Abstract: Methods and apparatus for instance host configuration are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of instance hosts configurable for resource instances of a network-accessible service, and control servers to manage remote configuration of the instance hosts. In response to an instance configuration request from a client, a selected control server transmits, to a selected instance host, a sequence of one or more commands. The selected instance host instantiates a remote command executor. The remote command executor initiates configuration operations corresponding to the command sequence, and terminates. The selected control server provides a response to the instance configuration request, based at least in part on results of the operations initiated by the executor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing system administrators to effectively debug access control issues experience by users without comprising security. In some embodiment, when a user's request to access services provided by a service provider is denied, the user may be issued a token that encodes some of debugging information useful for determining the cause of the denial of access. The debugging information may be encoded such that it is inaccessible to the user. Subsequently, the user may give the token to an administrator. The administrator may submit the token to the service provider, which may decode the token and provide the administrator access to debugging information that is useful for debugging access control policies causing the denial of access.

Abstract: A system and method for opportunistically initiating potentially invasive actions on a computer system hosting virtual machine instances is described. When a specific state of operation of the VMI or computing service is detected, such as inactivity, an action, such as a reboot, kernel update, or other potentially invasive action can be performed on the software and/or hardware supporting the VMI. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, detailed description, and figures.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs, including using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. For example, a private pool of excess computing capacity may be maintained for a user based on unused dedicated program execution capacity allocated for that user, with the private pool of excess capacity being available for priority use by that user. Such private excess capacity pools may further in some embodiments be provided in addition to a general, non-private excess computing capacity pool that is available for use by multiple users, optionally including users who are associated with the private excess capacity pools. In some such situations, excess computing capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess capacity arises.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for instance host configuration are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of instance hosts configurable for resource instances of a network-accessible service, and control servers to manage remote configuration of the instance hosts. In response to an instance configuration request from a client, a selected control server transmits, to a selected instance host, a sequence of one or more commands. The selected instance host instantiates a remote command executor. The remote command executor initiates configuration operations corresponding to the command sequence, and terminates. The selected control server provides a response to the instance configuration request, based at least in part on results of the operations initiated by the executor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for instance configuration on remote platforms are disclosed. A storage medium comprises program instructions to implement a control server configured to, in response to an instance configuration request directed to a network-accessible service implemented using resource instances whose configuration is managed from within the provider network, determine whether configuration operations corresponding to the request are to be performed at a remote platform external to the provider network. In response to determining that configuration operations are to be performed at a remote platform, the control server issues commands to a selected remote platform; otherwise, it issues commands to an instance host of the provider network. Based on results of the commands, the control server provides a response to the request.

Abstract: A customer submits a set of preferences including hardware specifications for instantiating a virtual machine instance. The virtual machine instance may be instantiated in a physical host computer system that does not conform to the set of preferences. The virtual computer system service may be configured to evaluate the specifications of the available physical host computer systems to determine whether any of the available physical host computer systems conform to the set of preferences. Accordingly, the virtual computer system service may further evaluate the available physical host computer systems to determine whether available physical host computer systems comprise available slots for instantiating the existing virtual machine instance. If the one or more available physical host computer systems have available slots, the virtual computer system service may migrate the existing virtual machine instance to an available physical host computer system in order to fulfill the customer request.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs, including using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. For example, a private pool of excess computing capacity may be maintained for a user based on unused dedicated program execution capacity allocated for that user, with the private pool of excess capacity being available for priority use by that user. Such private excess capacity pools may further in some embodiments be provided in addition to a general, non-private excess computing capacity pool that is available for use by multiple users, optionally including users who are associated with the private excess capacity pools. In some such situations, excess computing capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess capacity arises.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are described for pre-warming compute instances in datacenters. A service provider associated with the datacenters may expect a demand for the compute instances and pre-configure computing resources within the datacenters to pre-launch the compute instances. As such, when a user requests a compute instance, the service provider may satisfy the request by allocating a pre-warmed compute instance to the user.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating sharing of executable software images between users in a configurable manner. In at least some situations, the executable software images are virtual machine images, and while executing may access and use remote network-accessible services (e.g., Web services). In addition, some or all shared executable software images may be made available in a fee-based manner by creator users, such that execution of such a fee-based software image by a software image execution service on behalf of a user other than the creator user is performed in exchange for fees from the other user as specified by the creator user. The creator user may further receive at least some of the specified fees paid by the other user, such as at least some of a difference between the specified fees and fees charged by the software image execution service for the execution.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, a user can request that computer resources be reserved for guaranteed availability by the user (or others authorized by the user) during a future usage time period. For example, the user can request a desired amount of program execution capacity. The usage period can be flexibly chosen to meet the user's needs. The request can specify, for example, that a particular program be executed during the usage period, that only certain users be authorized to have access to the guaranteed availability computer resources, and so forth. The provider may charge a fee for the request and/or fees for access or use of the guaranteed availability computer resources during the usage period.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating sharing of executable software images between users in a configurable manner. In at least some situations, the executable software images are virtual machine images, and while executing may access and use remote network-accessible services (e.g., Web services). In addition, some or all shared executable software images may be made available in a fee-based manner by creator users, such that execution of such a fee-based software image by a software image execution service on behalf of a user other than the creator user is performed in exchange for fees from the other user as specified by the creator user. The creator user may further receive at least some of the specified fees paid by the other user, such as at least some of a difference between the specified fees and fees charged by the software image execution service for the execution.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, a user can request that computer resources be reserved for guaranteed availability by the user (or others authorized by the user) during a future usage time period. For example, the user can request a desired amount of program execution capacity. The usage period can be flexibly chosen to meet the user's needs. The request can specify, for example, that a particular program be executed during the usage period, that only certain users be authorized to have access to the guaranteed availability computer resources, and so forth. The provider may charge a fee for the request and/or fees for access or use of the guaranteed availability computer resources during the usage period.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, user requests are probabilistically denied or granted while some computing resources are still available. By denying some requests or granting only some, the rate of computing resource usage can be reduced, thus preserving some capacity for a longer period of time. In one embodiment, the capacity can be provided to clients based on client priority, provided to clients with reserved resources, provided to clients probabilistically, sold on a spot market, or allocated in some other fashion.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing notifications of computing resource availability for on-demand allocation. A resource request is received from a requesting application indicating the type, size, number, and other parameters of the computing resources desired. Upon determining that the requested computing resources are not immediately available, suitable alternative resources are determined based on the parameters of the requested resources. The availability of computing resources at the service provider is monitored, and when the requested resources or suitable alternatives become available, the requesting application is sent one or more resource availability notifications describing the available resources. The requesting application may then allocate the available resources from the service provider on-demand.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, user requests are probabilistically denied or granted while some computing resources are still available. By denying some requests or granting only some, the rate of computing resource usage can be reduced, thus preserving some capacity for a longer period of time. In one embodiment, the capacity can be provided to clients based on client priority, provided to clients with reserved resources, provided to clients probabilistically, sold on a spot market, or allocated in some other fashion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, user requests are probabilistically denied or granted while some computing resources are still available. By denying some requests or granting only some, the rate of computing resource usage can be reduced, thus preserving some capacity for a longer period of time. In one embodiment, the capacity can be provided to clients based on client priority, provided to clients with reserved resources, provided to clients probabilistically, sold on a spot market, or allocated in some other fashion.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs. In some situations, program execution is managed for multiple users using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. In some such situations, excess or otherwise unused program execution capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess program execution capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess program execution capacity arises. The excess program execution capacity may in some situations be provided in conjunction with other dedicated program execution capacity that is allocated to particular users, such as to use unused dedicated capacity of some users as excess capacity for other users. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fee-based program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple users of the service.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs, including using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. For example, a private pool of excess computing capacity may be maintained for a user based on unused dedicated program execution capacity allocated for that user, with the private pool of excess capacity being available for priority use by that user. Such private excess capacity pools may further in some embodiments be provided in addition to a general, non-private excess computing capacity pool that is available for use by multiple users, optionally including users who are associated with the private excess capacity pools. In some such situations, excess computing capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess capacity arises.