Abstract: Access of data center resources is provided by the present invention using stateless and stateful Web services. For stateless Web services, the present invention provides an invoker API that allows a client to invoke a specific resource and perform an operation on the resource. For stateful Web services, the present invention provides a Web Service Definition file that defines attributes and operations for data center resources. The client may access an instance of a Web service resource once an endpoint reference is obtained from the server. Since the resource instance is persistent, the client may invoke data center operations and manipulate the resource attributes accordingly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using an application deployment template. A first mechanism is provided to deploy multiple instances of applications using an application deployment plan template. The first mechanism uses deployment parameter sets to generate corresponding deployment plans based on the deployment template. A second mechanism is provided to instantiate multiple instances of applications using deployment plan templates. A service catalog that is exposed to consumers for selection of catalog items is built on top of the second mechanism. During the cataloging and order fulfillment process, the second mechanism instantiates multiple instances of applications using the generated deployment plans and an application model to deploy multiple application instances. An existing order may also be modified or terminated responsive to a user request or service term expiration.

Abstract: A system and method for disseminating policies to multiple policy-based components includes a policy producer which generates a group of policies to be enforced. A policy disseminator classifies each policy with a type, and for each policy type, the policy disseminator identifies policy-based components that handle a corresponding policy type. The policy disseminator sends specific policy types from the group of policies to each policy-based component that can handle that specific policy type.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for configuring a computing system. A determination is made whether there are any errors in the model, and responsive to determining that there is at least one error in the model, a determination is made whether there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error. Responsive to determining that there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error, at least one resolution among the at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error is selected to form at least one selected resolution to correct the at least one error. The at least one selected resolution is applied to the model to form a transformed model, and the transformed model is output to a user.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for configuring a computing system. A system for configuring a computing system includes a mechanism for creating a model of a computing system, a validator for determining whether there are any errors in the model, and a resolver, responsive to determining that there is at least one error in the model, for determining whether there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error. A selector, responsive to determining that there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error, selects at least one resolution among the at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error to form at least one selected resolution to correct the at least one error, and applies the at least one selected resolution to the model to form a transformed model. An output outputs the transformed model to a user.

Abstract: System for managing a life cycle of a virtual resource. One or more virtual resources are defined. The one or more defined virtual resources are created. The created virtual resources are instantiated. Then, a topology of a virtual resource is constructed using a plurality of virtual resources that are in at least one of a defined, a created, or an instantiated state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enhancing software catalog manageability, providing abstract software configuration, and desired state management. A first mechanism enhances software catalog manageability. The first mechanism includes a software model that separates metadata of software from actual binaries of the software. A second mechanism abstracts software configuration for automation. The second mechanism includes a hierarchical software resource template structure that specifies parameters, dependencies between parameters, features, options, and parameters that cannot be predefined. A third mechanism provides for desired state management and patch compliance assessments. The third mechanism checks against a server template or software resource in a data center model against what is installed on actual machines to determine compliance.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a common cluster model for configuring, managing, and operating different clustering technologies in a data center. The common cluster model supports peer cluster domains and management server cluster domains. Each cluster domain may have one or more cluster nodes. For each cluster domains, one or more cluster resources may be defined. These resources may depend on one another and may be grouped into a resource group. A set of cluster domain and cluster resources logical device operations are provided to configure, manage, and operate cluster domains and its associated resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for configuring a computing system. A system for configuring a computing system includes a mechanism for creating a model of a computing system, a validator for determining whether there are any errors in the model, and a resolver, responsive to determining that there is at least one error in the model, for determining whether there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error. A selector, responsive to determining that there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error, selects at least one resolution among the at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error to form at least one selected resolution to correct the at least one error, and applies the at least one selected resolution to the model to form a transformed model. An output outputs the transformed model to a user.

Abstract: Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for configuring a computing system. A determination is made whether there are any errors in the model, and responsive to determining that there is at least one error in the model, a determination is made whether there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error. Responsive to determining that there is at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error, at least one resolution among the at least one resolution for correcting the at least one error is selected to form at least one selected resolution to correct the at least one error. The at least one selected resolution is applied to the model to form a transformed model, and the transformed model is output to a user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using an application deployment template. A first mechanism is provided to deploy multiple instances of applications using an application deployment plan template. The first mechanism uses deployment parameter sets to generate corresponding deployment plans based on the deployment template. A second mechanism is provided to instantiate multiple instances of applications using deployment plan templates. A service catalog that is exposed to consumers for selection of catalog items is built on top of the second mechanism. During the cataloging and order fulfillment process, the second mechanism instantiates multiple instances of applications using the generated deployment plans and an application model to deploy multiple application instances. An existing order may also be modified or terminated responsive to a user request or service term expiration.

Abstract: System for managing a life cycle of a virtual resource. One or more virtual resources are defined. The one or more defined virtual resources are created. The created virtual resources are instantiated. Then, a topology of a virtual resource is constructed using a plurality of virtual resources that are in at least one of a defined, a created, or an instantiated state.

Abstract: A system and method for disseminating policies to multiple policy-based components includes a policy producer which generates a group of policies to be enforced. A policy disseminator classifies each policy with a type, and for each policy type, the policy disseminator identifies policy-based components that handle a corresponding policy type. The policy disseminator sends specific policy types from the group of policies to each policy-based component that can handle that specific policy type.

Abstract: Access of data center resources is provided by the present invention using stateless and stateful Web services. For stateless Web services, the present invention provides an invoker API that allows a client to invoke a specific resource and perform an operation on the resource. For stateful Web services, the present invention provides a Web Service Definition file that defines attributes and operations for data center resources. The client may access an instance of a Web service resource once an endpoint reference is obtained from the server. Since the resource instance is persistent, the client may invoke data center operations and manipulate the resource attributes accordingly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a common cluster model for configuring, managing, and operating different clustering technologies in a data center. The common cluster model supports peer cluster domains and management server cluster domains. Each cluster domain may have one or more cluster nodes. For each cluster domains, one or more cluster resources may be defined. These resources may depend on one another and may be grouped into a resource group. A set of cluster domain and cluster resources logical device operations are provided to configure, manage, and operate cluster domains and its associated resources.