Management of computing devices processing workflow stages of resource dependent workflow

• US 9,128,761 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adogla, Eden G., Collins, Jamin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Meng
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, James J
• Application Number:
  US13/331,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5013 Request control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/503 Resource availability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals

Abstract

Systems and method for the management of resource dependent workflows are provided. One or more resource control devices monitor usage of a computing resource by server computing devices. Each resource control device may direct a server computing device to proceed with a workflow or to pause processing a workflow. A resource control device may further direct a server computing device to take resource conserving actions. When a computing resource is determined to be available, a resource control device may direct a paused server computing device to resume a workflow.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for implementing a resource dependent workflow, the method comprising:

prior to loading a target operating system of a computing device implementing the method;

transmitting, from the computing device, a request to a workflow control device to receive software comprising computer-readable instructions for implementing a resource dependent workflow for configuring the computing device, wherein the resource dependent workflow comprises at least one workflow stage, and wherein the workflow control device instructs a plurality of computing devices, including the computing device, to attempt to implement the resource dependent workflow without guaranteeing access to at least one computing resource on which the at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow depends;

receiving the software at the computing device; and

implementing the resource dependent workflow at the computing device based at least in part on executing the computer-readable instructions of the software at the computing device, wherein executing of the computer-readable instructions further comprises the computing device implementing operations including;

receiving the at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow;

determining the at least one computing resource on which implementation of the at least one workflow stage is dependent;

requesting, from a resource control computing device associated with the at least one computing resource, authorization to access the at least one computing resource, wherein the resource control computing device is configured to allocate access by the computing device to the at least one computing resource during attempted implementation of the at least one workflow stage by the computing device, and wherein the at least one computing resource comprises a storage device storing the target operating system, a portion of the target operating system, one or more applications, one or more updates, or one or more device drivers;

receiving from the resource control computing device an indication of whether access to the at least one computing resource is granted;

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated to be granted, processing the at least one workflow stage at least in part by accessing the at least one computing resource and installing the targeting operating system, the portion of the target operating system, the one or more applications, the one or more updates, or the one or more device drivers; and

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated not to be granted, at least temporarily pausing processing of the at least one workflow stage.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented within a preboot execution environment (PXE).

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the software is received via trivial file transfer protocol.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the software comprises a machine image.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the software comprises receiving the software from a data store of the computing device implementing the method.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the data store corresponds to network accessible storage.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the data store is in communication with the computing device via a universal serial bus.

8. A system for implementing a resource dependent workflow comprising:

at least one computing device configured to, prior to loading a target operating system of the computing device;

transmit a request to a workflow control device to receive software comprising computer-readable instructions for implementing a resource dependent workflow for configuring the at least one computing device, wherein the resource dependent workflow comprises at least one workflow stage, and wherein the workflow control device enables a plurality of computing devices, including the at least one computing device, to attempt to implement the resource dependent workflow without guaranteeing access to at least one computing resource on which the at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow depends;

receive the software; and

execute the computer-readable instructions of the software, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions further configures the at least one computing device to;

receive the at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow;

determine at least one computing resource on which implementation of the at least one workflow stage is dependent;

request, from a resource control computing device associated with the at least one computing resource, authorization to access the at least one computing resource, wherein the resource control computing device is configured to allocate access by the computing device to the at least one computing resource during attempted implementation of the at least one workflow stage by the computing device, and wherein the at least one computing resource comprises a storage device storing the target operating system, a portion of the target operating system, one or more applications, one or more updates, or one or more device drivers;

receive from the resource control computing device an indication of whether access to the at least one computing resource is granted;

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated to be granted, process the at least one workflow stage at least in part by accessing the at least one computing resource and installing the targeting operating system, the portion of the target operating system, the one or more applications, the one or more updates, or the one or more device drivers; and

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated not to be granted, at least temporarily pause processing of the at least one workflow stage.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable instructions are executed within a preboot execution environment (PXE).

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the software is received via trivial file transfer protocol.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the software comprises a machine image.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the software is received from a data store of the at least one computing device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data store corresponds to network accessible storage.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the data store is in communication with the computing device via a universal serial bus.

15. A computer-readable, non-transient storage medium having computer-executable modules for implementing a resource dependent workflow, the computer-executable modules comprising:

a device initialization module in communication with at least one workflow control device, the device initialization module configured to, prior to loading a target operating system of a computing device executing the module;

transmit a request to a workflow control device to receive a workflow processing module for implementing the resource dependent workflow, the resource dependent workflow utilized to configure the computing device, wherein the workflow control device instructs a plurality of computing devices, including the computing device, to attempt to implement the resource dependent workflow without guaranteeing access to at least one computing resource on which the at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow depends;

receiving the workflow processing module; and

cause the execution of the workflow processing module by the computing device, wherein the workflow processing module is configured to;

receive at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow;

determine the at least one computing resource on which implementation of the at least one workflow stage is dependent;

request, from a resource control computing device associated with the at least one computing resource, authorization to access the at least one computing resource, wherein the resource control device is configured to allocate access by the computing device to the at least one computing resource during implementation of the at least one workflow stage by the computing device, and wherein the at least one computing resource comprises a storage device storing the target operating system, a portion of the target operating system, one or more applications, one or more updates, or one or more device drivers;

receive from the resource control computing device an indication of whether access to the at least one computing resource is granted;

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated to be granted, process the at least one workflow stage at least in part by accessing the at least one computing resource and installing the targeting operating system, the portion of the target operating system, the one or more applications, the one or more updates, or the one or more device drivers; and

if access to the at least one computing resource is indicated not to be granted, at least temporarily pause processing of the at least one workflow stage.

16. The computer-readable, non-transient storage medium of claim 15, wherein the device initialization module is executed within a preboot execution environment (PXE).

17. The computer-readable, non-transient storage medium of claim 15, wherein the workflow processing module is received via trivial file transfer protocol.

18. The computer-readable, non-transient storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received workflow processing module is included within a machine image.

19. The computer-readable, non-transient storage medium of claim 15, wherein the workflow processing module is received from a data store of the computing device executing the module.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the data store corresponds to network accessible storage.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the data store is in communication with the computing device via a universal serial bus.