Managing networks and machines for an online service

Abstract

A cloud manager assists in deploying and managing networks for an online service. The cloud manager system receives requests to perform operations relating to configuring, updating and performing tasks in networks that are used in providing the online service. The management of the assets may comprise deploying machines, updating machines, removing machines, performing configuration changes on servers, Virtual Machines (VMs), as well as performing other tasks relating to the management. The cloud manager is configured to receive requests through an idempotent and asynchronous application programming interface (API) that can not rely on a reliable network.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for managing networks and machines for an online service, comprising:
 receiving requests at a central service to perform one or more tasks in an online service; and   processing the received requests at the central service;   wherein the central service continues receiving and processing the requests during an upgrade to a database that is used by the central service to process the requests and perform the one or more tasks.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein processing the received requests includes performing actions, the actions comprising:
 updating the database with one or more values relating to the one or more tasks, wherein the one or more values are a desired state of the one or more tasks;   adding a job to a job queue for performing the one or more tasks; and   executing the one or more tasks, wherein the one or more tasks comprise a process that is assigned to execute the one or more tasks and access the one or more values relating to the one or more tasks from the database to determine the desired state of the one or more tasks.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein executing the one or more tasks comprises executing a shell on a local machine that invokes a process to start on a remote machine in one of the networks to perform the task. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the requests that are received relate to at least one of the group consisting of: configuring, updating, and managing machines in at least one of the networks that are used in providing the online service. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the requests are received through an idempotent and asynchronous application programming interface (API) such that duplicate requests to the central service result in a same result. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein virtual machines within the networks are configured into farms. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein when at least one of the requests is a request to update one of the farms comprises configuring a new farm that comprises a different set of machines with one or more virtual hard disk images of a same version; and
 wherein the method further comprises:
 starting the new farm; and 
 transferring requests from the old farm to the new farm. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, when at least one of the requests is a request to update at least one of the machines within one of the networks, automatically installing a virtual hard disk image on the machine and starting the image when installed. 
     
     
         29 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for managing networks and machines for an online service, the method comprising:
 receiving requests at a central service to perform one or more tasks in an online service; and   processing the received requests at the central service;   wherein the central service continues receiving and processing the requests during an upgrade to a database that is used by the central service to process the requests and perform the one or more tasks.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein processing the received requests includes performing actions, the actions comprising:
 updating the database with one or more values relating to the one or more tasks, wherein the one or more values are a desired state of the one or more tasks;   adding a job to a job queue for performing the one or more tasks; and   executing the one or more tasks, wherein the one or more tasks comprise a process that is assigned to execute the one or more tasks and access the one or more values relating to the one or more tasks from the database to determine the desired state of the one or more tasks.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein executing the task comprises executing a shell on a local machine that invokes a process to start on a remote machine in one of the networks to perform the task. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the requests that are received relate to at least one of the group consisting of configuring, updating, and managing machines in at least one of the networks that are used in providing the online service. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the requests are received through an idempotent and asynchronous application programming interface (API) such that duplicate requests to the central service result in a same result. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein virtual machines within the networks are configured into farms. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein when at least one of the requests is a request to update one of the farms comprises configuring a new farm that comprises a different set of machines with one or more virtual hard disk images of a same version; and
 wherein the method further comprises;
 starting the new farm; and 
 transferring requests from the old farm to the new farm. 
   
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein when at least one of the requests is a request to update at least one of the machines within one of the different networks, the method further campuses automatically installing a virtual hard disk image on the machine and starting the image when installed. 
     
     
         37 . A system for managing networks and machines for an online service, comprising:
 a processor and a memory;   an operating environment stored on the memory and executing on the processor; and   a cloud manager operative to perform actions, the actions comprising:
 receiving requests at a central service to perform one or more tasks in an online service; and 
 processing the received requests at the central service; 
 wherein the central service continues receiving and processing the requests during an upgrade to a database that is used by the central service to process the requests and perform the one or more tasks. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein processing the received requests includes:
 updating the database with one or more values relating to the one or more tasks, wherein the one or more values are a desired state of the one or more tasks;   adding a job to a job queue for performing the one or more tasks; and   executing the one or more tasks, wherein executing the one or more tasks comprise a process that is assigned to execute the one or more tasks and access the one or more values relating to the one or more tasks from the database to determine the desired state of the one or more tasks.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein executing the task comprises executing a shell on a local machine that invokes a process to start on a remote machine more of the different networks to perform the task. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the requests that are received relate to at least one of the group consisting of: configuring, updating, and managing machines in at least one of the different networks that are used in providing the online service.