Deployment of software images with run-time reconnection

1. A method for deploying software images onto a computing system, the method comprising:

instantiating, by one or more processors, a first computing machine from a software image, wherein the first computing machine is instantiated onto a computing system, wherein the first computing machine has a first old access identifier, wherein the first computing machine is initially connected to a second computing machine in the computing system via a second old access identifier for the second computing machine, and wherein the second computing machine has been instantiated from the software image;

reconfiguring, by one or more processors, the second computing machine to have a new access identifier, wherein said reconfiguring is achieved by:

retrieving the new access identifier for said second computing machine, and

associating the new access identifier with the second old access identifier; and

redirecting each outbound communication, from the first old access identifier to the second old access identifier, to the new access identifier of the second computing machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

manifesting an association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier only if the second computing machine is connected to a third computing machine that has been instantiated from the software image and deployed onto the computing system.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

publishing the association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier of the second computing machine into a shared registry, wherein the shared registry is shared by the first computing machine and the second computing machine; and

retrieving the new access identifier associated with the second old access identifier of the second computing machine from the shared registry.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

processing a plug section for each connection to the second computing machine, wherein the second computing machine plays a plug role to connect to another computing machine, wherein the plug section comprises an indication of an activation action and of a set of connection parameters for the second old access identifier and the new access identifier, and wherein the processing of the plug section includes:

retrieving the connection parameters indicated in the plug section, and

in response to a successful retrieval of the connection parameters, executing the activation action being indicated in the plug section by passing the connection parameters in order to activate a redirection of an outbound communication to the new access identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each plug section further comprises an indication of an inactivation action, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to an unsuccessful retrieval of the connection parameters, executing the inactivation action being indicated in the plug section by passing the connection parameters to cause an inactivation of the corresponding redirection.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

in response to a socket inactivation event indicating an inactivation of the second computing machine, executing the inactivation action being indicated in the plug section by passing the connection parameters to the second computing machine.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

processing a socket section for each connection to the second computing machine, wherein the second computing machine plays a socket role being connected by at least part of said second computing machine, wherein the socket section comprises an indication of the connection parameters and the second old access identifier, and wherein processing of the socket section includes:

assigning the new access identifier to a corresponding connection parameter, and manifesting the corresponding connection parameter by publishing an association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier of the second computing machine into a shared registry, wherein the shared registry is shared by the first computing machine and the second computing machine.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

fetching the new access identifier of the second computing machine;

generating a socket activation event in response to the manifesting of the corresponding connection parameters; and

executing the processing of each plug section in response to a corresponding socket activation event.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

reading a connection adapter for each connection involving the second computing machine, wherein the connection adapter includes a corresponding plug section, a corresponding socket section, and an indication of a role played by the second computing machine in a connection to the first computing machine.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding an internal alias for the second old access identifier of the second computing machine, wherein the internal alias points to the new access identifier.

11. A computer program product for deploying software images onto a computing system, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code being readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

instantiating a first computing machine from a software image, wherein the first computing machine is instantiated onto a computing system, wherein the first computing machine has a first old access identifier, wherein the first computing machine is initially connected to a second computing machine in the computing system via a second old access identifier for the second computing machine, and wherein the second computing machine has been instantiated from the software image;

reconfiguring the second computing machine to have a new access identifier, wherein said reconfiguring is achieved by: retrieving the new access identifier for said second computing machine, and associating the new access identifier with the second old access identifier; and

redirecting each outbound communication, from the first old access identifier to the second old access identifier, to the new access identifier of the second computing machine.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

manifesting an association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier only if the second computing machine is connected to a third computing machine that has been instantiated from the software image and deployed onto the computing system.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:

publishing the association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier of the second computing machine into a shared registry, wherein the shared registry is shared by the first computing machine and the second computing machine; and

retrieving the new access identifier associated with the second old access identifier of the second computing machine from the shared registry.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises processing a plug section for each connection to the second computing machine, wherein the second computing machine plays a plug role to connect to another computing machine, wherein the plug section comprises an indication of an activation action and of a set of connection parameters for the second old access identifier and the new access identifier, and wherein the processing of the plug section includes retrieving the connection parameters indicated m the plug section, and m response to a successful retrieval of the connection parameters, executing the activation action being indicated in the plug section by passing the connection parameters m order to activate a redirection of an outbound communication to the new access identifier.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

adding an internal alias for the second old access identifier of the second computing machine, wherein the internal alias points to the new access identifier.

16. A computer system comprising:

a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage medium;

first program instructions to instantiate a first computing machine from a software image, wherein the first computing machine is instantiated onto a computing system, wherein the first computing machine has a first old access identifier, wherein the first computing machine is initially connected to a second computing machine in the computing system via a second old access identifier for the second computing machine, and wherein the second computing machine has been instantiated from the software image;

second program instructions to reconfigure the second computing machine to have a new access identifier, wherein reconfiguring the second computing machine is achieved by:

retrieving the new access identifier for said second computing machine, and

associating the new access identifier with the second old access identifier; and

third program instructions to redirect each outbound communication, from the first old access identifier to the second old access identifier, to the new access identifier of the second computing machine; and wherein

said first, second, and third program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

fourth program instructions to manifest an association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier only if the second computing machine is connected to a third computing machine that has been instantiated from the software image and deployed onto the computing system; and wherein

said fourth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , further comprising:

fifth program instructions to publish the association between the second old access identifier and the new access identifier of the second computing machine into a shared registry, wherein the shared registry is shared by the first computing machine and the second computing machine; and

sixth program instructions to retrieve the new access identifier associated with the second old access identifier of the second computing machine from the shared registry; and wherein said fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

19. The computer system of claim 17 , further comprising:

fifth program instructions to process a plug section for each connection to the second computing machine, wherein the second computing machine plays a plug role to connect to another computing machine, wherein the plug section comprises an indication of an activation action and of a set of connection parameters for the second old access identifier and the new access identifier, and wherein the processing of the plug section includes:

retrieving the connection parameters indicated in the plug section, and

in response to a successful retrieval of the connection parameters, executing the activation action being indicated in the plug section by passing the connection parameters in order to activate a redirection of an outbound communication to the new access identifier; and wherein

said fifth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

20. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

fourth program instructions to add an internal alias for the second old access identifier of the second computing machine, wherein the internal alias points to the new access identifier; and wherein

said fourth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.