Abstract: Techniques for providing remote access to application content are described herein. A virtual computing node may be leased to a first user requesting access to an application. On the virtual computing node, a virtualization process may spawn the application as a child process. In response to a second request, by the same user, to access an additional application, the virtual computing node may be identified. The virtualization process may spawn the second application as a child process in the process space of the first application. Data may be exchanged between the applications within the process space.

Abstract: A computing system providing virtual computing services may generate and manage remote computing sessions between client devices and virtual desktop instances (workspaces) hosted on the service provider's network. The system may implement a virtual private cloud for a workspaces service that extends out to gateway components in multiple, geographically distributed point of presence (POP) locations. In response to a client request for a virtual desktop session, the service may configure a virtual computing resource instance for the session and establish a secure, reliable, low latency communication channel (over a virtual private network) between the resource instance and a gateway component at a POP location near the client for communication of a two-way interactive video stream for the session. The availability zone containing the POP location may be different than one hosting the resource instance for the session. Client devices may connect to the gateway component over a public network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic rotation of streaming protocols are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, a first portion of content is streamed to a client device in accordance with a first content delivery protocol. Further, information indicating client device attributes, network conditions or usage conditions is received. A plurality of content delivery protocols including the first content delivery protocol are evaluated based at least in part on the received information to identify a content delivery protocol for streaming the a second portion of the content.

Abstract: A computing system that provides virtual computing services may generate and manage remote computing sessions between client computing devices and virtual desktop instances hosted on the service provider's network. A computing resource instance manager may monitor connections to and disconnections from a virtual desktop instance during particular time periods, and may apply a resource management policy to determine whether and when to shut down an underlying virtualized computing resource instance following a disconnection (e.g., immediately, after some period of time, or only between certain hours). A storage volume for the virtual desktop instance may be detached during a shutdown. In response to a reconnection request, the virtualized computing resource instance (or another such instance) may be restarted and the storage volume may be reattached. The computing resource instance manager may develop a model for predicting when to shut down or restart an instance based on historical data or machine learning.

Abstract: A computing system that provides virtual computing services may generate and manage remote computing sessions between client computing devices and virtual desktop instances hosted on the service provider's network. A computing resource instance manager may monitor connections to and disconnections from a virtual desktop instance during particular time periods, and may apply a resource management policy to determine whether and when to shut down an underlying virtualized computing resource instance following a disconnection (e.g., immediately, after some period of time, or only between certain hours). A storage volume for the virtual desktop instance may be detached during a shutdown. In response to a reconnection request, the virtualized computing resource instance (or another such instance) may be restarted and the storage volume may be reattached. The computing resource instance manager may develop a model for predicting when to shut down or restart an instance based on historical data or machine learning.

Abstract: A method for selecting a communication protocol for a virtual desktop instance in a service provider environment may include providing to a client computing device, access to a virtual desktop instance running on a server computer using a first communication channel associated with a first communication protocol. A request for functionality from a user of the device is detected, the requested functionality being unsupported by the first communication protocol. A second communication protocol from a plurality of available communication protocols may be selecting based on the requested functionality. The second communication protocol may support the requested functionality. A user authorization for using the second communication protocol can be verified.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for application streaming using access and execution environments are disclosed. User input comprising a selection of an application by a user is received. The user input is received at an access environment from a computing device associated with a client. The access environment permits access by the user, and the access environment is associated with an execution environment for the application. The execution environment specifies a computing resource description for the application. Execution of the application is initiated using one or more computing resources compatible with the computing resource description. A pixel display is streamed to the computing device associated with the client. The pixel display is associated with the application executing using the one or more computing resources.

Abstract: A remote computing session management process is directed to the execution and management of aspects of virtual instances executed on data center computers at a program execution service (PES) platform. A computing session may be established between the PES platform and a computing device connected to the PES platform over a communications network. The data created by the user of the client computing device interacting with the virtual instance may be stored, and following an interruption of the remote computing session, the data may be used when re-establishing the remote computing session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic rotation of streaming protocols are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, a first portion of content is streamed to a client device in accordance with a first content delivery protocol. Further, information indicating client device attributes, network conditions or usage conditions is received. A plurality of content delivery protocols including the first content delivery protocol are evaluated based at least in part on the received information to identify a content delivery protocol for streaming the a second portion of the content.

