Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for allowing a user to capture a set of values for a set of input parameters in a template that may be used for present and/or future provisioning of virtual resources. Under this approach, the template may be managed within a networked computing environment (e.g., cloud computing environment) for future use by the creating user or other authorized users. The next time the user is interacting with the environment, the set of templates available may be accessed, and the user can select/utilize a previously stored template. Once a template is chosen, the user may initiate a provisioning request from the environment's interface(s), which may include graphical user interfaces (GUIs), command lines, application programming interfaces (APIs), etc. In any event, the user may also have the opportunity to update any saved data and/or provide additional data.

Abstract: Co-locating a virtual machine with nested virtualization, in one aspect, may comprise receiving a list of one or more virtual machine instances to co-locate with associated configuration information. A parent virtual machine instance may be identified to host the one or more virtual machine instances. Virtual machine images associated with the one or more virtual machine instances may be consolidated. A composite parent virtual machine image may be created based on the consolidated virtual machine images and the parent virtual machine instance. The parent virtual machine instance may be configured to accommodate for capacity requirement of the one or more child virtual machine instances. The parent virtual machine instance may be started on a processor via the composite parent virtual machine image. The one or more virtual machine instances may be started within the parent virtual machine instance as one or more child virtual machine instances.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling resiliency for cloud computing systems is provided. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform actions. The actions include modifying a topology graph of a network architecture by mapping processes flows onto the topology graph and creating a resiliency graph based on the modified topology graph. The actions also include modifying the resiliency graph by translating at least one SLA into the resiliency graph and identifying overlaps and dependencies in the modified resiliency graph. Apparatus and computer readable instructions are also described.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for non-intrusive cloud services billing, including storing service log files in a data store, wherein each of the service log files include a lifecycle event of a resource in a service produced by an instance of the service. A log transformer connected to the data store converts the service log files into a standardized format. A metering descriptor describing billable entities for each offering of the service is obtained, wherein each offering of the service has a different metering descriptor, and wherein the billable entities include multiple categories of billing. A billing record generator connected to the log transformer is programmed, wherein the billing record generator converts standardized log records into metering records. The billing record generator generates a metering record with one or more of the service log files in the standardized format and the metering descriptor.

Abstract: An approach for querying and managing/manipulating network computing resources (e.g., cloud computing resources) is provided. Typically, an interpreter component may be implemented so that a language describing such computing resources may be interpreted. The interpreter component may include other components such as a request processor, a provisioning queue, an execution engine, a results store, and response marshaller/handler that collaborate to manage the computing resources. Such computing resources may, for example, include virtual machine instances, virtual machine images, storage volumes, network resources, files, software bundles, etc.

Abstract: Co-locating a virtual machine with nested virtualization, in one aspect, may comprise receiving a list of one or more virtual machine instances to co-locate with associated configuration information. A parent virtual machine instance may be identified to host the one or more virtual machine instances. Virtual machine images associated with the one or more virtual machine instances may be consolidated. A composite parent virtual machine image may be created based on the consolidated virtual machine images and the parent virtual machine instance. The parent virtual machine instance may be configured to accommodate for capacity requirement of the one or more child virtual machine instances. The parent virtual machine instance may be started on a processor via the composite parent virtual machine image. The one or more virtual machine instances may be started within the parent virtual machine instance as one or more child virtual machine instances.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed for enhancing mobile-device operation by resource sharing and/or pooling. The approach can be implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to trigger a first device to share content or request functionality of any of a plurality of other devices. The programming instructions can further be operable to discover a candidate device that is capable of receiving the content or a request to provide the functionality. The programming instructions can further be operable to determine that the candidate device can receive the content or provide the functionality based on predetermined criteria. The programming instructions can further be operable to establish a connection with the candidate device. The programming instructions can further be operable to send the content from the first device to the candidate device or receive functionality from the candidate device.

Abstract: A method for enabling resiliency for cloud computing systems is described. The method includes modifying a topology graph of a network architecture by mapping processes flows onto the topology graph. A resiliency graph is created based on the modified topology graph. The method includes modifying the resiliency graph by translating at least one SLA into the resiliency graph. Overlaps and dependencies in the modified resiliency graph are identified. Apparatus and computer readable instructions are also described.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed for enhancing mobile-device operation by resource sharing and/or pooling. The approach can be implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to trigger a first device to share content or request functionality of any of a plurality of other devices. The programming instructions can further be operable to discover a candidate device that is capable of receiving the content or a request to provide the functionality. The programming instructions can further be operable to determine that the candidate device can receive the content or provide the functionality based on predetermined criteria. The programming instructions can further be operable to establish a connection with the candidate device. The programming instructions can further be operable to send the content from the first device to the candidate device or receive functionality from the candidate device.

Abstract: An approach for managing a family tree archive is provided. The approach includes creating an electronic archive based on a family tree. The approach also includes automatically discovering Internet-based data associated with at least one member of the family tree. The approach additionally includes adding the Internet-based data to the archive. The approach further includes storing the archive at a storage device.

