A configuration management approach for large workflow management systems

摘要

Scalability to large, heterogeneous, and distributed environments is an important requirement for workflow management systems (WfMS). As a consequence, the management of the configuration of a WfMS installation becomes a key issue. This paper proposes an approach for managing the configuration of WfMS together with an assignment strategy for workflow instances. Separating the logical issues of the workflow model from the physical configuration of a WfMS is the basis of our strategy. A formalization of physical organizational requirements in a WfMS configuration covering access rights, usage policies, and costs for the access to WfMS servers is presented and used in the assignment strategy for workflow instances. The results of our approach fit well for many existing WfMS and also for the reference architecture of the Workflow Management Coalition.