Cloud-based resource identification and allocation
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying resources to implement a service in a cloud computing environment are disclosed. In general, the disclosed methodologies analyze a cloud's ability to support a desired service while maintaining separation between the cloud's logical layers. For example, given a list of resources needed to implement a target service, a hierarchical plan may be generated. The plan may then be used by each layer to track and record the availability of various possible layer-specific resource selections. Since each layer may be permitted access only to that portion of the plan that is associated with, or applicable to, the specific layer, the logical separation between different layers may be enforced. As a consequence, each layer may implement its resource selection mechanisms in any desired manner.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a plan to support a cloud-based service in a cloud-based computing system, the system having resources organized in a plurality of architectural layers, each layer including a different resource type or types than the other layers, the plan generated as resources eligible to support the service are identified, a respective portion of the plan corresponding to each of the plurality of architectural layers identifying layer-specific resource needed to support the cloud-based service, the plan recording details of which resources are needed or have been allocated to support the service;
for a current layer, carrying out a resource identification operation to determine an availability of one or more layer-specific resources that are needed to support the cloud-based service according to the respective portion of the plan for the current layer; and
based on a determination that a needed resource is not available, returning a failure message for the current layer;
based on a determination that the one or more needed resources are available, selecting one resource instance and accordingly updating the plan to reflect the selection for the current layer;
determining whether the selected resource instance in the current layer needs to be supported by one or more resource from a lower layer in the plurality of architectural layers than the current layer according to updated plan;
based on a determination that the selected resource instance does not need to be supported by the one or more resources from the lower layer, reporting success for the current layer; based on a determination that the selected resource instance does need to be supported by the one or more resources from the lower layer, issuing a resource request to the lower layer for the one or more resources from the lower layer to support he selected resource instance,
wherein the resources organized in the plurality of architectural layers include a first layer of one or more pods, a second layer of one or more network containers and a third layer of one or more virtual clusters.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a plan further comprises receiving a plan indicating a plurality of software resources.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving a plan further comprises receiving a plan indicating at least one resource that is a combination of a hardware resource and a software resource.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein carrying out a resource identification operation to determine an availability of one or more layer-specific resources that are needed to support the cloud-based service according to the respective portion of the plan for the current layer includes:
checking the plan to determine if it has a record for a resource of a particular type for the current layer;
taking a lock on the plan if there is no record for the resource of the particular type for the current layer;
identifying one or more eligible resources of the particular type of resource; and
indicating the identified one or more eligible resources in the plan.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein carrying out a resource identification operation to determine an availability of one or more layer-specific resources that are needed to support the cloud-based service according to the respective portion of the plan for the current layer includes:
identifying one or more eligible resources of a particular type of resource in accordance with one or more policies.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein updating the plan comprises:
indicating, in the plan, the selected resource instance; and removing the lock from the plan.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a resource instance comprises selecting a resource instance in accordance with one or more policies.
8. A program storage device, readable by a programmable control device, comprising instructions tangibly stored thereon for causing the programmable control device to perform the method of claim 1 .
9. A cloud-based resource allocation system, comprising:
a memory having stored therein at least part of a plan, the plan indicating a plurality of resources of a cloud based computing system required to provision a cloud-based service, the resources organized in a plurality of architectural layers, each layer having different resource types than the other layers, the plan generated as resources eligible to support the service are identified, with a respective portion of the plan corresponding to each of the plurality of architectural layers identifying layer-specific resources needed to support the cloud-based service;
a programmable control device having access to program instructions, the program instructions when executed causing the programmable control device to:
for a current layer, determine an availability of one or more resources that are needed to support the cloud-based service according to the respective portion of the plan for the current layer;
based on a determination that a needed resource is not available, return a resource identification failure message for the current layer;
based on a determination that the one or more needed resources are available: select one resource instance and accordingly update the plan to
reflect the selection for the current layer;
determine whether the selected resource instance in the current layer needs to be supported by one or more resources from a lower layer in the plurality of architectural layers than the current layer according to updated plan;
based on a determination that the selected resource instance does not need to be supported by the one or more resources from the lower layer, report success for the current layer;
based on a determination that the selected resource instance does need to be supported by the one or more resources from the lower layer, issue a resource request to the lower layer for the one or more resources from the lower layer to support the selected resource instance,
wherein the resources in the plurality of architectural layers, include a first layer of one or more pods, a second layer of one or more network containers and a third layer of one or more virtual clusters. of a particular type.
10. The cloud-based resource allocation system of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the programmable control device to:
take a lock, for the lower layer, on a portion of the plan for the lower layer; and
read, for the lower layer, at least a part of the portion of the plan for the lower layer.
11. The cloud-based resource allocation system of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the programmable control device to:
select, for the lower layer, an instance of a resource of a particular type from the one or more eligible resources identified in a portion of the plan for the next lower layer;
update a portion of the plan for the lower layer to indicate selection of the resource instance of the particular type; and
release the lock, for the lower layer, on the portion of the plan for the lower layer.
12. The cloud-based resource allocation system of claim 9 , further comprising program instructions which when executed further cause the programmable control device to:
when the plan indicates, in a portion of the plan for the lower layer, two or more eligible resources of a particular type,
receive for the lower layer, a failure message from the lower layer, the failure message indicating that a selected resource instance could not be supplied by the lower layer;
update the portion of the plan for the lower layer to indicate that the selected resource instance is not available;
select the lower layer, a second resource instance from the two or more eligible resources identified in the portion of the plan for the lower layer.
13. The cloud-based resource allocation system of claim 9 , further comprising
a layer control module in each of the architectural layers coupled to an advisor module, the advisor module configured to guide selection of one resource instance from one or more available resource instances in the respective architectural layer.