Patent ID: 8386930

Claim:
A method for managing a physical data center housing computer systems and associated components from a three-dimensional model representation of the computer systems and associated components of the physical data center that operates within a virtual universe, comprising: obtaining a data center contextual object in the virtual universe that describes operational information of the computer systems and associated components that operate within the physical data center, the data center contextual object having a range of attributes and respective values that are associated with a state of operation of the physical data center, wherein the obtaining of the data center contextual object comprises receiving a selection made by an avatar online in the virtual universe that is responsible for the physical data center, wherein the avatar selection is made from a plurality of predefined data center contextual objects each describing operational information of the computer systems and associated components that operate within the physical data center and having a range of attributes and respective values that are associated with the state of operation of the physical data center, wherein the avatar selection comprises a weighted combination of data center contextual objects selected from the plurality of predefined data center contextual objects, wherein the weighted combination of data center contextual objects comprises a blend of the attributes and respective values of more than one of the plurality of predefined data center contextual objects; implementing at least one operational change to the three-dimensional model representation of the computer systems and associated components of the physical data center in the virtual universe, wherein the at least one operational change is implemented as a function of the data center contextual object; and managing the computer systems and associated components that operate within the physical data center pursuant to a result obtained from implementing the at least one operational change to the three-dimensional model representation of the computer systems and associated components of the physical data center in the virtual universe.