Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-28
2001-06-26
Choules, Jack (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253211
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tracking replication of data in a distributed data processing system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some conventional data processing environments comprise a plurality of user terminals connected to a central host data processing system. Such data processing environments are typically referred as central or host environments.
Increasing in popularity are distributed data processing environments in which user terminals are connected to plural server data processing systems.
In both of the above examples, the cost of systems management can be measured by the ratio of administrators (or operation support staff) to users. In a typical distributed environment, such as an environment providing a Lotus Notes service or similar distributed client-server database application, the ratio is relatively high: one Lotus Notes (Lotus and Lotus Notes are trade marks of Lotus Development Corporation) administrator may have difficulty controlling over 200 users of a fully functional Lotus Notes service. By comparison, in a typical host environment such as an OfficeVision (OfficeVision is a trade mark of International Business Machines Corporation), a single administrator may comfortably control thousands of users.
In a typical distributed environment employing a distributed database management system, a group of administrators collectively perform operational tasks associated with management of servers such as Groupware and E mail servers. Both E Mail and Groupware applications usually generate megabytes of information during normal daily operation. The information is typically stored in a log format. The logs are preferably processed with a view to identifying error conditions and thus to eliminating or at least reducing application server failures. However, the processing of such logs is a laborious activity. It would, therefore, be desirable to improve automation of server management in a distributed environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided replication tracking apparatus for tracking replication of data in a distributed data processing system having plural application server computer systems interconnected via a network, each application server having a database application having a database and means for communicating data from the database via the network to plural client computer systems and to others of the application servers, the apparatus comprising means for generating an event message on detection of an absence of database replication by the application servers.
Preferably, the generating means comprises: sampling means for sampling each copy of the database; first comparison means for determining whether corresponding samples match each other; and second comparison means for generating the event message if the number of matches identified by the first comparison means is less than a predefined acceptance threshold.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an administration terminal having means for displaying the event message.
It will be appreciated that the present invention extends to a distributed data processing system comprising plural application server computer systems interconnected via a network, each application server having a database application having a database and means for communicating data from the database via the network to plural client computer systems and to others of the application servers; and, replication tracking apparatus as hereinbefore described.
Viewing the present invention from another aspect there is provided, a method for tracking replication of data in a distributed data processing system having plural application server computer systems interconnected via a network, each application server having a database application having a database and means for communicating data from the database via the network to plural client computer systems and to others of the application servers the method comprising the step of generating an event message on detection of an absence of database replication by the application servers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5642496 (1997-06-01), Kanfi
patent: 5757669 (1998-05-01), Christie et al.
patent: 5758359 (1998-05-01), Saxon
patent: 5781910 (1998-07-01), Gostanian et al.
patent: 5819272 (1998-10-01), Benson
patent: 2270779 (1994-03-01), None
Gillies Graeme Sinclair
Gosden Jeffery John
Jafari-Langroudi Sardar
Sutton Kevin John
Choules Jack
Clay A. Bruce
International Business Machines Corp.
Lewis Cheryl
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