Abstract: In general, the embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for rebalancing/reallocating cloud resource capacities between resource pools that provide variable customer assurances and delivery penalties when assurances are not met. The variables that are considered hereunder include, overall ‘reservations’, total current capacity, remaining capacity against unused reservations and penalties that apply for failing to satisfy ‘reservation’ commitments. The approach uses a rate of capacity consumption to calculate the risk of consuming the available capacity in each resource pool (e.g., resource pools allocated to satisfy different levels of service with different SLA failure penalties). Based on the relative available capacity in each pool (as determined by the pool rate of consumption), resources are reallocated to maximize revenue (e.g., reduce financial penalty) across a resource pool set.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling resiliency for cloud computing systems is provided. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing computer program code. The memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform actions. The actions include modifying a topology graph of a network architecture by mapping processes flows onto the topology graph and creating a resiliency graph based on the modified topology graph. The actions also include modifying the resiliency graph by translating at least one SLA into the resiliency graph and identifying overlaps and dependencies in the modified resiliency graph. Apparatus and computer readable instructions are also described.

Abstract: In general, the embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for rebalancing/reallocating cloud resource capacities between resource pools that provide variable customer assurances and delivery penalties when assurances are not met. The variables that are considered hereunder include, overall ‘reservations’, total current capacity, remaining capacity against unused reservations and penalties that apply for failing to satisfy ‘reservation’ commitments. The approach uses a rate of capacity consumption to calculate the risk of consuming the available capacity in each resource pool (e.g., resource pools allocated to satisfy different levels of service with different SLA failure penalties). Based on the relative available capacity in each pool (as determined by the pool rate of consumption), resources are reallocated to maximize revenue (e.g., reduce financial penalty) across a resource pool set.

Abstract: An approach for managing a family tree archive is provided. The approach includes creating an electronic archive based on a family tree. The approach also includes automatically discovering Internet-based data associated with at least one member of the family tree. The approach additionally includes adding the Internet-based data to the archive. The approach further includes storing the archive at a storage device.

Abstract: Approaches for problem determination and resolution process cross communication are provided. Embodiments provide cross communication of a problem determination and resolution among similar data center devices. Specifically, symptoms of an error condition encountered for one data center device are captured by a first enterprise group, along with an associated resolution solution, and made available to an another enterprise group managing a commonly configured data center device, which may be faced with a similar error condition. The error signature and resolution steps captured by the first enterprise group are subsequently made available within and across multiple management domains operating within a common model (e.g., a publication-subscription system). Within this model, both the originator of the error determination and resolution (i.e., publisher), and one or more commonly configured data center devices susceptible to the same error condition (i.e.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. These perform the following: accessing records of previous usage within a billing period of service units for customers, wherein the service units are discrete sizes of services for resource types, wherein each usage of an individual one of the service units has start and stop events, and wherein each resource type has a price fixed as of a date of the previous usage; dividing the billing period into time periods determined using the start and stop events for the usage of all of the service units; using the accessed records and the time periods and based on one or more criteria, assigning resource types to the previous usage in the time periods of the service units by the customers; and determining total charge for a selected customer based on the assignments of the resource types and corresponding prices for the selected customer.

Abstract: A system and method for associating a state with a distributed system and transitioning component states with recovery to reverse transitioning attempts includes defining a global state representing an overall provisioning state of a plurality of components involved in a system wherein a set of global states are employed as provisioning checkpoints. Individual software component methods are defined for transitioning from one state to another. Individual states are associated with a global state. A rollback method is defined by which a destination global state may be rolled back to a previous global state in an event of a failure.

Abstract: An approach for querying and managing/manipulating network computing resources (e.g., cloud computing resources) is provided. Typically, an interpreter component may be implemented so that a language describing such computing resources may be interpreted. The interpreter component may include other components such as a request processor, a provisioning queue, an execution engine, a results store, and response marshaller/handler that collaborate to manage the computing resources. Such computing resources may, for example, include virtual machine instances, virtual machine images, storage volumes, network resources, files, software bundles, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for selection of print services in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a request (e.g., comprising a print job) is received from a user, and a print template is identified. The print template generally comprises a set of parameters (e.g., paper size, colors, etc.) for printing the print job request. A location of the user will be determined, and a set of printers (e.g., within a predetermined proximity of the location) that is capable of printing the job in accordance with the set of parameters is identified. Thereafter, a particular printer will be identified from the set of printers based on a set of service level commitments (e.g., a desired distance from the location, a queue length, etc.). The job can then be sent to the particular printer for printing.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed for enhancing mobile-device operation by resource sharing and/or pooling. The approach can be implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to trigger a first device to share content or request functionality of any of a plurality of other devices. The programming instructions can further be operable to discover a candidate device that is capable of receiving the content or a request to provide the functionality. The programming instructions can further be operable to determine that the candidate device can receive the content or provide the functionality based on predetermined criteria. The programming instructions can further be operable to establish a connection with the candidate device. The programming instructions can further be operable to send the content from the first device to the candidate device or receive functionality from the candidate device.