METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FLEXIBLE CLOUD MANAGEMENT INCLUDING EXTERNAL CLOUDS

• US 20110055398A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: HENSON, Scott Jared, ECKERSBERG, John Joseph II, DEHAAN, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/00 Packet switching elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches

Abstract

A cloud management system can maintain a set of “virtual groups,” and assign different “virtual groups” to particular computing resources of both local and external clouds. The “virtual groups” can be based on the particular usage (type of virtual machine, application of the virtual machine, function of the virtual machine, and the like) of the members in the groups and/or can be based on the specifications of the computing resources (type and amount of computing resources). When instantiating virtual machines in local or external clouds, the cloud management system can utilize the “virtual groups” to identify and allocate the computing resources.

Claims

1. A method of managing a cloud computing environment, comprising:

identifying a set of computing systems in an external cloud to be included in a local cloud, wherein each computing system in the set of computing systems comprises computing resources;

classifying the set of computing systems based on usage of the local cloud and the computing resources;

receiving a request to instantiate a virtual machine, wherein the request includes specifications of the virtual machine;

selecting at least one computing system in the set of computing systems based on the specifications and the classification of the set of computing systems; and

instantiating the virtual machine on the at least one computing system in the external cloud.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the set of computing systems comprises:

querying the set of computing systems to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the set of computing systems comprises:

providing a request to an independent cloud management system of the external cloud to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying the set of computing systems, comprises;

classifying the set of computing systems according to types of virtual machines to be instantiated on the set of computing systems and amount of the computing resources available.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specifications comprise at least one of a type of the virtual machine, a process performed by the virtual machine, and desired computing resources for the virtual machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting at least one computing system comprises:

maintaining a record of classes of the set of computing systems;

matching the requirements with at least one of the classes; and

selecting the at least one computing systems that is associated with the at least one of the classes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein instantiating the virtual machine on the at least one computing system, comprises;

providing specifications of the virtual machine to an independent cloud management system.

8. A system for managing a cloud computing environment, comprising:

a network interface to a set of computing systems in a local cloud and to an external cloud; and

a processor communicating with the network interface and executing a cloud management system, the cloud management system being configured to-identify a second set of computing systems from the external cloud to include in the local cloud, wherein each computing system in the second set of computing systems comprises computing resources;

classify the second set of computing systems based on usage of the local cloud and the computing resources;

receive a request to instantiate a virtual machine, wherein the request includes specifications of the virtual machine;

select at least one computing system in the second set of computing systems based on the specifications and the classification of the set of computing systems; and

instantiate the virtual machine on the at least one computing system in the second set of computing systems.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein identifying the second set of computing systems comprises:

querying the second set of computing systems to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein identifying the second set of computing systems comprises:

providing a request to an independent cloud management system of the external cloud to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein classifying the second set of computing systems, comprises:

classifying the second set of computing systems according to types of virtual machines to be instantiated on the second set of computing systems and amount of the computing resources available.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the specifications comprise at least one of a type of the virtual machine, a process performed by the virtual machine, and desired computing resources for the virtual machine.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein selecting at least one computing system comprises:

maintaining a record of classes of the second set of computing systems;

matching the requirements with at least one of the classes; and

selecting the at least one computing systems that is associated with the at least one of the classes.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein instantiating the virtual machine on the at least one computing system, comprises:

providing specifications of the virtual machine to an independent cloud management system.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a processing system to perform a method comprising:

identifying a set of computing systems in an external cloud to be included in a local cloud, wherein each computing system in the set of computing systems comprises computing resources;

classifying the set of computing systems based on usage of the local cloud and the computing resources;

receiving a request to instantiate a vial machine, wherein the request includes specifications of the virtual machine;

selecting at least one computing system in the set of computing systems based on the specifications and the classification of the set of computing systems; and

instantiating the virtual machine on the at least one computing system in the external cloud.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the set of computing systems comprises:

querying the set of computing systems to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the set of computing systems comprises:

providing a request to an independent cloud management system of the external cloud to determine at least one of a type of the computing resources, an amount of the computing resources, and an availability of the computing resources.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein classifying the set of computing systems, comprises:

classifying the set of computing systems according to types of virtual machines to be instantiated on the set of computing systems and amount of the computing resources available.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the specifications comprise at least one of a type of the virtual machine, a process performed by the virtual machine, and desired computing resources for the virtual machine.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein selecting at least one computing system comprises:

maintaining a record of classes of the set of computing systems;

matching the requirements with at least one of the classes; and

selecting the at least one computing systems that is associated with the at least one of the classes.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein instantiating the virtual machine on the at least one computing system, comprises:

providing specifications of the virtual machine to an independent cloud management system.