An automated method of managing computing resources having a workload of a
given type comprises providing resource data collectors for collecting
data regarding performance of the resources, such as a server network, in
accordance with the type of workload; developing a forecast of
utilization of the resources, based on historical performance data; and
collecting real-time performance data regarding the resources running
under the workload. The method then includes analyzing the performance
data and the forecast to identify a critical resource: and automatically
adjusting a capacity of the resource to provide steady-state performance
of the resource under the workload. Additional hardware resources such as
CPUs, computer memory and computer disk storage are initially available
to, but unused by, the computing resources.