Patent ID: 7340477

Claim:
In a network of local and remote server machines, incorporated as software on a computer medium, which supports a multi-function, multi-partitioned series of operating systems, a method for establishing an original warehouse database of performance data, usable by clients, comprising the steps of: (a) collecting performance data directly from said local and remote server machines including the step of: (a1) interfacing a collection manager API for allowing clients direct access to a data collection system to initiate collection of performance data; said interfacing including the steps of: (a1a) defining and managing groups of performance counters; (a1b) initiating the start of data collection; (a1c) stopping the cycle of data collection; (a1d) checking the status of a data collection cycle; (b) organizing and storing said performance data in a relational database and including the steps of: (b1) developing said original warehouse database having a multidimensional data store as a star schema, and which includes the step of: (b1a) establishing a star schema of tables wherein a fact table, having rows each containing (i) a single measured numeric value; (ii) an optional text string: and (iii) cross references to other tables, is surrounded by and interconnected to multiple dimension tables which provide various metric attributes for each row in said fact table; and (b1b) providing information from said series of operating systems directly to said star schema without need to reconfigure said original database; (b2) storing collected performance data in cube formats in said multidimensional data store, arranged as a star schema said collected performance data being capable of storing various kinds of performance data at various times without requiring schema changes; (b3) accessing said collected performance data for analysis of server operations.