# US 9,438,484 B2 · Managing multi-level service level agreements in cloud-based networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,484 B2 - Document ID: US9438484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/551,755 - Filed: 2014-11-24 - Published: 2015-03-19 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-28 - Assignees: Red Hat, Inc. - Applicants: Red Hat, Inc. - Inventors: James Michael Ferris; Gerry Edward Riveros - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438484B2 ## CPC - G06F 9/45533: {Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors} - G06F 9/5072: {Grid computing} - G06F 9/5077: {Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources (specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455)} - G06Q 10/0639: Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations - H04L 41/5019: Ensuring fulfilment of SLA - H04L 47/70: Admission control; Resource allocation - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Embodiments relate to managing multi-level service level agreements (SLAs) in cloud-based networks. A resource managing module can manage resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. In embodiments, the triggering events can be changeovers in time periods, or meeting or exceeding thresholds associated with end user operation of the resources in the cloud-based networks. The multi-level SLAs can specify how to adjust the resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of the triggering events. The resource managing module can adjust applicable resources in the cloud-based networks as specified by the multi-level SLAs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: identifying, by a processor, within a multi-level service level agreement (SLA) for a cloud network, a first commitment level indicating a first amount of resources needed by a first amount of instantiated virtual machines and a second commitment level indicating a second amount of resources needed by a second amount of instantiated virtual machines, the cloud network provided by a plurality of providers and including at least two providers; detecting a triggering event that indicates a change should be made from the first commitment level to the second commitment level; generating a resource aggregation table comprising a plurality of sets of resources in the cloud network, each set of resources from a provider, the resources in the set of resources in conformance with the second amount of resources identified by the second commitment level; selecting at least one set of resources from the plurality of sets from a first provider to meet the second commitment level; and adjusting, by the processor, resources used within the cloud network from the first commitment level to the second commitment level using the selected set of resources in response to detecting the triggering event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of instantiated virtual machines and the second amount of instantiated virtual machines are constant. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to the second amount of resources being greater than the first amount of resources, selecting the at least one set of resources from the plurality of sets from a second provider to meet the second commitment level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first provider is a private network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selected set of resources comprises at least one of a server, a device driver, a storage device, a database, a random access memory (RAM), a memory device, a processor, a multimedia card, or associated software. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the resources associated with the virtual machines in the cloud network comprises adjusting an amount of instantiated virtual machines within the cloud network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the resources associated with the virtual machines in the cloud network comprises: terminating a first set of virtual machines within the cloud network; and instantiating a second set of virtual machines within a second cloud network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event corresponds to a time period schedule. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event corresponds to an end user operation condition of the virtual machines in the cloud network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of resources supports a first application from a first independent software vendor (ISV). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an output report to a user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether terms of the multi-level SLA have been fulfilled or not fulfilled, wherein the output report to the user indicates whether the terms of the SLA have been fulfilled or not fulfilled. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying, within the multi-level SLA, a third commitment level indicating a third amount of instantiated virtual machines for the virtual machines in the cloud network; detecting a second triggering event that indicates a change should be made from the second commitment level to the third commitment level; and adjusting resources associated with the virtual machines in the cloud network from the second commitment level to the third commitment level in response to detecting the second triggering event. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: an interface to a cloud network and in which virtual machines are hosted; and a processor operatively coupled to the interface, the processor to: identify, within a multi-level service level agreement (SLA) for the cloud network, a first commitment level indicating a first amount of resources needed by a first amount of instantiated virtual machines and a second commitment level indicating a second amount of resources needed by a second amount of instantiated virtual machines, the cloud network provided by a plurality of providers and including at least two providers; detect a triggering event that indicates a change should be made from the first commitment level to the second commitment level; generate a resource aggregation table comprising a plurality of sets of resources in the cloud network, each set of resources from a provider, the resources in the set of resources in conformance with the second amount of resources identified by the second commitment level; select at least one set of resources from the plurality of sets from a first provider to meet the second commitment level; and adjust resources used within the cloud network from the first commitment level to the second commitment level using the selected set of resources in response to detecting the triggering event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein operating characteristics of the first amount of instantiated virtual machines and the second amount of instantiated virtual machines remain constant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: responsive to the second amount of resources being greater than the first amount of resources, select the at least one set of resources from the plurality of sets from a second provider to meet the second commitment level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first provider is a private network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the selected set of resources comprises at least one of a server, a device driver, a storage device, a database, a random access memory (RAM), a memory device, a processor, a multimedia card, or associated software. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein adjust the resources associated with the virtual machines in the cloud network comprises adjust an amount of instantiated virtual machines within the cloud network. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising data that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to: identify, by the processor, within a multi-level service level agreement (SLA) for a cloud network, a first commitment level indicating a first amount of resources needed by a first amount of instantiated virtual machines and a second commitment level indicating a second amount of resources needed by a second amount of instantiated virtual machines, the cloud network provided by a plurality of providers and including at least two providers; detect a triggering event that indicates a change should be made from the first commitment level to the second commitment level; generate a resource aggregation table comprising a plurality of sets of resources in the cloud network, each set of resources from a provider, the resources in the set of resources in conformance with the second amount of resources identified by the second commitment level; select at least one set of resources from the plurality of sets from a first provider to meet the second commitment level; and adjust, by the processor, resources used within the cloud network from the first commitment level to the second commitment level using the selected set of resources in response to detecting the triggering event.