Patent ID: 7743379

Claim:
A method in a data processing system for using variable resource sets, the method comprising the steps of: initially providing a system detail level for each physical resource set of a plurality of physical resource sets, wherein the plurality of physical resource sets are respectively associated with said system and are each included in a system topology domain, each physical resource set includes hardware resources, and first and second physical resource sets in a given system topology domain are provided with respective first and second system detail levels that are different from each other; receiving a request to start a process from a specified source of process requests; prior to starting the requested process, retrieving a variable resource set associated with the process, wherein the variable resource set identifies said first physical resource set for use with the process, by specifying a system topology domain which comprises said given system topology domain, and by further specifying a system detail level which comprises said first system detail level; prior to starting the requested process, determining whether resources of said first physical resource set are available to implement the process; responsive to determining that resources of said first physical resource set are available, starting the process using said first physical resource set for implementation thereof; responsive to determining that resources of said first physical resource set are not available, dynamically changing the system detail level specified by the variable resource set to said second system detail level; and responsive to determining that resources of said second physical resource set are available, starting the process using said second physical resource set for implementation thereof.