Abstract: Embodiments are directed to efficiently migrating data from one version of a service to another version and to temporarily transitioning a user to a different service for evaluation. A computer system pre-transfers user data from a first service to a second, different service before an indication is received that the user is to be transitioned from the first service to the second service. The user data includes identification information identifying users of the first service. The computer system receives an indication that a first service user is to be transitioned to the second service. The computer system transfers service data used by the first service to the second service and synchronizes any changes in the user data that occurred between the user data pre-transfer and the service data transfer, so that the second service is provided using the transferred service data and the synchronized user data.

Abstract: A system, a computer readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for provisioning a game container within a cloud computing system is described. To begin, a game manifest may be accessed. The game manifest may include attributes corresponding to a game infrastructure role used by a game within a cloud computing system. A workflow definition is then generated based on the attributes of the game manifest. The workflow definition may specify an instance count for the game infrastructure role and a workflow activity. A group of infrastructural service nodes are then created in the cloud computing system, where the size of the group is based on based on the instance count. The infrastructural service nodes are then configured by executing the deployment action on each of the infrastructural service nodes.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to efficiently migrating data from one version of a service to another version and to temporarily transitioning a user to a different service for evaluation. A computer system pre-transfers user data from a first service to a second, different service before an indication is received that the user is to be transitioned from the first service to the second service. The user data includes identification information identifying users of the first service. The computer system receives an indication that a first service user is to be transitioned to the second service. The computer system transfers service data used by the first service to the second service and synchronizes any changes in the user data that occurred between the user data pre-transfer and the service data transfer, so that the second service is provided using the transferred service data and the synchronized user data.

Abstract: A method for controlling the update installation behavior of a computing device according to installation attributes is presented. When present, a mandatory installation attribute associated with a software update causes the installation process executed on the computing device to disallow a user to selectively not install the software update. A priority installation attribute causes the computing device to request a higher amount of network bandwidth for obtaining the software update's content for installation on the client computing device. A deadline installation attribute associated with the software update causes the computing device to permit a user to selectively not install the software update until an associated deadline passes, at which time the software update is installed without further user interaction.

Abstract: An update system may receive and apply updates to a client device on a per user basis, where an update may be applied to one user but not another. The user specific updates may make changes to user specific areas of the client device, such as user registries or areas of a file system that may be specific to a the user receiving an update. A download agent may communicate with an update distribution server to receive a description of available updates and may download those updates applicable to individual users. An installing agent may process the updates for each user individually when the user is logged on, and in some cases, when the user is not logged on.