Data processing system management apparatus and method.

摘要

The present invention relates to a data processing system management apparatus for managing the operation of a plurality of control point data processors (102, 104) and client data processors (106, 108) comprising a communications network (116) connecting the control point data processors to each other and to the client data processors, each control point data processor being configured to provide management services to the client data processors, and in which one control point processor is designated as a primary control point processor with all the other control point processors being designated as alternative control point processors, and means for determining which of the control point processors is the primary control point processor. According to the invention the apparatus is characterised in that the primary control point processor determining means comprises means for initialising each of the plurality of control point processors, means for sending a primary control point processor negotiation request from each of the control point processors to all the other control point processors in turn, and means for continuing to perform primary control point processor negotiations until one of the control point processors is determined as being the primary control point processor and all the other control point processors are determined as being alternative control point processors. <IMAGE>