Patent ID: 7721289
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for designating computers in a computer pool to execute a test job comprising a set of programmed instructions, the steps comprising: organizing the computers in the computer pool into one or more logical groups, at least one of the logical groups comprising one or more logical subgroups of computers, each computer in the one or more logical groups and subgroups satisfying at least one criterion; receiving a request for computers to execute a test job, the request specifying a plurality of logical machine sets and, for each logical machine set, (1) a quantity of required computers in the logical machine set, the quantity being specified as a range between a minimum and a maximum, the minimum being greater than two, and (2) requirements, for the required computers, including but not limited to a configuration characteristic needed to perform the test job; identifying a target group of computers to satisfy the requirements from among the one or more groups of computers in the computer pool, the target group comprising a first subgroup of computers to be allocated as a unit, the first subgroup comprising at least three computers; selecting, from the target group, computers to comprise each logical machine set; and designating the selected computers to perform the test job; wherein the test job comprises a sub-job, and wherein the designating comprises designating the first subgroup to perform the sub-job.