Method and apparatus for template-based provisioning in a service delivery environment

Abstract

A method for automated provisioning of computing resources in a distributed computing network includes obtaining a data structure representing a resource dependency characterization of an application to be implemented over the distributed computing network, wherein the data structure indicates a set of resources to be deployed, obtaining a template that represents a predefined network topology for supporting deployment of the set of resources, mapping the set of resources represented in the data structure to the template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a deployment map, and provisioning the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the deployment map to implement the application over the distributed computing network.

1 . A method for automated provisioning of computing resources in a distributed computing network, the method comprising:
 obtaining a data structure representing a resource dependency characterization of an application to be implemented over the distributed computing network, wherein the data structure indicates a set of resources to be deployed;   obtaining a template that represents a predefined network topology for supporting deployment of the set of resources;   mapping the set of resources indicated in the data structure to the template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a deployment map; and   provisioning the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the deployment map to implement the application over the distributed computing network.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein obtaining the data structure comprises:
 receiving a provisioning-solution artifact, which represents a binary code that realizes a function of the application to be implemented; and   analyzing the provisioning-solution artifact to determine the dependency graph.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the data structure is a dependency graph having a plurality of nodes indicative of the set of resources to be deployed. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the provisioning-solution artifact comprises:
 providing a repository containing at least one provisioning-solution artifact;   providing a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI allows a user to browse for a path to a provisioning-solution artifact and set the path.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the template is a directed graph in which nodes represent functional capabilities and edges represent communication paths. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the template comprises:
 providing a repository containing a plurality of templates;   providing a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI allows a user to select a template identifier from a list of template identifiers for uniquely identifying each of the plurality of templates stored in the repository;   receiving a user-input template identifier via the GUI; and   retrieving one of the plurality of templates from the repository based on the user-input template identifier.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of component requirements are analyzed to determine the mapping of the resources indicated in the data structure to the template. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein provisioning comprises implementing changes for at least one of hardware, software, network or storage resources based on the mapping of resources represented in the data structure to the template. 
   
   
       9 . A system for automated provisioning of computing resources in a distributed computing network, the system comprising:
 a memory device for storing a program of instructions;   a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program of instructions to:   obtain a data structure representing a resource dependency characterization of an application to be implemented over the distributed computing network, wherein the data structure indicates a set of resources to be deployed;   obtain a template that represents a predefined network topology for supporting deployment of the set of resources;   map the set of resources represented in the data structure to the nodes of the template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a deployment map; and   provision the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the deployment map to implement the application over the distributed computing network.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the data structure is a dependency graph. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the template is a directed graph in which the nodes represent functional capabilities and edges represent communication paths. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program of instructions to analyze the set of component requirements to determine the mapping of the resources represented in the data structure to the nodes of the template. 
   
   
       13 . A method for automated provisioning of software components in a distributed computing network, the method comprising:
 obtaining a mapping of a set of resources to nodes of a first template, the first template having a plurality of nodes that follow a first predefined network topology for supporting a first deployment of the set of resources;   obtaining a second template having a plurality of nodes that follow a second predefined network topology for supporting a second deployment of the set of resources;   migrating the set of resources represented in the nodes of the first template to the nodes in the second template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a redeployment map; and   provisioning the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the redeployment map to implement an application over the distributed computing network.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the mapping comprises:
 receiving a provisioning-solution artifact, which represents a binary code that realizes at least one function of an application to be implemented;   analyzing the provisioning-solution artifact to determine a dependency graph representing a resource dependency characterization of the application to be implemented over the distributed computing network; and   mapping the set of resources represented in the dependency graph to the nodes of the first template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving the provisioning-solution artifact comprises:
 providing a repository containing at least one provisioning-solution artifact;   providing a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI allows a user to browse for a path to the provisioning-solution artifact and set the path.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first template and the second template are directed graphs in which the nodes represent functional capabilities of resources and the edges represent communication paths. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the second template comprises:
 providing a repository containing a plurality of templates;   providing a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI allows a user to select a second template identifier from a list of template identifiers for uniquely identifying each of the plurality of templates stored in the repository;   receiving a user-input second template identifier via the GUI; and   retrieving one of the plurality of templates from the repository based on the user-input second template identifier.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the set of component requirements are analyzed to determine the migration of the resources represented in the nodes of the first template to the nodes of the second template. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein provisioning comprises implementing changes for at least one of hardware, software, network or storage resources based on the deployment map. 
   
   
       20 . A system for automated provisioning of software components in a distributed computing network, the system comprising:
 a memory device for storing a program of instructions;   a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program of instructions to:   obtain a mapping of a set of resources to nodes of a first template, the first template having a plurality of nodes that follow a first predefined network topology for supporting a first deployment of a set of resources;   obtain a second template having a plurality of nodes that follow a second predefined network topology for supporting a second deployment of the set of resources;   migrate the set of resources represented in the nodes of first template to the nodes in the second template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a redeployment map; and   provision the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the redeployment map to implement an application over the distributed computing network.   
   
   
       21 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for automated provisioning of computing resources in a distributed computing network, the method steps comprising:
 obtaining a data structure representing a resource dependency characterization of an application to be implemented over the distributed computing network, wherein the data structure indicates a set of resources to be deployed;   obtaining a template that represents a predefined network topology for supporting deployment of the set of resources;   mapping the set of resources indicated in the data structure to the template so as to satisfy a set of component requirements to generate a deployment map; and   provisioning the set of resources on a plurality of computers based on the deployment map to implement the application over the distributed computing network.