US 8,806,486 B2 · Methods and systems for managing a virtual data center with embedded roles based access control

Abstract

Embodiments provide techniques for customers to easily, quickly and remotely manage their virtual data centers. Using, for example, a “single pane of glass” GUI view which shows all of the components (including e.g., machines (cpu and RAM), network services (load balancers, firewalls, network address translation, IP management) and storage) of their virtual data centers, provides a complete overview and a starting point for system or component management. According to embodiments, a Roles Based Access Control (RBAC) system is provided which simulates the organizational structure and workflow of a typical IT department to enable workflow management via the GUI for any component or function of a customer's virtual data center.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A virtual data center control system comprising:

a web server configured to generate a user interface (UI) which enables a user to remotely control elements of said virtual data center by instructing said virtual data center control system to perform an activity associated with any of said elements, said elements including virtual machines and at least one firewall;
an application server configured to receive a request to perform the activity from the web server and configured to execute one or more tasks which implement said activity, wherein said one or more tasks can be synchronous tasks or asynchronous tasks;
and
an interface configured to receive synchronous task commands from said web server and said asynchronous task commands from said application server and configured to transform said synchronous task commands and said asynchronous task commands into at least one of a hypervisor layer command, and to transmit said transformed commands toward a hypervisor layer.

1 more element

A method for remotely controlling a virtual data center, the method comprising:

generating, by a server, a user interface (UI) enabling control of said virtual data center, wherein said UI includes control elements which enable a user to control functions associated with virtual machines and at least one firewall;
receiving, at said server via said UI, a command to initiate a virtual data center control activity associated with one of the virtual machines and at least one firewall, or a command to add a new virtual machine to said virtual data center;
executing, by said server, one or more tasks to implement said virtual data center control activity;
determining, by said server, that said virtual data center control activity starts with a synchronous activity associated with obtaining information associated with said new virtual machine to be added;
receiving, at said server via said UI, said information;
determining, by said server, that said virtual data control activity continues with an asynchronous activity associated with setting up said new virtual machine;
and
setting up, by said server, said new virtual machine using said information.

5 more elements

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing a plurality of program instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor or computer, perform the functions comprising:

generating a user interface (UI) enabling control of a virtual data center;
receiving, via said UI, a command to initiate a virtual data center control activity;
determining whether said virtual data center control activity involves one or more asynchronous tasks;
scheduling, by a job engine, said one or more asynchronous tasks associated with said virtual data center control activity;
updating said UI in response to a status of said virtual data center control command;
receiving, as said command, a command to add a new virtual machine to said virtual data center;
determining that said virtual data center control activity starts with a synchronous activity associated with obtaining information associated with said new virtual machine to be added;
receiving said information;
determining that said virtual data control activity continues with an asynchronous activity associated with setting up said new virtual machine;
and
setting up said new virtual machine using said information.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and systems for managing a virtual data center with embedded roles based access control

Life of this patent

Methods and systems for managing a virtual data center with embedded roles based access control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40