Connector leasing for long-running software operations

Abstract

Preventing certain types of service disruptions in a computing system involves receiving a lease request at a server of a cloud-based computing system, where the lease request originates from one of a plurality of cloud-hosted service computing systems (CSCS). The lease request will specify at least one suitable connector of a plurality of remote computing machines, where such connectors comprise an availability set at a computing resources location. In response to receiving the request, the server determines whether at least one of the connectors has pending maintenance operations. Based on such determination, the server will selectively grant the lease request by generating at least one electronic message directed to the CSCS which originated the lease request.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computing device comprising:
 a memory;   a network interface; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and the network interface and configured to
 receive, from a service via the network interface, a request to lease a connector suitable to execute one or more computing operations having a duration of greater than 5 minutes, 
 identify, from a set of connectors in a resource location, one or more connectors suitable to execute the one or more computing operations, 
 determine which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations, and 
 respond to the request based at least in part on which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the request specifies the duration. 
     
     
         23 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein to respond to the request comprises to send a message to the service indicating that the request is granted or denied. 
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to update a remaining lease time for the one or more connectors where the request is granted. 
     
     
         25 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and   to respond to the request comprises to deny the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector and the single connector has one or more pending maintenance operations.   
     
     
         26 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one processor is further configured to
 determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and 
 determine whether at least one other connector of the set of connectors is in maintenance mode; and 
   to respond to the request comprises to deny the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector, the single connector has no pending maintenance operations, and the at least one other connector is in maintenance mode.   
     
     
         27 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one processor is further configured to
 determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and 
 determine whether other connectors of the set of connectors are in maintenance mode; and 
   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector, the single connector has no pending maintenance operations, and the other connectors are not in maintenance mode.   
     
     
         28 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one processor is further configured to
 determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and 
 select an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a longest remaining lease time; and 
   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request for the identified connector where the one or more connectors comprise a plurality of connectors and each connector of the plurality of connectors has one or more pending maintenance operations.   
     
     
         29 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one processor is further configured to
 determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and 
 select an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a shortest remaining lease time; and 
   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request for the identified connector where the one or more connectors comprise a plurality of connectors and at least one connector of the plurality of connectors has no pending maintenance operations.   
     
     
         30 . A method of leasing connectors comprising:
 receiving, from a service via a network interface, a request to lease a connector suitable to execute one or more computing operations having a duration of greater than 5 minutes and less than 2 hours;   identifying, from a set of connectors in a resource location, one or more connectors suitable to execute the one or more computing operations;   determining which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations; and   responding to the request based at least in part on which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 determining that the one or more connectors comprises a single connector; and   determining that the single connector has one or more pending maintenance operations, wherein responding to the request comprises denying the request.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 determining that the one or more connectors comprises a single connector;   determining that the single connector has no pending maintenance operations; and   determining that other connectors of the set of connectors are in maintenance mode, wherein responding to the request comprises denying the request.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 determining that the one or more connectors comprises a single connector;   determining that the single connector has no pending maintenance operations; and   determining that no other connectors of the set of connectors are in maintenance mode, wherein responding to the request comprises granting the request.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 determining that the one or more connectors comprises a plurality of connectors;   determining that each of the plurality of connectors has one or more pending maintenance operations; and   selecting an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a longest remaining lease time, wherein responding to the request comprises granting the request for the identified connector.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 determining that the one or more connectors comprises a plurality of connectors;   determining that at least one connector of the plurality of connectors has no pending maintenance operations; and   selecting an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a shortest remaining lease time, wherein responding to the request comprises granting the request for the identified connector.   
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions to lease connectors, the instructions comprising instructions to:
 receive, from a service via a network interface, a request to lease a connector suitable to execute one or more computing operations having a duration of greater than 5 minutes;   identify, from a set of connectors in a resource location, one or more connectors suitable to execute the one or more computing operations;   determine which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations;   determine whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector; and   respond to the request based at least in part on which of the one or more connectors have one or more pending maintenance operations and whether the one or more connectors comprise a single connector.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein to respond to the request comprises to deny the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector and the single connector has one or more pending maintenance operations. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the instructions further comprise instructions to determine where at least one other connector of the set of connectors is in maintenance mode, and   to respond to the request comprises to deny the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector, the single connector has no pending maintenance operations, and the at least one other connector is in maintenance mode.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the instructions further comprise instructions to determine where other connectors of the set of connectors are in maintenance mode, and   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request where the one or more connectors comprise a single connector, the single connector has no pending maintenance operations, and the other connectors are not in maintenance mode.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the instructions further comprise instructions to select an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a longest remaining lease time, and   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request for the identified connector where the one or more connectors comprise a plurality of connectors and each connector of the plurality of connectors has one or more pending maintenance operations.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the instructions further comprise instructions to select an identified connector of the one or more connectors with a shortest remaining lease time, and   to respond to the request comprises to grant the request for the identified connector where the one or more connectors comprise a plurality of connectors and at least one connector of the plurality of connectors has no pending maintenance operations.