Dynamic and automatic colocation and combining of service providers and service clients in a grid of resources

摘要

A method for providing a servicing operation in a computing environment includes providing a plurality of resources including at least a client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation, a service provider resource capable of providing that servicing operation. At least one of the client resource and the service provider resource are defined by virtual machines. The client resource and the service provider resource are transparently co-located by transferring the resource defined by a virtual machine, and the service provider resource performs the servicing operation. Methods, computer systems, and computer programs available as a download or on a computer-readable medium for installation according to the invention are provided.