User-configurable alerts for computing servers

An apparatus comprising:

• a data-communication system including a plurality of data-communication servers configurable as a set of virtual servers (“virtual server set”);
• a user interface, as part of a data-processor computer circuit, configured to be operated on behalf of one of a plurality of accounts served by the data-communication system and to cause configuration of the virtual server set to be used in a virtual data center for said one of the plurality of accounts;
• wherein the data-communication system, via the virtual server set, is configured to process different types of data communications as part of data communications services linked to said one of the plurality of accounts, and the different types of the data communications processed as part of the data communications services include voice-over-IP services and at least one additional service from among the following services for web hosting, virtual meetings, billing, remote computing, call routing, load balancing, and switch board services through use of a private branch exchange;
• and
• a data-processing circuit, communicatively-coupled to the virtual server set and to be operated on behalf of said one of the plurality of accounts, to:
• determine at least one operating state concerning the virtual server set;
• access an alert policy;
• assess whether the at least one operating state of the virtual server set, relative to alert criteria indicated in the alert policy, deems that an alert message to one or more users specified in the alert policy should be sent, wherein the alert criteria is specified as a function of at least one of:
• response time, latency of the virtual server set, a number of current users identifiable via the virtual server set, and a quality of service provided by the virtual server set;
• and
• provide optional actions in association with the alert message, the optional actions enabling configuration of two or more of:
• the data communications services, the virtual data center, or the alert policy.

An apparatus for use in a data-communication system including a plurality of data-communication servers configurable as a set of virtual servers (“virtual server set”), the apparatus comprising:

• a data-processor computer circuit configured to:
• provide a user interface that is to be operated on behalf of one of a plurality of accounts served by the data-communication system and to cause configuration of the virtual server set to be used in a virtual data center for said one of the plurality of accounts;
• cause the virtual server set to process different types of data communications as part of data communications services linked to said one of the plurality of accounts, and the different types of the data communications processed as part of the data communications services include voice-over-IP services and at least one additional service from among the following services for web hosting, virtual meetings, billing, remote computing, call routing, load balancing, and switch board services through use of a private branch exchange, wherein the virtual server set is configured to process the different types of data communications as part of the data communications services via communications provided through the data-communication system;
• determine at least one operating state concerning the virtual server set;
• access an alert policy;
• assess whether the at least one operating state of the virtual server set, relative to alert criteria indicated in the alert policy, deems that an alert message to one or more users specified in the alert policy should be sent;
• and
• providing optional actions in in association with the alert message, the optional actions enabling configuration of two or more of:
• the data communications services, the virtual data center, or the alert policy.

A method comprising:

• configuring, via a user interface operable on behalf of one of a plurality of accounts, a virtual data center for said one of the plurality of accounts which enables a plurality of virtual servers (“virtual server set”) to be used in the virtual data center, wherein the virtual data center includes a plurality of computing servers that are configurable to provide the virtual server set for said one of the plurality of accounts;
• processing, via the virtual server set, different types of data communications as part of data communications services linked to said one of the plurality of accounts, wherein the different types of the data communications processed as part of the data communications services include voice-over-IP services and at least one additional service from among the following services for web hosting, virtual meetings, billing, remote computing, call routing, load balancing, and switch board services through use of a private branch exchange;
• and
• via a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the virtual server set and on behalf of said one of the plurality of accounts:
• determining at least one operating state concerning the virtual server set;
• accessing an alert policy;
• assessing whether the at least one operating state of the virtual server set, relative to alert criteria indicated in the alert policy, deems that an alert message to one or more users specified in the alert policy should be sent;
• and
• providing optional actions in association with the alert message, the optional actions enabling configuration of two or more of:
• the data communications services, the virtual data center, or the alert policy.

A method comprising:

• configuring, via a user interface operable on behalf of one of a plurality of accounts, a virtual data center for said one of the plurality of accounts which enables a plurality of virtual servers (“virtual server set”) to be used in the virtual data center,
• processing, via the virtual server set, different types of data communications as part of data communications services linked to said one of the plurality of accounts, wherein the different types of the data communications processed as part of the data communications services include voice-over-IP services and at least one additional service from among the following services for web hosting, virtual meetings, billing, remote computing, call routing, load balancing, and switch board services through use of a private branch exchange;
• using, via a user Internet-communication-enabled device, the data communications services through permission granted through said one of the plurality of accounts;
• and
• via a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the virtual server set and on behalf of said one of the plurality of accounts:
• determining at least one operating state concerning the virtual server set;
• accessing an alert policy;
• assessing whether the at least one operating state of the virtual server set, relative to alert criteria indicated in the alert policy, deems that an alert message to one or more users specified in the alert policy should be sent;
• and
• providing optional actions in association with the alert message, the optional actions enabling configuration of two or more of:
• the data communications services, the virtual data center, or the alert policy.