Multi-tenant-cloud-aggregation and application-support system

• US 10,257,261 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raghu, Jagannath N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Madamba, Glenford J
• Application Number:
  US15/161,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20160269475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45595 Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/508 based on type of value added network service under agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

The present application is directed to a distributed system that provides multi-cloud aggregation and that includes a cloud-connector server, cloud-connector nodes, and one or more service-provider nodes that cooperate to provide services that are distributed across multiple clouds. A service-provider node obtains tenant-associated information from a virtual data center in which the service-provider node is installed and provides the tenant-associated information to the cloud-connector server.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of cloud-computing facilities;

a cloud-connector server executed on a host device, the cloud-connector server comprising a cloud management user interface through which the host device interfaces to the cloud-connector server, the cloud-connector server installed within a first cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-connector server further comprising a cloud-connector node interface enabling the cloud-connector server to interface with a plurality of cloud-connector nodes; and

a cloud-director installed within a second cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-director comprising the plurality of cloud-connector nodes, each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes execute as virtual appliances for respective organizations that are supported by the cloud director.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cloud management interface accesses local cloud-management services on behalf of the cloud-connector server for the host device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first cloud-computing facility is operationally distinct from the second cloud-computing facility.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service-provider node installed in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to tenant-associated virtual data centers managed by the cloud-director and transmit the information to cloud-connector server.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service-provider node installed in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to a multi-tenant virtual data center in the second cloud-computing facility and transmit the information to the cloud-connector server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second cloud-computing facility comprises a multi-tenant virtual data center, wherein each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes are associated with a respective tenant in the multi-tenant virtual data center.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a service provider node installed on the second cloud-connector facility, the service provider node being aware of both an organization virtual data center level within the second cloud-computing facility and an overall, higher-level cloud-computing facility.

8. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of cloud-computing facilities;

installing a cloud-connector server executed on a host device, the cloud-connector server comprising a cloud management user interface through which the host device interfaces to the cloud-connector server, the cloud connector server being installed within a first cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-connector server further comprising a cloud-connector node interface enabling the cloud-connector server to interface with a plurality of cloud-connector nodes; and

installing a cloud-director installed within a second cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-director comprising the plurality of cloud-connector nodes, each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes execute as virtual appliances for respective organizations that are supported by the cloud director.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cloud management interface accesses local cloud-management services on behalf of the cloud-connector server for the host device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first cloud-computing facility is operationally distinct from the second cloud-computing facility.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising installing a service-provider node in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to tenant-associated virtual data centers managed by the cloud-director and transmit the information to the cloud-connector server.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising installing a service-provider node in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to a multi-tenant virtual data center in the second cloud-computing facility and transmit the information to the cloud-connector server.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

installing a multi-tenant virtual data center on the second cloud-computing facility wherein each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes are associated with a respective tenant in the multi-tenant virtual data center.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising installing a service provider node on the second cloud-connector facility, the service provider node being aware of both an organization virtual data center level within the second cloud-computing facility and an overall, higher-level cloud-computing facility.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing a plurality of cloud-computing facilities;

installing a cloud-connector server executed on a host device, the cloud-connector server comprising a cloud management user interface through which the host device interfaces to the cloud-connector server, the cloud connector server being installed within a first cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-connector server further comprising a cloud-connector node interface enabling the cloud-connector server to interface with a plurality of cloud-connector nodes; and

installing a cloud-director installed within a second cloud-computing facility of the plurality of cloud-computing facilities, the cloud-director comprising the plurality of cloud-connector nodes, each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes execute as virtual appliances for respective organizations that are supported by the cloud director.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the cloud management interface accesses local cloud-management services on behalf of the cloud-connector server for the host device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the first cloud-computing facility is operationally distinct from the second cloud-computing facility.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to install a service-provider node in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to tenant-associated virtual data centers managed by the cloud-director and transmit the information to cloud-connector server.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to install a service-provider node in the second cloud-computing facility, the service-provider node accessing a cloud-director management interface to obtain information related to a multi-tenant virtual data center in the second cloud-computing facility and transmit the information to the cloud-connector server.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

install a multi-tenant virtual data center on the second cloud-computing facility, wherein each of the plurality of cloud-connector nodes are associated with a respective tenant in the multi-tenant virtual data center.