Method and system for managing virtual and real machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for managing virtual computer resources, comprising:
- a provisioning module configured to receive a request to act on one of a plurality of virtual resources;
a workflow engine logically connected to the provisioning module and configured to generate a lifecycle workflow of the virtual resource based on the request, the lifecycle workflow defining a timing for provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the virtual resource; and
an agent logically connected to the provisioning module, the agent configured to;
receive instructions to implement the request to act on one of a plurality of virtual resources;
act on the virtual resource in response to the request; and
dynamically provide a status of the virtual resource.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Managing virtual and real machines through a provisioning system. The provisioning system allows a user to create and manage machines through a “self-service” approach. The provisioning system interacts with one or more agents that manage the lifecycle of a machine. The system may provide templates that enable a user to readily create a virtual machine. The system may also include interfaces for administrators to manage virtual and real machine resources.
70 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for managing virtual computer resources, comprising:
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a provisioning module configured to receive a request to act on one of a plurality of virtual resources; a workflow engine logically connected to the provisioning module and configured to generate a lifecycle workflow of the virtual resource based on the request, the lifecycle workflow defining a timing for provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the virtual resource; and an agent logically connected to the provisioning module, the agent configured to; receive instructions to implement the request to act on one of a plurality of virtual resources; act on the virtual resource in response to the request; and dynamically provide a status of the virtual resource. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for managing virtual computer resources, comprising:
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one or more templates each comprising a configuration for a virtual resource including an allocation of one or more physical resources; a provisioning module configured to receive a request to act on the virtual resource and automatically generate instructions to implement the request, the request corresponding to a template of the one or more templates; a workflow engine logically connected to the provisioning module and configured to instantiate a lifecycle workflow of the virtual resource based on the request, the lifecycle workflow including provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the virtual resource; and a plurality of agents, at least one of the agents being logically connected to the provisioning module and configured to receive the instructions and to act on the virtual resource in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling computer resources comprising the steps of:
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receiving, by at least one computer, a request for an action on a virtual resource; generating, by the at least one computer, a lifecycle workflow of the virtual resource based on the request, the lifecycle workflow defining timings for provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the virtual resource; automatically instructing, by the at least one computer, an agent associated with one of a plurality of physical hosts via an instruction in response to receiving the request, the instruction comprising an action associated with the request; and receiving, by the at least one computer, status information on the virtual resource. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for managing computer resources, the system comprising a processor programmed to:
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a receive a request to act on a computer resource, automatically generate instructions to implement the request, and dynamically monitor the computer resource; in response to the request, generate a lifecycle workflow of the computer resource according to a selection of workflow states and activities available for selection based on a particular role among a group of user roles, the lifecycle workflow defining timings for provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the computer resource; receive the instructions; act on the computer resource in response to the request; dynamically provide a status of the computer resource; and restrict a nature of the request and the workflow states and activities available for selection based on access permissions associated with the particular role. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for managing a lifecycle of a virtual machine comprising:
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receiving, by at least one computer, a request for a virtual machine; providing, by the at least one computer, a listing of virtual machine templates and lifecycle workflows available for selection; obtaining, by the at least one computer, a selection of a virtual machine template and a lifecycle workflow; instantiating, by the at least one computer, a provisioning workflow associated with the selected virtual machine template based on the selected lifecycle workflow and in accordance with a selection of workflow states and activities available for selection based on a particular role among a group of user roles, the group of user roles including support, end user, group administrator, and enterprise administrator roles, and wherein the provisioning workflow includes provisioning, tombstoning, and disposing the virtual machine; provisioning, by the at least one computer, the virtual machine on a physical host; and activating, by the at least one computer, the virtual machine according to a timing specified by the provisioning workflow. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification