Model-based virtual system provisioning

• US 9,317,270 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Vinberg, Anders B., Fries, Robert M., Grealish, Kevin, Hunt, Galen C., Hydrie, Aamer, Lassettre, Edwin R., Mensching, Rob, Outhred, Geoffrey, Parchem, John M., Tabbara, Bassam, Vega, Rene Antonio, Welland, Robert V., Winner, Eric J., Woolsey, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Ted T
• Application Number:
  US14/042,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 717104-108, 717174-178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/4557 Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects

Abstract

Model-based virtual system provisioning includes accessing a model of a workload to be installed on a virtual machine of a system as well as a model of the system. A workload refers to some computing that is to be performed, and includes an application to be executed to perform the computing, and optionally includes the operating system on which the application is to be installed. The workload model identifies a source of the application and operating system of the workload, as well as constraints of the workload, such as resources and/or other capabilities that the virtual machine(s) on which the workload is to be installed must have. An installation specification for the application is also generated, the installation specification being derived at least in part from the model of the workload and the model of the virtual system.

Claims

1. A computing system, comprising:

a processing device;

a memory in communication with the processing device when the computing system is operational, the memory having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processing device at least cause the computing system to;

generate a model of a workload;

generate a model of a system where the workload is to be installed;

determine whether the workload could be installed in the system by comparing the model of the workload to the model of the system to;

prepare a virtual machine to execute the workload specified by the model of the workload;

deploy the virtual machine on one of a plurality of computing devices.

2. The computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is created on a computing device of the system prior to installing the workload on the virtual machine.

3. The computing system as recited in claim 1, the memory further having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processing device at least cause the computing system to generate an installation specification in preparing the virtual machine to execute the workload.

4. The computing system as recited in claim 1, the memory further having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processing device at least cause the computing system to migrate another virtual machine from one computing device to another computing device.

5. The computing system as recited in claim 1, the memory further having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processing device at least cause the computing system to generate a plurality of device class installation specifications based at least in part on the model of the workload, each of the plurality of device class installation specifications being for a different one of a plurality of classes of devices in the system on which the workload could be installed.

6. The computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the logical deployment evaluation to determine whether the workload could be installed in the system further comprises comparing constraints associated with the workload to constraints associated with the system.

7. The computing system as recited in claim 6, wherein the constraints associated with the workload include software licensing requirements that must be satisfied by the system.

8. The computing system as recited in claim 1, the memory further having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processing device at least cause the computing system to generate a mode of a modified workload when the computing system determines that the workload could not be installed in the system.

9. A computer-readable memory device having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by a processor at least causes:

generating a model of a workload;

generating a model of a system where the workload is to be installed;

determine whether the workload could be installed in the system by comparing the model of the workload to the model of the system;

preparing a virtual machine to execute the workload specified by the model of the workload;

deploying the virtual machine on one of a plurality of computing devices.

10. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the virtual machine is created on a computing device of the system prior to installing the workload on the virtual machine.

11. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9, having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processor at least cause generating an installation specification in preparing the virtual machine to execute the workload.

12. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9, having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processor at least cause migrating another virtual machine from one computing device to another computing device.

13. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9 having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processor at least cause generating a plurality of device class installation specifications based at least in part on the model of the workload, each of the plurality of device class installation specifications being for a different one of a plurality of classes of devices in the system on which the workload could be installed.

14. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the logical deployment evaluation to determine whether the workload could be installed in the system further comprises comparing constraints associated with the workload to constraints associated with the system.

15. The computer-readable memory device as recited in claim 9, having stored therein computer readable instructions that upon execution by the processor at least cause generating a mode of a modified workload upon determining that the workload could not be installed in the system.

16. A method for installing a workload, comprising:

generating a model of a workload;

generating a model of a system where the workload is to be installed;

determine whether the workload could be installed in the system by comparing the model of the workload to the model of the system;

preparing a virtual machine to execute the workload specified by the model of the workload;

deploying the virtual machine on one of a plurality of computing devices.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the virtual machine is created on a computing device of the system prior to installing workload on the virtual machine.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising generating an installation specification in preparing the virtual machine to execute the workload.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising migrating another virtual machine from one computing device to another computing device.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising generating a mode of a modified workload upon determining that the workload could not be installed in the system.