Update coordination in a multi-tenant cloud computing environment

A computer-readable storage device configured with software which upon execution performs a method of coordinating updates in a multi-tenant cloud computing environment, the method comprising:

• an update coordinator receiving an infrastructure update request from a cloud computing infrastructure service provider, the infrastructure update request specifying an infrastructure update to at least one infrastructure component of the cloud computing environment;
• the update coordinator receiving a tenant update request from a tenant of the cloud computing environment, the tenant update request specifying an update which is limited to tenant software that is specific to that tenant;
• coordinating the update requests to reduce downtime;
• and
• performing at least one of the updates in a manner consistent with a result of the coordinating step.

A system which coordinates competing updates in a cloud computing environment, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory in operable communication with the processor;
• one or more priority specifications residing in the memory;
• and
• an update coordinator including instructions residing in the memory which are executable by the processor to perform a method which includes (a) the update coordinator receiving a first update request from a first update requester specifying a first update to at least part of the cloud computing environment, (b) the update coordinator receiving a second update request from a second update requester specifying a second update to at least part of the cloud computing environment, the update requesters being distinct entities, and (c) coordinating the update requests to control performance of at least one update including at least one of the following acts based on priorities in the one or more priority specifications:
• (i) resolving a conflict between update requests from independently controlled tenants of the cloud computing environment, (ii) resolving a conflict when one update requester is a tenant of the cloud computing environment and the other update requester is a cloud computing infrastructure service provider that provides infrastructure services to multiple independently controlled tenants, or (iii) resolving a conflict when one update request has security as a highest priority and the other update request does not have security as the highest priority.