Multi-tiered cloud application topology modeling tool

• US 9,621,428 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lev, Koren, Vadiwala, Mehernosh Naval, Evan, Derek, Gulsvig Wood, Catherine Ruth
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholas, Wendy
• Application Number:
  US14/248,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 715735, 715853, 709226, 709223, 709220, 709222, 709224, 718 1, 718100, 345418, 345441
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

An example multi-tiered cloud application topology modeling tool is provided that facilitates receiving metadata associated with a widget, the widget being expressive of an interface representing a base class of a topology element in a cloud application topology, the topology element being classified in one of a plurality of tiers of cloud application topology, adding an instance of the widget to the cloud application topology, enforcing rules described by the metadata that specify behavioral constraints on the widget in a context of the cloud application topology across the plurality of tiers, and modifying the cloud application topology according to the rules without human intervention, the modified topology being rendered on a canvas of a user interface of the cloud application topology modeling tool. In specific embodiments, the cloud application topology on the canvas is converted to a stack blueprint that can be executed to instantiate the topology.

Claims

1. A method performed by a cloud application topology modeling tool executing on a processor, the method comprising:

generating a cloud application topology comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the cloud application topology represents a cloud network infrastructure comprising a plurality of interconnected topology elements, wherein each widget is expressive of an interface representing a base class of a topology element, wherein each topology element is classified in one of a plurality of tiers of the cloud network infrastructure;

adding a new widget to the cloud application topology, comprising receiving metadata associated with the new widget, the metadata identifying the new widget as belonging to one of a plurality of layers of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) network model, wherein the new widget is different from at least another widget expressive of an interface representing a base class of another topology element classified in another one of a plurality of tiers;

automatically adding other widgets to the cloud application topology based on the new widget, the added widgets belonging to other layers of the OSI network model from Layer 2 to Layer 7, wherein the added widgets enable the new widget to operate in the cloud network;

generating attachment points between widgets of different tiers according to widget properties specified in the metadata, each attachment point being specific to the tiers and the widgets being attached;

modifying the cloud application topology according to rules described by the metadata without human intervention, wherein the rules specify behavioral constraints on the widgets in a context of the cloud application topology across the plurality of tiers;

rendering the modified cloud application topology on a canvas of a graphical user interface in a plurality of selectively viewable layers, each layer comprising a different portion of the cloud application topology; and

generating instructions for automated orchestration of the cloud network based on the modified cloud application topology.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata describes at least a look, a behavior, a feature, a property, a valid attribute value for the property, and the rules associated with the widget.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the property comprises at least one property selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a definitional property, (b) a visual property, and (c) an orchestration property.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules comprise at least one rule selected from a group consisting of:

(a) container rules, (b) validation rules, (c) requirement rules, and (d) relationship rules.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding an additional widget comprising the at least another widget to the cloud application topology;

adding an attachment point between the different tiers of the new widget and the additional widget in the cloud application topology.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the cloud application topology includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

(a) adding a relationship with another widget in the cloud application topology;

(b) adding another widget in the cloud application topology; and

(c) suggesting to modify widget properties.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the metadata comprises loading a widget configuration file comprising the metadata into a memory element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adding an instance of the widget comprises adding a pre-defined graphic icon representing the widget on the canvas, wherein the graphic icon is rendered on the canvas as part of the cloud application topology.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cloud application topology can be viewed in the plurality of layers according to different view permissions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cloud application topology on the canvas is converted to a stack blueprint that can be executed to instantiate the cloud application topology.

11. Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions of a cloud application topology modeling tool for execution, which when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

generating a cloud application topology comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the cloud application topology represents a cloud network infrastructure comprising a plurality of interconnected topology elements, wherein each widget is expressive of an interface representing a base class of a topology element, wherein each topology element is classified in one of a plurality of tiers of the cloud network infrastructure;

adding a new widget to the cloud application topology, comprising receiving metadata associated with the new widget, the metadata identifying the new widget as belonging to one of a plurality of layers of OSI network model, wherein the new widget is different from at least another widget expressive of an interface representing a base class of another topology element classified in another one of a plurality of tiers;

automatically adding other widgets to the cloud application topology based on the new widget, the added widgets belonging to other layers of the OSI network model from Layer 2 to Layer 7, wherein the added widgets enable the new widget to operate in the cloud network;

generating attachment points between widgets of different tiers according to widget properties specified in the metadata, each attachment point being specific to the tiers and the widgets being attached;

modifying the cloud application topology according to rules described by the metadata without human intervention, wherein the rules specify behavioral constraints on the widget in a context of the cloud application topology across the plurality of tiers;

rendering the modified cloud application topology on a canvas of a graphical user interface in a plurality of selectively viewable layers, each layer comprising a different portion of the cloud application topology; and

generating instructions for automated orchestration of the cloud network based on the modified cloud application topology.

12. The non-transitory tangible media of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

adding an additional widget comprising the at least another widget to the cloud application topology;

adding an attachment point between the different tiers of the new widget and the additional widget in the cloud application topology.

13. The non-transitory tangible media of claim 11, wherein modifying the cloud application topology includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

(a) adding a relationship with another widget in the cloud application topology;

(b) adding another widget in the cloud application topology; and

(c) suggesting to modify widget properties.

14. The non-transitory tangible media of claim 11, wherein the cloud application topology can be viewed in the plurality of layers according to different view permissions.

15. The non-transitory tangible media of claim 11, wherein the cloud application topology on the canvas is converted to a stack blueprint that can be executed to instantiate the cloud application topology.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a cloud application topology modeling tool comprising instructions associated with data;

a non-transitory memory element for storing the data and the instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the non-transitory memory element cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for;

generating a cloud application topology comprising a plurality of widgets, wherein the cloud application topology represents a cloud network infrastructure comprising a plurality of interconnected topology elements, wherein each widget is expressive of an interface representing a base class of a topology element, wherein each topology element is classified in one of a plurality of tiers of the cloud network infrastructure;

adding a new widget to the cloud application topology, comprising receiving metadata associated with the new widget, the metadata identifying the new widget as belonging to one of a plurality of layers of OSI network model, wherein the new widget is different from at least another widget expressive of an interface representing a base class of another topology element classified in another one of a plurality of tiers;

automatically adding other widgets to the cloud application topology based on the new widget, the added widgets belonging to other layers of the OSI network model from Layer 2 to Layer 7, wherein the added widgets enable the new widget to operate in the cloud network;

generating attachment points between widgets of different tiers according to widget properties specified in the metadata, each attachment point being specific to the tiers and the widgets being attached;

modifying the cloud application topology according to rules described by the metadata without human intervention, wherein the rules specify behavioral constraints on the widget in a context of the cloud application topology across the plurality of tiers;

rendering the modified cloud application topology on a canvas of a graphical user interface in a plurality of selectively viewable layers, each layer comprising a different portion of the cloud application topology; and

generating instructions for automated orchestration of the cloud network based on the modified cloud application topology.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further configured for:

adding an additional widget comprising the at least another widget to the cloud application topology;

adding an attachment point between the different tiers of the new widget and the additional widget in the cloud application topology.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein modifying the cloud application topology includes at least one action selected from a group consisting of:

(a) adding a relationship with another widget in the cloud application topology;

(b) adding another widget in the cloud application topology; and

(c) suggesting to modify widget properties.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cloud application topology can be viewed in a plurality of layers according to different view permissions.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cloud application topology on the canvas is converted to a stack blueprint that can be executed to instantiate the cloud application topology.