Methods and systems that provide a general query interface to multiple management services and applications

A method that provides a universal-query interface to multiple management applications and/or services that provide management services for a cloud-computing facility, distributed computer system, or virtual data center, the method comprising:

• receiving universal-query-language query through a universal-query interface;
• generating a universal-query-language abstract syntax tree corresponding to the received query;
• identifying verifiable elements within the universal-query-language abstract syntax tree;
• calling one or more semantic providers, each semantic provider associated with a management application or service, through which the query-processing logic obtains indications of the validity of, and semantic information for, the identified verifiable elements;
• calling a translator, associated with a management application or service, to translate the universal-query-language abstract syntax tree to a native query;
• and
• calling a service adapter, associated with a management application or service, to schedule execution of the native query by the management application and/or service.

A physical data-storage device encoded with computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors within on or more computer systems, control the one or more computer systems to provide a universal-query interface to multiple management applications and/or services that provide management services for a cloud-computing facility, distributed computer system, or virtual data center by:

• receiving universal-query-language query through a universal-query interface;
• generating a universal-query-language abstract syntax tree corresponding to the received query;
• identifying verifiable elements within the universal-query-language abstract syntax tree;
• calling one or more semantic providers, each semantic provider associated with a management application or service, through which the query-processing logic obtains indications of the validity of, and semantic information for, the identified verifiable elements;
• calling a translator, associated with a management application or service, to translate the universal-query-language abstract syntax tree to a native query;
• and
• calling a service adapter, associated with a management application or service, to schedule execution of the native query by the management application and/or service.