MANAGING CONTINUOUS SOFTWARE DEPLOYMENT

• US 20130036328A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mutisya, Hillary Mucheru, Goldsmith, Benjamin W., Sheppard, Edward Griffin III
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual middleware or OS functionality using virtual machines to implement generic software techniques for error detection or fault masking G06F11/1484
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are described herein for managing continuous software deployment. A deployment controller can manage deployment of code to a data center. The deployment controller can execute workflows for checking in, verifying, deploying the code, or other processes. The code can be deployed using a differencing disk that includes data indicating changes between software hosted by the data center and a version of software resulting from deployment of the code. The differencing disk can be linked to the disk or virtual resource hosting the software and executed collectively to provide an updated version of the software. Traffic to one or more virtual machines of the data center can be controlled by the deployment controller. If errors are detecting during deployment or after updating, the update can be rolled back.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for deploying code, the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving the code, the code corresponding to an update for software hosted by a data center;

producing a build virtual hard drive comprising data for updating the software;

deploying the build virtual hard drive at the data center; and

performing traffic management to manage traffic to one or more virtual hard drives hosted by the data center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein producing the build virtual hard drive further comprises:

creating a build virtual hard drive;

starting a virtual machine based upon the build virtual hard drive; and

preparing the virtual hard drive for distribution.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

preparing a virtual machine for deployment; and

installing the code on the new virtual machine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein installing the code on the new virtual machine comprises:

creating a differencing disk comprising data indicating a difference between a first version of the software and a second version of the software based upon the code; and

linking the differencing disk to a virtual hard drive on which the software is hosted.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein deploying the code comprises:

copying the virtual hard drive to a target virtual machine;

starting the target virtual machine;

determining if errors are detected during execution of the target virtual machine; and

in response to determining that errors are detected, rolling back deployment of the code by de-linking the differencing disk from the virtual hard drive.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein deploying the code comprises:

copying the virtual hard drive to a target virtual machine;

starting the target virtual machine;

determining if errors are detected during execution of the target virtual machine; and

in response to determining that errors are detected, rolling back deployment of the code.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising in response to determining that errors are not detected, managing traffic associated with the target virtual machine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein managing the traffic comprises:

routing traffic to the new virtual machine;

monitoring runtime performance of the new virtual machine;

determining if performance degradation is detected; and

in response to detecting performance degradation, rolling back deployment of the code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein managing the traffic further comprises reinstating a previous version of the software.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein managing the traffic further comprises in response to not detecting performance degradation, generating a service report.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of producing the build virtual hard drive or deploying the virtual hard drive comprises executing a workflow stored at a data center.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring execution of the workflow; and

reporting an execution status of the workflow.

13. A computer-implemented method for deploying code at a data center, the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving the code at the data center, the code corresponding to an update for software hosted by the data center;

producing a build virtual hard drive comprising data for updating the software hosted by the data center;

deploying the build virtual hard drive on at least one virtual machine hosted by the data center; and

performing traffic management to manage traffic to one or more virtual hard drives hosted by the data center.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein producing the build virtual hard drive comprises executing a workflow at the data center for:

creating a build virtual hard drive;

preparing a virtual machine for deployment; and

installing the code on the new virtual machine.

starting the new virtual machine, the new virtual machine being based upon the build virtual hard drive; and

preparing the virtual hard drive for distribution to the one or more virtual hard drives.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein installing the code on the new virtual machine comprises:

creating a differencing disk comprising data indicating a difference between a first version of the software and a second version of the software based upon the code; and

linking the differencing disk to a virtual hard drive on which the software is hosted.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein deploying the code comprises:

copying the virtual hard drive to a target virtual machine;

starting the target virtual machine;

determining if errors are detected during execution of the target virtual machine;

in response to determining that errors are detected, rolling back deployment of the code by de-linking the differencing disk from the virtual hard drive; and

in response to determining that no errors are detected, performing the traffic management.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein managing the traffic comprises:

routing traffic to the new virtual machine;

monitoring runtime performance of the new virtual machine;

determining if performance degradation is detected; and

in response to detecting performance degradation, rolling back deployment of the code.

18. A computer storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive the code at the data center, the code corresponding to an update for software hosted by the data center, the update comprising at least one of a patch for the software or an upgrade for the software;

produce a build virtual hard drive comprising computer-executable code for updating the software hosted by the data center;

create a differencing disk comprising data indicating a difference between a first version of the software and a second version of the software based upon the code;

deploy the build virtual hard drive on at least one virtual machine hosted by the data center; and

perform traffic management to manage traffic to one or more virtual hard drives hosted by the data center.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein the computer-executable instructions for producing the build virtual hard drive further comprise instructions for executing a workflow to:

create a build virtual hard drive;

prepare a virtual machine for deployment; and

install the code on the new virtual machine.

start the new virtual machine, the new virtual machine being based upon the build virtual hard drive; and

prepare the virtual hard drive for distribution to the one or more virtual hard drives.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein installing the code on the new virtual machine comprises linking the differencing disk to a virtual hard drive on which the software is hosted.