Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated separately from the set of virtual appliances and configured to monitor the set of virtual appliances. The method further includes performing a control action to alter the execution state of the virtual appliance in response to conditions detected in the appliance state information.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a method of generating a post-installation configuration for a software application offering. The method includes receiving a request for a post-installation configuration for a software application and determining a software distribution in which the software application will operate. The method also includes determining a set of inter-dependencies between the software application and the software distribution and retrieving a set of templates for post-installation configuration of the software application. The method further includes generating a post-installation configuration file that customizes the software application for operation with the software distribution and packaging the software application into an offering that comprises the post-installation configuration file and the software application.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a user include displaying a status of a configuration. A point of progress is detected before completion of a web based configuration. Data associated with the point of progress is sent to a server to perform a query of a knowledgebase with the data to identify information associated with the point of progress. Information is received from the server in response to the server performing the query of the knowledgebase and provided to a user to assist the user with completing the web based configuration.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a user include displaying a status of at least one of an installation and configuration within a first of a plurality of windows. A point of progress of at least one of the installation and configuration is monitored. Knowledgebase information is retrieved related to the point of progress. The knowledgebase information is displayed within a second of the plurality of windows to assist the user with the at least one of the installation and configuration. An instant messaging chat session can be displayed within a third of the plurality of windows to assist a user with the at least one of the installation and configuration.

Abstract: An application support module can be configured to dynamically build software appliances for users. The application support module can be configured to build the software appliances based on a request by a user. The request can include a desired pre-built appliance or available applications to be included in a custom appliance. Once the requested appliance is built, the application support module can be configured determine operating requirements for the complete software appliance. The operating requirements can include the minimum necessary computing requirements to utilize the software appliance, such as required storage space, required processing power, required execution memory. The application support module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the user, if the user accepts the software appliance. Additionally, the application support module can be configured to repeat the building process if the user requests reconfiguration.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software patches. Embodiments incorporate a patch server that collects aggregate patch history information from a community of software application users. The set of available patches for a given software application can be registered to a data store, and the number of uses electing to install a patch, as well as usage information such as the frequency of bug reports or rollbacks associated with individual patches can be tracked. When a user desires to update a software application, the various available patches and their combined usage history can be displayed in a patch selection dialog. The user can view and select the patch version best suited to their needs, for example to best match their particular hardware configuration, or to install a patch having the fewest bug reports.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present teachings provide for standardized post installation configuration of a software application. For Linux-based applications, a portal service provides a Red Hat Packet Manager (“RPM”) package that includes selected software to be installed on a user's computing device, and a post install configuration file (“PIC”). A post-install configurator accesses the PIC file and performs post-installation configuration based on the contents of the PIC file. The PIC file thus provides a standardized mechanism in which software vendors can specify post-installation configuration of their applications, without having to develop their own tools or applications.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identification and management of cloud-based virtual machines. A user requests the instantiation of a set of virtual machines from a cloud computing environment. A cloud management system requests the resources necessary to build the machines from a set of resource servers. After populating the set of virtual machines from the cloud, the cloud management system inserts a token ID into one of the virtual machines to designate that machine as a management instance. An image of that machine can be stored in the cloud management system to represent the configuration of the set of virtual machines, even when the cloud itself lacks permanent storage. When the user wishes to update the set of virtual machines, the cloud management system can insert another token ID into another virtual machine, reconfigure the software, processing, or other resources of that machine as a revised management instance.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated separately from the set of virtual appliances and configured to monitor the set of virtual appliances. The method further includes performing a control action to alter the execution state of the virtual appliance in response to conditions detected in the appliance state information.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a cloud. A network cloud environment can include a set of instantiated virtual appliances supported in the cloud. A cloud management system can control and organize the resource servers and other resources necessary to build the virtual appliances. In addition to the set of virtual appliances, the cloud management system can instantiate a virtual appliance monitor that communicates with the set of virtual appliances, to monitor their execution state, software complement, and other operational details. In implementations the virtual appliance monitor can be migrated from a physical on-premise platform. The virtual appliance store can store information related to the execution state of the virtual appliances to an off-cloud appliance data store. The instantiation and operation of the virtual appliance monitor can be metered for subscription-based usage charges.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing third-party application programming interfaces in a collaboration space. A collaboration space, such as a wiki site, can host a set of collaboration tools and resources, including, for example, content tools, communication tools, and other resources for the users of the space. The collaboration space can also incorporate and expose a set of application programming interfaces, such as command and data-passing structures to permit users to invoke third-party applications and/or services from within the wiki site or other collaboration space. The set of applications/services be hosted on a remote server or co-hosted on the collaboration server, and can include, for instance, database, spreadsheet, media content, or other applications or services. The invoked applications/services can return data to the requesting user via the collaboration space. Users can subscribe to different applications and/or services available via the collaboration space.

