Dynamic plugin(s) for cloud application(s)

• US 9,740,469 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoff, Phillip M., Crider, Anthony Lavel, Wu, Sung Hon, Birov, Lubomir I., Cunningham, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BULLOCK JR, LEWIS ALEXANDER
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hebert, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US14/880,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 681 Days
• Field of Search: 717176, 717121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45529 Embedded in an application, e.g. JavaScript in a Web browser

Abstract

Techniques are described herein that are capable of dynamically installing plugin(s) for application(s). An agent plugin is caused to run in a deployment of a specified application (e.g., across multiple machines in a cloud environment or “on premises”). The specified application is packaged to include the agent plugin. The agent plugin is used to install designated plugin(s) dynamically based on configuration information regarding the specified application. The configuration information indicates that the designated plugin(s) are to be installed in response to the specified application being deployed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one element including at least one of physical hardware logic or electrical circuitry that is capable of processing;

a causation module, implemented using the at least one element, configured to cause an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of a specified application,

the agent plugin configured to install at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the at least one designated plugin being indicated by configuration information regarding the specified application in response to the agent plugin being caused to run in the first deployment of the specified application; and

a determination module, implemented using the at least one element, configured to determine whether the configuration information is changed while the specified application is running,

the agent plugin configured to install one or more second designated plugins on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on changed configuration information in response to a determination that the configuration information is changed to provide the changed configuration information, the changed configuration information indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed,

the configuration information prior to being changed not indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed,

the agent plugin configured to, in response to initiation of a second deployment of the specified application, cause the at least one designated plugin to be re-installed on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information, the second deployment being initiated after initiation of the first deployment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a predetermined configuration file that indicates one or more configuration settings for the at least one designated plugin, the one or more configuration settings specifying a frequency with which the specified application is to be accessed for purposes of monitoring.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent plugin comprises:

a web platform installer agent that is configured to use one or more libraries and an application programming interface of a web platform installer to read the configuration information to determine that the at least one designated plugin is to be installed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent plugin comprises:

a web platform installer agent configured to provide a query, the query including a request for the configuration information and a deployment identifier that is associated with the first deployment of the specified application; and

wherein the web platform installer agent is further configured to download the configuration information from a storage location that corresponds to a second identifier that is based at least in part on the deployment identifier.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent plugin is further configured to provide to the specified application a capability to dynamically understand a topology of a network on which the specified application is installed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent plugin is further configured to install one or more dependencies of the at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the one or more dependencies of the at least one designated plugin being indicated by the configuration information regarding the specified application.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the agent plugin is configured to use a predetermined feed to install a predetermined set of products from the predetermined feed;

and

wherein the agent plugin is configured to install the one or more dependencies as one or more default products in response to no dependencies being specified by the predetermined feed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent plugin is configured to use a predetermined feed to install a predetermined set of products from the predetermined feed;

and

wherein the agent plugin is configured to install the at least one designated plugin as at least one default product in response to no plugins being specified by the predetermined feed.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an identification module configured to identify a state of a first execution of the at least one designated plugin that is performed in response to the at least one designated plugin being installed;

wherein the causation module is further configured to cause the agent plugin to run in the second deployment of the specified application in response to a determination that the specified application is to be restarted;

wherein installation module is configured to, in response to the initiation of the second deployment of the specified application, cause the at least one designated plugin to be re-installed on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information in response to the agent plugin being caused to run in the second deployment of the specified application; and

wherein the agent plugin is configured to initiate a second execution of the at least one designated plugin in the state of the first execution in response to the at least one designated plugin being re-installed.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an identification module configured to identify a web platform installer feed that is configured to enable a web platform installer to locate and install the at least one designated plugin;

wherein the web platform installer feed includes the at least one designated plugin, location information regarding a location of the at least one designated plugin, and installation information that includes instructions for installing the at least one designated plugin.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an identification module, implemented using the at least one element, configured to identify a feed that includes the at least one designated plugin, location information regarding a location of the at least one designated plugin, and installation information that includes instructions for installing the at least one designated plugin;

wherein the agent plugin is configured to install the at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the location information and the installation information in response to the agent plugin being caused to run in the first deployment of the specified application; and

wherein the installation information includes instructions for decompressing the at least one designated plugin.

12. A method comprising:

causing an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of a specified application;

in response to causing the agent plugin to run in the first deployment of the specified application, installing, by the agent plugin, at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the at least one designated plugin being indicated by configuration information regarding the specified application;

determining that the configuration information is changed to provide changed configuration information while the specified application is running, the changed configuration information indicating that one or more second designated plugins are to be installed;

in response to determining that the configuration information is changed, installing, by the agent plugin, the one or more second designated plugins on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information,

the configuration information prior to being changed not indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed; and

in response to initiation of a second deployment of the specified application, re-installing, by the agent plugin, the at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information, the second deployment being initiated after initiation of the first deployment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration information includes a predetermined configuration file that indicates one or more configuration settings for the at least one designated plugin, the one or more configuration settings specifying a frequency with which the specified application is to be accessed for purposes of monitoring.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the agent plugin to run in the first deployment comprises:

using, by a web platform installer agent that is included in the agent plugin, one or more libraries and an application programming interface of a web platform installer to read the configuration information to determine that the at least one designated plugin is to be installed.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the agent plugin to run in the first deployment comprises:

providing, by a web platform installer agent that is included in the agent plugin, a query,

the query including a request for the configuration information and a deployment identifier that is associated with the first deployment of the specified application; and

downloading, by the web platform installer agent, the configuration information from a storage location that corresponds to a second identifier that is based at least in part on the deployment identifier.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing, by the agent plugin, to the specified application a capability to dynamically understand a topology of a network on which the specified application is installed.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

installing, by the agent plugin, one or more dependencies of the at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the one or more dependencies of the at least one designated plugin being indicated by the configuration information regarding the specified application.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

using, by the agent plugin, a predetermined feed to install a predetermined set of products from the predetermined feed;

wherein installing the one or more dependencies comprises;

installing, by the agent plugin, the one or more dependencies as one or more default products in response to no dependencies being specified by the predetermined feed.

19. The method of claim 12, comprising:

using, by the agent plugin, a predetermined feed to install a predetermined set of products from the predetermined feed;

wherein installing the at least one designated plugin comprises;

installing, by the agent plugin, the at least one designated plugin as at least one default product in response to no plugins being specified by the predetermined feed.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon which, when executed by a processor-based system, performs steps comprising:

causing an agent plugin to run in a first deployment of a specified application;

in response to causing the agent plugin to run in the first deployment of the specified application, causing the agent plugin to install at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the at least one designated plugin being indicated by configuration information regarding the specified application;

determining whether the configuration information is changed to provide changed configuration information while the specified application is running, the changed configuration information indicating that one or more second designated plugins are to be installed;

in response to determining that the configuration information is changed, causing the agent plugin to install the one or more second designated plugins on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information,

the configuration information prior to being changed not indicating that the one or more second designated plugins are to be installed; and

in response to initiation of a second deployment of the specified application, causing the agent plugin to re-install the at least one designated plugin on-the-fly while the specified application is running based at least in part on the changed configuration information, the second deployment being initiated after initiation of the first deployment.