System and method for extending cloud services into the customer premise
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing cloud-based network management services comprising:
- providing at least one cloud extension agent that facilitates cloud-based management of corporate computing resources by execution on one or more computers that are part of a corporate network, the corporate network being separated from the Internet by at least one firewall, the firewall operating independently of the cloud extension agent, wherein each cloud extension agent is configured to;
initiate a secure network connection to a cloud-based management platform, which comprises at least one remote data center, outbound through the firewall over the Internet using a standard internet protocol,gather predetermined status information, from one or more local servers on the corporate network,report the predetermined status information to the cloud-based management platform via the secure network connection,receive, from the cloud-based management platform via the secure network connection, a set of instructions created by the cloud-based management platform for management of the one or more local servers, andmake changes to the configuration of the one or more local servers in response to the set of instructions;
providing to an administrator, as part of the cloud-based management platform, a web-based portal that allows the administrator to request configuration changes to the one or more local servers and to select the type of status information that defines the predetermined status information; and
creating, at the cloud-based management platform, in response to configuration changes initiated via the web-based portal, the set of instructions to be sent to the at least one cloud extension agent via the secure network connection.
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Abstract
A cloud extension agent can be provided on a customer premise for interfacing, via an outbound secure connection, cloud based services. The cloud extension agent can reach the cloud based services through existing firewall infrastructure, thereby providing simple, secure deployment. Furthermore, the secure connection can enable substantially real-time communication with a cloud service to provide web-based, substantially real time control or management of resources on the customer premises via the cloud extension agent.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing cloud-based network management services comprising:
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providing at least one cloud extension agent that facilitates cloud-based management of corporate computing resources by execution on one or more computers that are part of a corporate network, the corporate network being separated from the Internet by at least one firewall, the firewall operating independently of the cloud extension agent, wherein each cloud extension agent is configured to; initiate a secure network connection to a cloud-based management platform, which comprises at least one remote data center, outbound through the firewall over the Internet using a standard internet protocol, gather predetermined status information, from one or more local servers on the corporate network, report the predetermined status information to the cloud-based management platform via the secure network connection, receive, from the cloud-based management platform via the secure network connection, a set of instructions created by the cloud-based management platform for management of the one or more local servers, and make changes to the configuration of the one or more local servers in response to the set of instructions; providing to an administrator, as part of the cloud-based management platform, a web-based portal that allows the administrator to request configuration changes to the one or more local servers and to select the type of status information that defines the predetermined status information; and creating, at the cloud-based management platform, in response to configuration changes initiated via the web-based portal, the set of instructions to be sent to the at least one cloud extension agent via the secure network connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for extending cloud services into a customer premise comprising:
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providing a cloud extension agent for execution on a computer that is part of a corporate network, the corporate network being separated from the Internet by at least one firewall that operates independently of the cloud extension agent, wherein the cloud extension agent is configured to; initiate a secure connection to a remote data-center over the Internet, outbound through the at least one firewall, using a standard internet protocol, gather predetermined status information from one or more local computing resources on the corporate network, report, via the secure connection, the predetermined status information, receive, via the secure connection, a set of instructions created at the remote data center for configuration of the one or more local computing resources on the corporate network, and change the configuration of the one or more local computing resources in response to the first set of instructions via an API exposed by the one or more local resources; and providing to an administrator, as part of the remote data-center, a web-based portal that allows the administrator to request configuration changes to the one or more local computing resources and to select the type of status information that defines the predetermined status information; and creating, at the remote data center, in response to requested configuration changes initiated via the web-based portal, the set of instructions to be sent to the cloud extension agent via the secure connection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing cloud-based management of corporate computing resources comprising:
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providing, at one or more remote data centers, a web-based interface for management of a plurality of computing devices on a corporate network, the corporate network being isolated from the Internet via a firewall; maintaining, in a database associated with the one or more remote data centers that contains substantially real time status information pertaining to the plurality of computing devices; receiving, over the Internet, status information pertaining to configuration and compliance status of each of the plurality of computing devices via a first secure connection initiated by a cloud extension agent operating on at least one of the plurality of computing devices, through the firewall using a standard internet protocol; and in response to policy changes initiated through the web-based interface, creating and sending control instructions over the first secure connection from the one or more remote data centers to the cloud extension agent; wherein the first cloud extension agent is configured to execute the control instructions to configure one or more servers on the corporate network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification