Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing multi-level service level agreements (SLAs) in cloud-based networks. A resource managing module can manage resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. In embodiments, the triggering events can be changeovers in time periods, or meeting or exceeding thresholds associated with end user operation of the resources in the cloud-based networks. The multi-level SLAs can specify how to adjust the resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of the triggering events. The resource managing module can adjust applicable resources in the cloud-based networks as specified by the multi-level SLAs.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying service dependencies in a cloud deployment. In particular, a deployment module can receive usage data from a host cloud comprising data related to end user operation of a set of services in the host cloud as well as service dependencies among the set of services. In embodiments, the deployment module can determine candidate target clouds in which to deploy the set of services. Further, in embodiments, the deployment module can determine whether the candidate target clouds have a capacity to support the set of services, as well as whether services within the candidate target clouds are compatible based on the service dependencies.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing third-party application programming interfaces in a collaboration space. A collaboration space, such as a wiki site, can host a set of collaboration tools and resources, including, for example, content tools, communication tools, and other resources for the users of the space. The collaboration space can also incorporate and expose a set of application programming interfaces, such as command and data-passing structures to permit users to invoke third-party applications and/or services from within the wiki site or other collaboration space. The set of applications/services be hosted on a remote server or co-hosted on the collaboration server, and can include, for instance, database, spreadsheet, media content, or other applications or services. The invoked applications/services can return data to the requesting user via the collaboration space. Users can subscribe to different applications and/or services available via the collaboration space.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the delivery of user-controlled resources in cloud environments via a resource specification language wrapper. In embodiments, the user of a client machine may wish to contribute resources from that machine to a cloud-based network via a network connection over a limited or defined period. To expose the user-controlled resources to one or more clouds for use the user may transmit a contribution request encoding the user-controlled resources in a specification language wrapper, such as an XML (extensible markup language) wrapper. The specification language wrapper can embed the set of user-controlled resources, such as processor time, memory, and/or other resources, in an XML or other format to transmit to a marketplace engine which can place the set of user-controlled resources into a resource pool, for selection by marketplace clouds. The specification language wrapper can indicate access controls or restrictions on the contributed resources.

Abstract: A cloud management system can be configured to monitor and allocate resources of a cloud computing environment. The cloud management system can be configured to receive a request to instantiate a virtual machine. In order to instantiate the virtual machine, the cloud management system can be configured to determine the current resource usage and available resources of the cloud in order to allocate resources to the requested virtual machine. The cloud management system can be configured to scale the resources of the cloud in the event that resources are not available for a requested virtual machine.

Abstract: A system and method include determining, by a processing device, a first duration of usage of a hardware resource on which a virtual machine is instantiated in a cloud, determining, by the processing device from the virtual machine on the cloud, a second duration of usage of a software resource that is utilized by a user on the virtual machine, the software resource comprising at least part of an operating system, and calculating, by the processing device, a usage of the cloud by the user in view of the first duration and the second duration.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing application programming interfaces in a collaboration space. A collaboration space, such as a wiki site, can host a set of collaboration tools and resources, including, for example, content tools, communication tools, and other resources for the users of the space. The collaboration space can also incorporate and expose a set of application programming interfaces, such as command and data-passing structures to permit users to invoke applications and/or services from within the wiki site or other collaboration space. The set of applications/services be hosted on a remote server or co-hosted on the collaboration server, and can include, for instance, database, spreadsheet, media content, or other applications or services. The invoked applications/services can return data to the requesting user via the collaboration space. Users can subscribe to different applications and/or services available via the collaboration space.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for embedding a cloud-based resource request in a specification language wrapper. In embodiments, a set of applications and/or a set of appliances can be registered to be instantiated in a cloud-based network. Each application or appliance can have an associated set of specified resources with which the user wishes to instantiate those objects. For example, a user may specify a maximum latency for input/output of the application or appliance, a geographic location of the supporting cloud resources, a processor throughput, or other resource specification to instantiate the desired object. According to embodiments, the set of requested resources can be embedded in a specification language wrapper, such as an XML object. The specification language wrapper can be transmitted to a marketplace to seek the response of available clouds which can support the application or appliance according to the specifications contained in the specification language wrapper.

Abstract: A metering tool can monitor the software resources of the cloud to meter the software utilization of the cloud. The metering tool can cooperate and communicate with a cloud management system to determine the software resources utilized by processes instantiated in the cloud and to track the duration of the utilization. The metering tool can store the tracked utilization in a record.

