Abstract: Inventory data of software-defined data centers (SDDCs) are replicated across a group of management appliances of the SDDCs according to a desired state of the inventory data. The method of replication includes the steps of: comparing a timestamp of a first change item, which contains a change to a first item of the desired state, against a timestamp of the first item of the desired state; determining that the timestamp of the first change item has a time value that is after a time value of the timestamp of the first item; updating the first item of the desired state by applying the change to the first item included in the first change item; and issuing an instruction to one or more of the management appliances in the group to apply the desired state with the updated first item.

Abstract: Consistency in data that are replicated across a group of management appliances is preserved even when one of the management appliances is reverted to a snapshot thereof. A method of preserving consistence in such data includes: detecting that a first management appliance in the group has reverted to a snapshot thereof; and in response to such detecting, updating a desired state document for the group to remove data items in the desired state document that have been designated as local to the first management appliance, and instructing each of the management appliances in the group to apply the desired state document.

Abstract: System and computer-implemented method for license management of virtual appliances in a computing system uses an activated virtual appliance in the computing system to forward an activation license from a license server on behalf of an unactivated virtual appliance in the computing system.

Abstract: Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and devices are disclosed for rendering a visualization using a package to expand a statistical programming language. For example, a processor may load the package, which may comprise a plurality of application programming interfaces including a first application programming interface for generating a first object to contain a metadata set and a second application programming interface for generating a second object for rendering a visual output to present via a display. In one example, the metadata set includes content data and information regarding a formatting of at least one visualization based on the content data. The processor may further configure the first object via the first application programming interface, configure the second object via the second application programming interface, and render the visual output via the second object, the visual output including the at least one visualization.