Abstract: An appliance support module can be configured to build software appliances for use in a hosted environment. The appliance support module can be configured to build the hosted appliances based on a request by a user for the hosted appliances. The appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to migrate the hosted appliances to an on-premise system. To migrate the hosted appliance, the appliance support module can be configured to convert the hosted appliances into a format capable of being supported by the on-premise systems.

Abstract: A management tool can be included in a software appliance. The management tool can be configured to provide control, management, and maintenance of the software appliance. The management tool can be utilized in order to start/stop, configure, repair, and update a software appliance. The management tool can be configured to provide an interface for management of the software appliance. The interface allows for management of the software appliance and the individual components of the software appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a cloud. A network cloud environment can include a set of instantiated virtual appliances supported in the cloud. A cloud management system can control and organize the resource servers and other resources necessary to build the virtual appliances. In addition to the set of virtual appliances, the cloud management system can instantiate a virtual appliance monitor that communicates with the set of virtual appliances, to monitor their execution state, software complement, and other operational details. In implementations the virtual appliance monitor can be migrated from a physical on-premise platform. The virtual appliance store can store information related to the execution state of the virtual appliances to an off-cloud appliance data store. The instantiation and operation of the virtual appliance monitor can be metered for subscription-based usage charges.

Abstract: An appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to build a demo software appliance from a user. The appliance support module can be configured to build the demo appliance and to include configuration data in demo software appliance. The appliance support module can be configured to receive a request to migrate the demo software appliance to a production software appliance. The appliance support module can be configured to migrate the demo software appliance by modifying the configuration data in order to provide full functionality to the demo software appliance that was previously limited. The appliance support module can also receive a request to scale the production software appliances. The appliance support module can scale the production software appliance by dividing the applications contained in the production software appliances into separate software appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identification and management of cloud-based virtual machines. A user requests the instantiation of a set of virtual machines from a cloud computing environment. A cloud management system requests the resources necessary to build the machines from a set of resource servers. After populating the set of virtual machines from the cloud, the cloud management system inserts a token ID into one of the virtual machines to designate that machine as a management instance. An image of that machine can be stored in the cloud management system to represent the configuration of the set of virtual machines, even when the cloud itself lacks permanent storage. When the user wishes to update the set of virtual machines, the cloud management system can insert another token ID into another virtual machine, reconfigure the software, processing, or other resources of that machine as a revised management instance.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software appliances using a broadcast mechanism. Embodiments incorporate a centralized appliance monitor that collects software appliance state information from a community of clients having software appliance installations. Software appliances can comprise a reduced-component operating system combined with pre-configured application(s), for instance distributed via optical disc or Web download. When a software appliance instantiates on a client in the network or at other times, the identity and execution state of the application is broadcast to an appliance monitor. The appliance monitor aggregates the appliance state information for all clients in the network, and manages their deployment and execution on the network. The appliance monitor can for example transmit an appliance control instruction to a client to terminate or otherwise manage an uncertified or unapproved appliance, or take other network management action.

Abstract: An application support module can be configured to dynamically build software appliances for users. The application support module can be configured to build the software appliances based on a request by a user. The request can include a desired pre-built appliance or available applications to be included in a custom appliance. Once the requested appliance is built, the application support module can be configured determine operating requirements for the complete software appliance. The operating requirements can include the minimum necessary computing requirements to utilize the software appliance, such as required storage space, required processing power, required execution memory. The application support module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the user, if the user accepts the software appliance. Additionally, the application support module can be configured to repeat the building process if the user requests reconfiguration.

Abstract: An appliance module can be configured to provide software appliances to users. The appliance module can be configured to provide the software appliances based on a role desired by the users. The role can be the desired functionality to be provided by the software appliance. To achieve this, the appliance module can be configured to receive a request for a software appliance. Based on the request, the appliance module can be configured to determine a software appliance that includes one or more applications that meets the role set forth in the request and just enough operating system to support the one or more applications. The appliance module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the requesting user.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing software patches. Embodiments incorporate a patch server that collects aggregate patch history information from a community of software application users. The set of available patches for a given software application can be registered to a data store, and the number of uses electing to install a patch, as well as usage information such as the frequency of bug reports or rollbacks associated with individual patches can be tracked. When a user desires to update a software application, the various available patches and their combined usage history can be displayed in a patch selection dialog. The user can view and select the patch version best suited to their needs, for example to best match their particular hardware configuration, or to install a patch having the fewest bug reports.