; and a third portion of logic configured to receive diagnostic audit information generated by the application service provider, the diagnostic audit information corresponding to at least a portion of the information associated with the cluster computer system and determined by: defining a plurality of system configuration categories associated with the plurality of system configuration parameters; defining a threshold benchmark for each system configuration category of the plurality of system configuration categories, each threshold benchmark of a plurality of threshold benchmarks based on a predefined set of rules; associating each of a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes with one of the plurality of system configuration categories; and comparing each of the portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes to the threshold benchmark for the associated system configuration category.

Claim 57

A computer-readable medium comprising a program for providing an automated diagnostic audit for a cluster computer system, the cluster computer system comprising a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes providing a mission-critical application to a plurality of clients, the program comprising: a first portion of logic configured to collect information associated with the cluster computer system, the information comprising a plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes in the cluster computer system; a second portion of logic configured to provide the information associated with the cluster computer system to an application service provider; and a third portion of logic configured to receive diagnostic audit information generated by the application service provider, the diagnostic audit information corresponding to at least a portion of the information associated with the cluster computer system and determined by: defining a plurality of system configuration categories associated with the plurality of system configuration parameters; defining a threshold benchmark for each system configuration category of the plurality of system configuration categories, each threshold benchmark of a plurality of threshold benchmarks based on a predefined set of rules; associating each of a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes with one of the plurality of system configuration categories; and comparing each of the portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters for each node of the plurality of nodes to the threshold benchmark for the associated system configuration category.

Claim 58

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein each of at least a portion of the plurality of system configuration parameters are redundantly collected.

Claim 59

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 60

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the plurality of system configuration categories comprise a processing parameter, a random access memory (RAM) parameter, a virtual memory parameter, a disk storage parameter, a network parameter, an operating system parameter, an applications parameter, and a user parameter.

Claim 61

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks involve a relative ranking process.

Claim 62

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the plurality of threshold benchmarks are normalized thresholds based on a distribution of historical data.

Claim 63

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , further comprising a fourth portion of logic configured to present the audit information on a graphical user interface.

Claim 64

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the information associated with the cluster computer system is provided to the application service provider via electronic mail.

Claim 65

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , wherein the information associated with the cluster computer system is provided to the application service provider via the Internet.

Claim 66

The computer-readable medium of claim 51 , further comprising a fifth portion of logic configured to pay for the diagnostic audit information.