Abstract: A remote computing session management process is directed to the execution and management of aspects of virtual instances executed on data center computers at a program execution service (PES) platform. A computing session may be established between the PES platform and a computing device connected to the PES platform over a communications network. The data created by the user of the client computing device interacting with the virtual instance may be stored, and following an interruption of the remote computing session, the data may be used when re-establishing the remote computing session.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for enabling a user to provide rules for the placement of computing resources at a data center for an entity that employs or is associated with the user. The data center can use the placement rules to select a data center computer system to host computing resources for a user. The rules can be used to establish diversity in computing resource placement at the data center thereby reducing the number of users who lose access to computing resources when a specific data center computer suffers a failure. Further, the placement rules can be used to facilitate configuration of the computer resources for the user based, for example, on the user's employment responsibilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic rotation of streaming protocols are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, a first portion of content is streamed to a client device in accordance with a first content delivery protocol. Further, information indicating client device attributes, network conditions or usage conditions is received. A plurality of content delivery protocols including the first content delivery protocol are evaluated based at least in part on the received information to identify a content delivery protocol for streaming the a second portion of the content.

Abstract: A service management system prepares computing resources for use before a client requests the resource. For example, a service management system of a provider may restore an operating system image to a volume. The service management may then assign a processing resource to the volume to form a virtual machine. The service management system may cause the processing resource to finish preparation of the operating system on the volume. The service management system may disconnect the resulting staged volume from the processing resource. The staged volume may remain active in the low-latency data store and be added to a list of available staged volumes having the operating system. When a client requests a virtual machine having an operating system, the service management system may determine that the client receives the staged volume as part of the virtual machine to avoid the start-up costs of preparing a volume.

Abstract: A computing system providing virtual computing services may generate and manage remote computing sessions between client devices and virtual desktop instances (workspaces) hosted on the service provider's network. The system may implement a virtual private cloud for a workspaces service that extends out to gateway components in multiple, geographically distributed point of presence (POP) locations. In response to a client request for a virtual desktop session, the service may configure a virtual computing resource instance for the session and establish a secure, reliable, low latency communication channel (over a virtual private network) between the resource instance and a gateway component at a POP location near the client for communication of a two-way interactive video stream for the session. The availability zone containing the POP location may be different than one hosting the resource instance for the session. Client devices may connect to the gateway component over a public network.

Abstract: A computing system that provides virtual computing services may generate and manage remote computing sessions between client computing devices and virtual desktop instances hosted on the service provider's network. A computing resource instance manager may monitor connections to and disconnections from a virtual desktop instance during particular time periods, and may apply a resource management policy to determine whether and when to shut down an underlying virtualized computing resource instance following a disconnection (e.g., immediately, after some period of time, or only between certain hours). A storage volume for the virtual desktop instance may be detached during a shutdown. In response to a reconnection request, the virtualized computing resource instance (or another such instance) may be restarted and the storage volume may be reattached. The computing resource instance manager may develop a model for predicting when to shut down or restart an instance based on historical data or machine learning.

Abstract: A streaming source sends streaming content to a display device. A camera captures images of the display device playing the streaming content and/or a user's interaction with the display device along with the displayed response to the user's interaction. The captured content is analyzed to determine, for example, image quality characteristics of the displayed content, a user experience associated with the displayed content or whether the displayed content matches an expected outcome associated with testing input. Information determined from the analysis of the captured content may be used to adjust characteristics of the streaming content, such as streaming parameters at the streaming source or configuration of the display device. A testing system may analyze the captured content to evaluate performance of the streaming system. Results of the testing may be sent to a data store and/or used to mitigate a poor user experience such as poor image quality.

Abstract: Changes to virtual workspaces, such as virtual desktops, can be managed for various users by retaining a copy of a machine image for a current workspace in addition to a new machine image for a new workspace with the changes. If compliance issues are detected, or if a user indicates an issue or desire to return to the previous workspace, a new machine instance can be launched that utilizes the previous machine image, simplifying the rollback process and enabling the user to quickly return to the previous workplace state. In some embodiments, a snapshot of the user data can be taken at the time of a workspace change, such that if the workspace is rolled back to a previous version, the data from that point in time can be attached in order to prevent loss or damage to that data as a result of the change.

Abstract: Techniques for connecting computer system entities to local computer system resources are described herein. A computer system entity that requests access to a local computer system resource has that request fulfilled by a managed directory service, which receives the request and connects the computer system entity to the local computer system resource. While connected, the managed directory service receives commands to perform operations on the local computer system resource and, if the computer system entity is authorized to perform the operations on the local computer system resource, the managed directory service performs the operations on the local computer system resource.

Abstract: Data defining the actual time to availability for various configurations of instances of computing resources is collected. The collected data can be utilized to provide an estimate of the expected time to availability for a specific configuration of an instance of a computing resource in response to receiving a request to create a new instance of the computing resource.

Abstract: Techniques for providing remote access to application content are described herein. A virtual computing node may be leased to a first user requesting access to an application. On the virtual computing node, a virtualization process may spawn the application as a child process. In response to a second request, by the same user, to access an additional application, the virtual computing node may be identified. The virtualization process may spawn the second application as a child process in the process space of the first application. Data may be exchanged between the applications within the process space.