Architecture for distributed computing system and automated design, deployment, and management of distributed applications

• US 7,200,530 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tabbara, Bassam, Outhred, Geoffrey, Hunt, Galen C., Grealish, Kevin, Welland, Robert V., Noble, David, Hydrie, Aamer, Brown, Mathilde C., Peterson, Glenn R., Torone, Alexander, Chase, Charlie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US11/321,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 709/201, 709/203, 709/226, 707/110, 707/10, 707/102
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A design tool includes a service definition model to enable abstract description of distributed computing systems and distributed applications. The design tool also includes a schema to dictate how functional operations within the service definition model are to be specified. The functional operations include design of distributed applications, deployment of distributed applications, and management of distributed applications.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

facilitate design of a virtual data center and a distributed application;

logically place parts of the distributed application onto the virtual data center; and

determine whether the placement of the parts of the distributed application is valid.

2. One or more computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors further generate a warning message if the placement of the parts of the distributed application is not valid.

3. One or more computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors further implement a physical data center based on the virtual data center.

4. One or more computer readable media of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors further allocate resources of the virtual data center to support the distributed application.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a first application to facilitate design of a virtual data center and a distributed application;

a second application to logically place parts of the distributed application onto the virtual data center; and

a third application to determine whether the placement of the parts of the distributed application is valid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a fourth application to generate a warning message if the placement of the parts of the distributed application is not valid.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a fourth application to implement a physical data center based on the virtual data center.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a fourth application to allocate resources of the virtual data center to support the distributed application.

9. A method comprising:

providing a first software layer for tools used to convert machines into servers used in the distributed computing system;

providing a second software layer for network management and virtual topology generation of distributed applications;

providing a third software layer to maintain a physical model of the distributed computing system;

providing a fourth software layer to facilitate allocation of logical resources requested by the distributed application;

providing a fifth software layer for a service definition model (SDM) that provides a namespace and context for describing operations processes and an API for application introspection and control of application resources; and

providing a sixth software layer to define reusable building blocks of a distributed application, which use the SDM APIs for context, naming, and binding; and

providing a seventh software layer for operational management of the distributed application.