Abstract: The current document is directed to an integrated cloud-management facility, or subsystem, that incorporates an automated-application-deployment-facility integrator that incorporates one or more automated-application-deployment facilities into the cloud-management facility. The automated-application-deployment-facility integrator allows users of the cloud-management facility to access one or more automated-application-deployment facilities within the context of the cloud-management facility. The automated-application-deployment-facility integrator provides to system managers and administrators, through the cloud-management facility, a wider range of functionalities and capabilities than is provided by a cloud-management facility that includes only a single automated-application-deployment facility, or subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently replacing clients running a large scale application uses a pool of clients, which includes a group of active clients running the large scale application and at least one standby client. When a particular active client is identified to be replaced, one of the at least one standby client is selected as a replacement client for the particular active client. The particular active client is replaced with the selected replacement client with respect to the running of the large scale application such that the particular client is removed from the group of active clients and the selected replacement client is added to the group of active clients.

Abstract: The current document is directed to automated application-release-management facilities that, in a described implementation, coordinate continuous development and release of cloud-computing applications. The application-release-management process is specified, in the described implementation, by application-release-management pipelines, each pipeline comprising one or more stages, with each stage comprising one or more tasks.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems that extend cloud-management-facility management from a private data center to infrastructure provided by a remote cloud-computing facility. A remote cloud-management-facility agent is installed within the remote cloud-computing facility to mediate exchange of control and information messages between the cloud-management facility within the private data center and virtual machines executing within the remote cloud-computing facility. The cloud-management-facility agent is connected to the cloud-management facility through a secure tunnel or connection.

Abstract: The current document is directed to automated application-release-management facilities that, in a described implementation, coordinate continuous development and release of cloud-computing applications. The application-release-management process is specified, in the described implementation, by application-release-management pipelines, each pipeline comprising one or more stages, with each stage comprising one or more tasks. Current application-release-management pipelines are linear, with the stages sequentially ordered within the pipeline. The current document is directed to an automated application-release-management facility that supports branch points within application-release-management pipelines where, as a result of inter-application dependencies, a task within a stage of the first pipeline associated with a first application launches a second pipeline associated with a second application.

Abstract: The current document is directed to an integrated cloud-management facility, or subsystem, that incorporates an automated-application-deployment-facility integrator that incorporates one or more automated-application-deployment facilities into the cloud-management facility. The automated-application-deployment-facility integrator allows users of the cloud-management facility to access one or more automated-application-deployment facilities within the context of the cloud-management facility. The automated-application-deployment-facility integrator provides to system managers and administrators, through the cloud-management facility, a wider range of functionalities and capabilities than is provided by a cloud-management facility that includes only a single automated-application-deployment facility, or subsystem.

Abstract: The current document is directed to automated application-release-management facilities that, in a described implementation, coordinate continuous development and release of cloud-computing applications. The application-release-management process is specified, in the described implementation, by application-release-management pipelines, each pipeline comprising one or more stages, with each stage comprising one or more tasks.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently replacing clients running a large scale application uses a pool of clients, which includes a group of active clients running the large scale application and at least one standby client. When a particular active client is identified to be replaced, one of the at least one standby client is selected as a replacement client for the particular active client. The particular active client is replaced with the selected replacement client with respect to the running of the large scale application such that the particular client is removed from the group of active clients and the selected replacement client is added to the group of active clients.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides for decentralized administration of access to target systems. In an embodiment, an identity link system is provided between an identity manager and target systems, with the identity manager being required to interface with the identity link to access the target systems. The identity link maintains all the connector information for accessing the target systems such that the information need not be provided to the identity manager. Accordingly, the identity link can be co-located with target systems, for example in a remote data centre, such that access to the target systems can be controlled by administrators of the remote data centre, thereby providing decentralized administration.