System and Method for Distributed Management of Shared Computers

Abstract

A multi-tiered server management architecture is employed including an application development tier, an application operations tier, and a cluster operations tier. In the application development tier, applications are developed for execution on one or more server computers. In the application operations tier, execution of the applications is managed and sub-boundaries within a cluster of servers can be established. In the cluster operations tier, operation of the server computers is managed without concern for what applications are executing on the one or more server computers and boundaries between clusters of servers can be established. The multi-tiered server management architecture can also be employed in co-location facilities where clusters of servers are leased to tenants, with the tenants implementing the application operations tier and the facility owner (or operator) implementing the cluster operations tier.

1 . A computer comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory, coupled to the processor, to store a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising: 
 allowing a tenant to which a cluster of one or more computers at a facility have been leased to communicate with the one or more computers, wherein the allowing comprises establishing secure communications channels between the one or more computers and a corresponding tenant operations management console;  
 implementing cluster boundaries at the facility to prevent computers within the cluster from communicating with computers in another cluster, wherein the cluster boundaries are implemented at a first tier of a multi-tiered management architecture; and  
 allowing the tenant operations management console, implemented in a second tier of the multi-tiered management architecture, to establish sub-boundaries within the cluster.  
   
   
   
       2 . A computer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises a co-location facility.  
   
   
       3 . A computer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the sub-boundaries within the cluster prevents one or more computers in the cluster from communicating with one or more other computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       4 . A computer as recited in  claim 1 , the plurality of instructions further causing the processor to perform acts comprising: 
 performing at least some management of the one or more computers via a landlord operations management console; and    establishing secure communications channels between each of the one or more computers and the landlord operations management console.    
   
   
       5 . A computer as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the landlord operations management console is located at the facility.  
   
   
       6 . A computer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cluster includes one or more additional computers that have not been leased to the tenant.  
   
   
       7 . A computer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the implementing cluster boundaries comprises adding one or more filters to each of the one or more computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       8 . A computer as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the implementing cluster boundaries further comprises including, in filters of each of the one or more computers, the addresses of the other computers at the facility that are not in the cluster.  
   
   
       9 . A computer as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries comprises allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries within the cluster to prevent one or more computers in the cluster from communicating with one or more other computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       10 . A computer as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries comprises allowing the tenant operations management console to add one or more additional filters to one or more computers in the cluster, wherein each of the one or more additional filters is at least as restrictive as the one or more filters added in implementing the cluster boundaries.  
   
   
       11 . A system comprising: 
 means for allowing a tenant to which a cluster of one or more computers at a facility have been leased to communicate with the one or more computers, wherein the means for allowing comprises means for establishing secure communications channels between the one or more computers and a corresponding tenant operations management console;    means for implementing cluster boundaries at the facility to prevent computers within the cluster from communicating with computers in another cluster, wherein the cluster boundaries are implemented at a first tier of a multi-tiered management architecture; and    means for allowing the tenant operations management console, implemented in a second tier of the multi-tiered management architecture, to establish sub-boundaries within the cluster.    
   
   
       12 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the facility comprises a co-location facility.  
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of the sub-boundaries within the cluster prevents one or more computers in the cluster from communicating with one or more other computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for performing at least some management of the one or more computers via a landlord operations management console; and    means for establishing secure communications channels between each of the one or more computers and the landlord operations management console.    
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the landlord operations management console is located at the facility.  
   
   
       16 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cluster includes one or more additional computers that have not been leased to the tenant.  
   
   
       17 . A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means for implementing cluster boundaries comprises means for adding one or more filters to each of the one or more computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       18 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the means for implementing cluster boundaries further comprises means for including, in filters of each of the one or more computers, the addresses of the other computers at the facility that are not in the cluster.  
   
   
       19 . A system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the means for allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries comprises means for allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries within the cluster to prevent one or more computers in the cluster from communicating with one or more other computers in the cluster.  
   
   
       20 . A system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the means for allowing the tenant operations management console to establish sub-boundaries comprises means for allowing the tenant operations management console to add one or more additional filters to one or more computers in the cluster, wherein each of the one or more additional filters is at least as restrictive as the one or more filters added in implementing the cluster boundaries.