Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods for facilitating communications with storage. A request having a first-interface format to access storage is intercepted. The first interface format of the request supports access to a virtual hard drive (VHD). The request is translated to a blob request having a blob interface format. The blob interface format of the blob request supports access to a plurality of blobs of data in a blob store. The blob request is communicated to a blob interface such that the blob request is executed in managing the plurality of blobs.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated monitoring certificate expiration, automatically periodically accessing a plurality of computing nodes in a computing system for certificate expiration of a certificate of the plurality of computing nodes. The automatically periodically accessing is provided by a central management tool of the computing system. Automatically determining the certificate of the plurality of computing nodes has an impending certificate expiration by the central management tool of said computing system. In response to the determining, automatically generating an alert, by the central management tool, that indicates the impending certificate expiration of the certificate.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards managing the distribution of tasks in a storage system. An execution path for tasks may be generated based on the type of the task and characteristics of the storage system such that the execution path includes storage computers in a storage system. The tasks may be provided to each storage computer in the execution path. A working set of intermediate results may be generated on the storage computer in the execution path. If there is more than one storage computer in the execution path, working sets may be iteratively communicated to a next storage computer in the execution path such that the next storage computer employs a previously generated working set to generate a next working set until each storage computer in the execution path has been employed to generate a working set. The results may be stored on the storage computers.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated provisioning a certificate in a computing system a certificate signing request is accessed from a computing node by a centralized management tool of the computing system. The certificate signing request is provided to a certificate authority by the centralized management tool. A signed certificate is accessed from the certificate authority for the computing node. The signed certificate is provided to the computing node, by the centralized management tool, such that there is automated provisioning of the signed certificate at the computing node to establish trust of the computing node in the computing system.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated provisioning a certificate in a computing system a certificate signing request is accessed from a computing node by a centralized management tool of the computing system. The certificate signing request is provided to a certificate authority by the centralized management tool. A signed certificate is accessed from the certificate authority for the computing node. The signed certificate is provided to the computing node, by the centralized management tool, such that there is automated provisioning of the signed certificate at the computing node to establish trust of the computing node in the computing system.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated provisioning a certificate in a computing system a certificate signing request is accessed from a computing node by a centralized management tool of the computing system. The certificate signing request is provided to a certificate authority by the centralized management tool. A signed certificate is accessed from the certificate authority for the computing node. The signed certificate is provided to the computing node, by the centralized management tool, such that there is automated provisioning of the signed certificate at the computing node to establish trust of the computing node in the computing system.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods for facilitating communications with storage. A request having a first-interface format to access storage is intercepted. The first interface format of the request supports access to a virtual hard drive (VHD). The request is translated to a blob request having a blob interface format. The blob interface format of the blob request supports access to a plurality of blobs of data in a blob store. The blob request is communicated to a blob interface such that the blob request is executed in managing the plurality of blobs.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods for facilitating communications with storage. A request having a first-interface format to access storage is intercepted. The first interface format of the request supports access to a virtual hard drive (VHD). The request is translated to a blob request having a blob interface format. The blob interface format of the blob request supports access to a plurality of blobs of data in a blob store. The blob request is communicated to a blob interface such that the blob request is executed in managing the plurality of blobs.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated monitoring certificate expiration, automatically periodically accessing a plurality of computing nodes in a computing system for certificate expiration of a certificate of the plurality of computing nodes. The automatically periodically accessing is provided by a central management tool of the computing system. Automatically determining the certificate of the plurality of computing nodes has an impending certificate expiration by the central management tool of said computing system. In response to the determining, automatically generating an alert, by the central management tool, that indicates the impending certificate expiration of the certificate.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for automated provisioning a certificate in a computing system a certificate signing request is accessed from a computing node by a centralized management tool of the computing system. The certificate signing request is provided to a certificate authority by the centralized management tool. A signed certificate is accessed from the certificate authority for the computing node. The signed certificate is provided to the computing node, by the centralized management tool, such that there is automated provisioning of the signed certificate at the computing node to establish trust of the computing node in the computing system.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards managing the distribution of tasks in a storage system. An execution path for tasks may be generated based on the type of the task and characteristics of the storage system such that the execution path includes storage computers in a storage system. The tasks may be provided to each storage computer in the execution path. A working set of intermediate results may be generated on the storage computer in the execution path. If there is more than one storage computer in the execution path, working sets may be iteratively communicated to a next storage computer in the execution path such that the next storage computer employs a previously generated working set to generate a next working set until each storage computer in the execution path has been employed to generate a working set. The results may be stored on the storage computers.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards managing the distribution of tasks in a storage system. An execution path for tasks may be generated based on the type of the task and characteristics of the storage system such that the execution path includes storage computers in a storage system. The tasks may be provided to each storage computer in the execution path. A working set of intermediate results may be generated on the storage computer in the execution path. If there is more than one storage computer in the execution path, working sets may be iteratively communicated to a next storage computer in the execution path such that the next storage computer employs a previously generated working set to generate a next working set until each storage computer in the execution path has been employed to generate a working set. The results may be stored on the storage computers.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods for facilitating communications with storage. A request having a first-interface format to access storage is intercepted. The first interface format of the request supports access to a virtual hard drive (VHD). The request is translated to a blob request having a blob interface format. The blob interface format of the blob request supports access to a plurality of blobs of data in a blob store. The blob request is communicated to a blob interface such that the blob request is executed in managing the plurality of blobs.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to manage virtual hard drives as blobs are provided. The cloud computing platform includes fabric computers and blob stores. The fabric computers execute virtual machines that implement one or more applications that access virtual hard drives. The data in the virtual hard drives is accessed, via a blob interface, from blobs in the blob stores. The blob stores interface with a driver that translates some application input/output (I/O) requests destined to the virtual hard drives to blob commands when accessing data in the virtual hard drives.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to manage virtual hard drives as blobs are provided. The cloud computing platform includes fabric computers and blob stores. The fabric computers execute virtual machines that implement one or more applications that access virtual hard drives. The data in the virtual hard drives is accessed, via a blob interface, from blobs in the blob stores. The blob stores interface with a driver that translates some application input/output (I/O) requests destined to the virtual hard drives to blob commands when accessing data in the virtual hard drives.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling inter-subsystem resource sharing are provided. A subsystem executing an application (“app subsystem”) receives resources from another subsystem providing a resource (“resource subsystem”), such as a DLL. Then, when an application of the app subsystem is executed, the application may request a resource from the app subsystem, such as a DLL. The app subsystem, upon determining that the requested resource is associated with the resource subsystem, may communicate with the resource subsystem to request the resource. The resource subsystem may then load the resource. When the application utilizes the resource to perform an activity, such as by invoking a method of the DLL, the app subsystem may communicate with the resource subsystem to request the resource to perform the activity. The resource subsystem may provide an indication of a result to the resource subsystem upon completing the activity.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling inter-subsystem resource sharing are provided. A subsystem executing an application (“app subsystem”) receives resources from another subsystem providing a resource (“resource subsystem”), such as a DLL. Then, when an application of the app subsystem is executed, the application may request a resource from the app subsystem, such as a DLL. The app subsystem, upon determining that the requested resource is associated with the resource subsystem, may communicate with the resource subsystem to request the resource. The resource subsystem may then load the resource. When the application utilizes the resource to perform an activity, such as by invoking a method of the DLL, the app subsystem may communicate with the resource subsystem to request the resource to perform the activity. The resource subsystem may provide an indication of a result to the resource subsystem upon completing the activity.