Method and apparatus for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using application deployment template

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of applications in automated data centers using an application deployment template. A first mechanism is provided to deploy multiple instances of applications using an application deployment plan template. The first mechanism uses deployment parameter sets to generate corresponding deployment plans based on the deployment template. A second mechanism is provided to instantiate multiple instances of applications using deployment plan templates. A service catalog that is exposed to consumers for selection of catalog items is built on top of the second mechanism. During the cataloging and order fulfillment process, the second mechanism instantiates multiple instances of applications using the generated deployment plans and an application model to deploy multiple application instances. An existing order may also be modified or terminated responsive to a user request or service term expiration.

1 . A method in a data processing system for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of an application in a data center, the method comprising: 
 creating a deployment plan template for the application, wherein the deployment plan template includes configuration settings of the application;    defining a set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed;    associating the deployment plan template with the set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed;    generating a set of deployment plans, wherein each deployment plan in the set of deployment plans corresponds to the set of deployment parameters; and    deploying multiple instances of the application into the data center using the set of deployment plans, wherein each instance of the application is unique.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 creating a service catalog item by referring to the deployment plan template;    inheriting the set of deployment parameters as a set of service parameters for the service catalog item;    defining a set of service parameters that is specific to the service catalog item;    defining a set of service parameters that persists across multiple application instances; and    placing the service catalog item in a service catalog.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 responsive to an order placed by a user for a service catalog item, processing the order by resolving the set of service parameters; and    responsive to processing the order, fulfilling the order, wherein the fulfilling step comprises:    reserving resources of the data center; and    provisioning a service for the order.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 responsive to receiving a modify order comprising a modified service catalog item, modifying an existing service, wherein the modifying step comprises:    modifying an existing application instance using one of a same and additional set of deployment parameters.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 responsive to one of a user termination and a service term expiration, deprovisioning a service, wherein the deprovisioning step comprises:    undeploying an existing application instance; and    releasing resources occupied by the existing application instance.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration settings include at least one of: network configurations, operating systems which the application runs on, and combinations of software stack supporting the application.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the reserving step comprises: 
 creating an application model for a service of the service catalog item;    generating a deployment plan from the deployment plan template for the application, wherein the deployment plan is generated using resolved service parameters and order parameters; and    saving the deployment plan along with the application model.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the provisioning step comprises: 
 generating an application instance based on information obtained from the created application model and the generated deployment plan; and    deploying the application instance into the data center.    
   
   
       9 . A data processing system comprising: 
 a bus;    a memory connected to the bus, wherein a set of instructions are located in the memory; and    a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to create a deployment plan template for the application, wherein the deployment plan template includes configuration settings of the application; define a set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed; associate the deployment plan template with the set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed; and generate a set of deployment plans, wherein each deployment plan in the set of deployment plans corresponds to the set of deployment parameters; and deploy multiple instances of the application into the data center using the set of deployment plans, wherein each instance of the application is unique.    
   
   
       10 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing unit further executes the set of instructions to create a service catalog item by referring to the deployment plan template; inherit the set of deployment parameters as a set of service parameters for the service catalog item; define a set of service parameters that is specific to the service catalog item; define a set of service parameters that persists across multiple application instances; and place the service catalog item in a service catalog.  
   
   
       11 . The data processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit further executes the set of instructions to process the order by resolving the set of service parameters responsive to an order placed by a user for a service catalog item; and fulfill the order responsive to processing the order, wherein the processing unit in executing the set of instructions to fulfill the order, reserves resources of the data center, and provisions a service for the order.  
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit further executes the set of instructions to modify an existing service responsive to receiving a modify order comprising a modified service catalog item, wherein the processing unit, in executing the set of instructions to modify the existing service, modifies an existing application instance using one of a same and an additional set of deployment parameters.  
   
   
       13 . The data processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit further executes the set of instructions to deprovision a service responsive to one of a user termination and a service term expiration, wherein the processing unit, in executing the set of instructions to deprovision a service, undeploys an existing application instance, and releases resources occupied by the existing application instance.  
   
   
       14 . A computer program product embodied in a computer usable medium for deploying and instantiating multiple instances of an application in a data center, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions for creating a deployment plan template for the application, wherein the deployment plan template includes configuration settings of the application;    second instructions for defining a set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed;    third instructions for associating the deployment plan template with the set of deployment parameters for each instance of the application to be deployed;    fourth instructions for generating a set of deployment plans, wherein each deployment plan in the set of deployment plans corresponds to the set of deployment parameters; and    fifth instructions for deploying multiple instances of the application into the data center using the set of deployment plans, wherein each instance of the application is unique.    
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 sixth instructions for creating a service catalog item by referring to the deployment plan template;    seventh instructions for inheriting the set of deployment parameters as a set of service parameters for the service catalog item;    eighth instructions for defining a set of service parameters that is specific to the service catalog item;    ninth instructions for defining a set of service parameters that persist across multiple application instances; and    tenth instructions for placing the service catalog item in a service catalog.    
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 eleventh instructions for processing the order by resolving the set of service parameters responsive to an order placed by a user for a service catalog item responsive to an order placed by a user for a service catalog item; and    twelfth instructions for fulfilling the order responsive to processing the order, wherein the twelfth instructions comprise:    first sub-instructions for reserving resources of the data center; and    second sub-instructions for provisioning a service for the order.    
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 eleventh instructions for modifying an existing service responsive to receiving a modify order comprising a modified service catalog item, wherein the eleventh instructions comprise:    sub-instructions for modifying an existing application instance using one of a same and an additional sets of deployment parameters.    
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 eleventh instructions for deprovisioning a service responsive to one of a user termination and a service term expiration, wherein the eleventh instructions comprise:    first sub-instructions for undeploying an existing application instance; and    second sub-instructions for releasing resources occupied by the existing application instance.