Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for handling of bidirectional command protocols via a unidirectional communication connection established between a client computing environment and a cloud-services computing environment. In one embodiment, a command request message is pushed from a service component of the cloud-services computing environment to a client gateway of the client computing environment via the unidirectional communication connection. A token indicating routing information to the service component is embedded in the pushed command request message. A command response message is received at the cloud gateway from the client gateway via a bidirectional communication connection established between the client computing environment and the cloud-services computing environment. The command response message includes the token and data associated with executing the command request message at the client computing environment.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to intelligently select content items for provisioning. In one example, the apparatus includes content library querying circuitry that queries a subscription guide database table to generate a list of subscriber content items linked to a target published content item indicated in the request. The apparatus also includes content library selection circuitry to select a first content item from a group of content items that include the generated list of the subscriber content items and the target published content item, the first content item corresponds to a first data access cost that is less than or equal to a second data access cost of a second content item in the group. The apparatus also includes virtual machine provisioning circuitry to provision the virtual machine on the target host with access to the first content item.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for handling of bidirectional command protocols via a unidirectional communication connection established between a client computing environment and a cloud-services computing environment. In one embodiment, a command request message is pushed from a service component of the cloud-services computing environment to a client gateway of the client computing environment via the unidirectional communication connection. A token indicating routing information to the service component is embedded in the pushed command request message. A command response message is received at the cloud gateway from the client gateway via a bidirectional communication connection established between the client computing environment and the cloud-services computing environment. The command response message includes the token and data associated with executing the command request message at the client computing environment.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to intelligently select content items for provisioning. In one example, the apparatus includes content library querying circuitry that queries a subscription guide database table to generate a list of subscriber content items linked to a target published content item indicated in the request. The apparatus also includes content library selection circuitry to select a first content item from a group of content items that include the generated list of the subscriber content items and the target published content item, the first content item corresponds to a first data access cost that is less than or equal to a second data access cost of a second content item in the group. The apparatus also includes virtual machine provisioning circuitry to provision the virtual machine on the target host with access to the first content item.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to asynchronously monitor one or more provisioning tasks, the apparatus comprising: task monitor circuitry to monitor the one or more provisioning tasks, information provider circuitry to generate a task subscription corresponding to the one or more provisioning tasks, and asynchronous property collector circuitry to: create a property filter in the task subscription, request an indication of availability of a status update corresponding to the one or more provisioning tasks based on the property filter, asynchronously provision a second provisioning task that is not blocked by the one or more provisioning tasks, and in response to the availability of the status update, invoke a callback corresponding to a first completion status update or a first progress status update.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for handling of bidirectional command protocols via a unidirectional communication connection established between a client computing environment and a cloud-services computing environment. In one embodiment, a command request message is pushed from a service component of the cloud-services computing environment to a client gateway of the client computing environment via the unidirectional communication connection. A token indicating routing information to the service component is embedded in the pushed command request message. A command response message is received at the cloud gateway from the client gateway via a bidirectional communication connection established between the client computing environment and the cloud-services computing environment. The command response message includes the token and data associated with executing the command request message at the client computing environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for handling of bidirectional command protocols via a unidirectional communication connection established between a client computing environment and a cloud-services computing environment. In one embodiment, a command request message is pushed from a service component of the cloud-services computing environment to a client gateway of the client computing environment via the unidirectional communication connection. A token indicating routing information to the service component is embedded in the pushed command request message. A command response message is received at the cloud gateway from the client gateway via a bidirectional communication connection established between the client computing environment and the cloud-services computing environment. The command response message includes the token and data associated with executing the command request message at the client computing environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for handling of bidirectional command protocols via a unidirectional communication connection established between a client computing environment and a cloud-services computing environment. In one embodiment, a command request message is pushed from a service component of the cloud-services computing environment to a client gateway of the client computing environment via the unidirectional communication connection. A token indicating routing information to the service component is embedded in the pushed command request message. A command response message is received at the cloud gateway from the client gateway via a bidirectional communication connection established between the client computing environment and the cloud-services computing environment. The command response message includes the token and data associated with executing the command request message at the client computing environment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage virtual machines are described. An example method includes presenting a list of available basic blueprints, storing a multi-machine blueprint referencing a first basic blueprint for a first virtual machine from the list and a second basic blueprint for a second virtual machine from the list, and in response to a request to provision the multi-machine blueprint, the request including an identification of a first number of instances to be provisioned for the first virtual machine and a second number of instances to be provisioned for the second virtual machine, provisioning the first number of instances of the first virtual machine and the second number of instances of the second virtual machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reclaim resources in virtual computing environments are described. An example method includes determining, with a processor, if a characteristic of a virtual machine meets a threshold indicating that the virtual machine is inactive, in response to determining that the characteristic meets the threshold, determining, with the processor, if a notification period has expired, and if the notification period has expired, de-provisioning, with the processor, the virtual machine to return computing resources assigned to the virtual machine to a cloud.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage virtual machines are described. An example method includes presenting a list of available basic blueprints, storing a multi-machine blueprint referencing a first basic blueprint for a first virtual machine from the list and a second basic blueprint for a second virtual machine from the list, and in response to a request to provision the multi-machine blueprint, the request including an identification of a first number of instances to be provisioned for the first virtual machine and a second number of instances to be provisioned for the second virtual machine, provisioning the first number of instances of the first virtual machine and the second number of instances of the second virtual machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage execution of virtual machine workflows are described. An example method includes determining that an execution manager that has requested a first workflow for execution is tagged with a skill, selecting, from a queue, a virtual machine workflow that is tagged with the skill and that matches the requested first workflow; and transmitting the virtual machine workflow to the execution manager for execution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reclaim resources in virtual computing environments are described. An example method includes determining, with a processor, if a characteristic of a virtual machine meets a threshold indicating that the virtual machine is inactive, in response to determining that the characteristic meets the threshold, determining, with the processor, if a notification period has expired, and if the notification period has expired, de-provisioning, with the processor, the virtual machine to return computing resources assigned to the virtual machine to a cloud.