The Database Resource Configurator
The Database Resource Configurator is used in the GSAC application which takes
the technical specifications of a service (e.g. communication, processing and
usage requirements) and suggests the most appropriate network and service
resource assignments (configurations) to support the service.
During the process of service provisioning, it may be necessary for some
services to not only allocate transport resources but process requirements for
non-transmission resources, such as databases. This is by instance the case
when a backup service element is part of the service required. The Database
Resource Configurator performs two main tasks: to determine the requirements
placed on a database site and to assign/change a database.
Determine the requirements placed on a database site
These requirements are stored into a formal entity, called database-ace
(ACE stands for Abstract Communication Entity). They are computed from the
service characteristics (type of information, usage profile, ...) and taking
into account the customer's requirements (on-line storage duration, access
times, ...).
Assign a database, change the selection
Taking into account the technical features of the databases and the expected
characteristics retrieved from the database-ace, such as storage capacity,
access times and services already processed, the Database Resource Configurator
provides for each service the user with the set of databases that may handle
the requirements.
The closest one, in terms of distance, is assigned by default.
Figure 1. Topology and requirements for a service
The user is thus supplied with the description of the requirements for
the service, and with the technical characteristics of the physical links,
called transport-aces, as well. As he can also get information on any
service provider's database, this allow him to modify the default selection.
The changes it implies toward the topology are processed (background task) by
the system.
System Diagram
