Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining and deploying a networked computer system features creating and storing a textual representation of a logical configuration of the networked computer system according to a structured markup language. Based on the textual representation, one or more commands are generated for configuring an operable computer system that conforms to the logical configuration. The commands may be directed to devices that are interconnected to one or more computing elements and storage devices, to instruct the devices to logically connect the computing elements and storage devices into the computer system. As a result, a real-world virtual server farm or data center may be created and deployed substantially instantly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining and deploying a networked computer system features creating and storing a graphical representation using a graphical editor to drag and drop icons representing computing elements and network elements into a workspace, such that a logical configuration of the networked computer system is represented by the graphical representation. A corresponding textual representation of the computer system is automatically created and stored according to a structured markup language. Based on the textual representation, one or more commands are generated for configuring an operable computer system that conforms to the logical configuration. The commands may be directed to one or more devices that are interconnected to one or more computing elements and storage devices, to instruct the devices to logically connect the computing elements and storage devices into the computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a description of a configuration of a network that includes a plurality of devices is disclosed. Input is received that specifies the resource devices for the network. The input values are processed with a set of data according to one or more rules to determine the plurality of devices for the network, which includes one or more control devices and may include a set of storage equipment. The plurality of devices is determined without using a set of predetermined descriptions for the devices to be included in the network. An additional value that changes one or more of the input values is received, and in response to the receipt of the additional value, the plurality of devices for the network is modified. The modification is made without requiring additional input. Based on the modified plurality of devices, the description of the network is generated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing a dynamically sized, highly scalable and available server farm are disclosed. A Virtual Server Farm (VSF) is created out of a wide scale computing fabric (“Computing Grid”) which is physically constructed once and then logically divided up into VSFs for various organizations on demand. Each organization retains independent administrative control of a VSF. A VSF is dynamically firewalled within the Computing Grid. A allocation and control of the elements in the VSF is performed by a Control Plane connected to all computing, networking, and storage elements in the computing grid through special control ports. The internal topology of each VSF is under control of the Control Plane. No physical rewiring is necessary in order to construct VSFs in many different configurations, including single-tier Web server or multi-tier Web-server, application server, database server configurations. Each tier of a multi-tier VSF (e.g.

Abstract: One or more datasets of a computer data storage device that participates in a dynamically changing virtual server farm are backed up without involving or affecting operation of servers in the virtual server farm that use the data storage device, and without receiving information about the structure or content of data in the datasets, the topology of the virtual server farm, or the type of server, file system, or operating system in use by the servers. A restore operation provides restored data on an address that is linearly related to and separated from a backup address. Data can be restored to a storage device without interfering with operation of the servers that use the data and without regard to structure or content of the data.

Abstract: A Virtual Server Farm (VSF) is created out of a wide scale computing fabric (“Computing Grid”) which is physically constructed once and then logically divided up into VSFs for various organizations on demand. Allocation and control of the elements in the VSF is performed by a control plane connected to all computing, networking, and storage elements in the computing grid through special control ports. The control plane is comprised of a control mechanism hierarchy that includes one or more master control process mechanisms communicatively coupled to one or more slave control process mechanisms. The one or more master control process mechanisms instruct the slave control process mechanisms to establish VSFs by selecting subsets of processing and storage resources.