Abstract: A processor receives a request to access secure data. The processor translates the request in order to locate the secure data in a secure data store. The processor retrieves the secure data from the secure data store. The processor encodes the secure data to generate protected secure data. The processor transmits the protected secure data from the secure data store to at least one instantiated virtual machine in a cloud-based network.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying usage histories and end users that may benefit from being redeployed to a new cloud-based network. In particular, a new cloud can receive usage histories corresponding to end user usage in a respective set of other pre-existing clouds. In embodiments, the new cloud can determine whether the new cloud provides sufficient resources to properly host each end user recorded in the usage histories. Further, the new cloud can determine whether there is a cost benefit or other advantage for a user to move to the new cloud. In embodiments, a deployment recommendation may be sent to an administrator of the cloud associated with the desirable usage history.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor executing in a network cloud system, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud system that the virtual appliance monitor is to monitor, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated by a cloud management server device managing the network cloud system, managing, by the virtual appliance monitor, the set of virtual appliances in view of the receiving appliance state information, and terminating, by the cloud management server device, the virtual appliance monitor and the set of virtual appliances monitored by the virtual appliance monitor when a subscription period for the virtual appliance monitor and the set of virtual appliances expires.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for de-populating a cloud data store. In one method, an identification of a set of cloud-populated data to be transported from a set of host storage clouds to at least one target data store is received. The method identifies a data transport pathway from the set of host storage clouds to the at least one target data store, the data transport pathway including a dedicated reverse staging connection between the set of host storage clouds and the at least one target data store. The method initiates the transport of the set of cloud-populated data to the at least one target data store in view of a set of de-population commands.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the management of secure data in a cloud-based network. A secure data store can store sensitive or confidential data, such as account numbers, social security numbers, medical or other information in an on-premise data facility. Regulatory and/or operational requirements may prohibit the migration or unprotected transmission of the secure data to the cloud. An operator can instantiate a set of virtual machines to access and process the secure data, for example to process online purchase transactions. To prevent unauthorized disclosure of the secure data, the secure data store can receive data access requests via a translation module that translates the secure data. The secure data store can retrieve and transmit the secure data using a protection mechanism such as a masking and/or encryption mechanism, avoiding the unprotected transport or exposure of that data to the cloud.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for instantiating and operating a virtual appliance monitor in a network cloud environment. A method includes receiving, by a virtual appliance monitor, appliance state information representing an execution state of a virtual appliance of a set of virtual appliances instantiated in the network cloud, wherein the virtual appliance monitor is instantiated separately from the set of virtual appliances and configured to monitor the set of virtual appliances. The method further includes performing a control action to alter the execution state of the virtual appliance in response to conditions detected in the appliance state information.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying usage histories for producing optimized utilization in a cloud-based network. In particular, a target cloud can receive usage histories corresponding to end user usage in a respective set of other clouds. In embodiments, the target cloud can simulate an execution of the usage histories on resources in the target cloud to generate a set of utilization ratios. Further, the target cloud can determine a desirable usage history from the set of utilization ratios based on highly optimized resource usage within the target cloud. In embodiments, an administrator of the target cloud can provide a deployment recommendation to an administrator of the cloud associated with the desirable usage history.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for migrating software modules into one or more target clouds. The systems and methods can analyze system data to determine software modules supported by the system, and target cloud data to determine which target clouds have a capacity to support a migration of the software modules. In embodiments, benefits of migrating any or all of the software modules to the target clouds can be determined. Based on the benefits, the software modules of the system can be segmented and migrated into systems associated with the multiple target clouds.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing a software subscription between an independent software vendor (ISV) and a cloud network provider. In embodiments, the software subscription can be a Software as a Service (SaaS) agreement whereby an amount of resources of the cloud network to be operated by end users can be specified. In embodiments, a resource tracking module associated with the cloud network can track the actual amount of resources operated by the end users in executing applications associated with the ISV. The resource tracking module can compare the actual amount to the amount specified in the SaaS, and adjust the resources of the cloud network accordingly. In embodiments, the SaaS can be updated based on the adjustment.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for exporting usage history data as input to a management platform of a target cloud-based network. A usage export service can be abstracted and provided external to a host cloud-based network, which can capture the usage history of software or resources by one or more users in the host cloud-based network. Those user(s) or others may wish to export some or all of the usage history to a target cloud or clouds, to perform management or configuration actions in the target cloud(s). The selective subset of the usage history can be transmitted to the cloud management system of the target cloud-based network. The selective subset can be used for management actions in the target cloud(s), such as for instance, to instantiate or configure a set of virtual machines for failover or re-clouding purposes, or to aggregate usage history from the host and target cloud(s).

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for de-populating a cloud data store. In aspects, data from premise or other sources can be stored in a set of host storage clouds. A network administrator, owner, or other user can initiate the extraction of the set of cloud-populated data, and migrate that data to a set of step-down data stores, such as on-premise databases, servers, and/or other stores. A staging engine hosted in a cloud data distribution service can manage the discovery, reading-out, and delivery of the set of cloud-populated data to the set of step-down data stores. The staging engine can configure high-bandwidth data connections to the distribution service from the host storage clouds, and/or to the target step-down data stores from the data distribution service. A set of de-population commands can specify the connections, target data locations, file or directory formats, and/or other parameters to be used to re-locate the cloud-populated data.