Detecting and tracking virtual containers

1. A computer-implemented method for detecting and tracking virtual containers, the method comprising:

creating, via a processing device, a virtual container record in a database, wherein the virtual container record relates to a virtual container and wherein each virtual container is configured to run a set of images associated with the respective virtual container, wherein each of the images is derived from a base image so as to be related in a hierarchical tree;

detecting, by the processing device, a start event of the virtual container and recording a start time of the start event in the database, wherein the start event comprises running the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is a live virtual container; and

detecting, by the processing device, a stop event of the virtual container and recording a stop time of the stop event in the database, wherein the stop event comprises ending the running of the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is not a live virtual container.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting the database as an event log, so as to enable tracking of software in the set of images and in the live virtual container.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the event log comprises at least one of an image ID, a container ID, an action, an action time, and a usage duration.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the virtual container record from the database.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

relating data in the database to data in a software license database to build a relationship between the virtual container and an existing software component in the software license database.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

reporting a licensing violation when it is determined that a license quantity limit stored in a software license database is exceeded.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating a usage duration of the virtual container, the usage duration being a difference between the start time of the start event and the stop time of the stop event.

8. A system for detecting and tracking virtual containers, the system comprising:

a processor in communication with one or more types of memory, the processor configured to:

create a virtual container record in a database, wherein the virtual container record relates to a virtual container and wherein each virtual container is configured to run a set of images associated with the respective virtual container, wherein each of the images is derived from a base image so as to be related in a hierarchical tree;

detect a start event of the virtual container and recording a start time of the start event in the database, wherein the start event comprises running the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is a live virtual container; and

detect a stop event of the virtual container and recording a stop time of the stop event in the database, wherein the stop event comprises ending the running of the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is not a live virtual container.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

present the database as an event log, so as to enable tracking of software in the set of images and in the live virtual container.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the event log comprises at least one of an image ID, a container ID, an action, an action time, and a usage duration.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

remove the virtual container record from the database.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

relate data in the database to data in a software license database to build a relationship between the virtual container and an existing software component in the software license database.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

report a licensing violation when it is determined that a license quantity limit stored in a software license database is exceeded.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate a usage duration of the virtual container, the usage duration being a difference between the start time of the start event and the stop time of the stop event.

15. A computer program product for detecting and tracking virtual containers, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:

creating a virtual container record in a database, wherein the virtual container record relates to a virtual container and wherein each virtual container is configured to run a set of images associated with the respective virtual container, wherein each of the images is derived from a base image so as to be related in a hierarchical tree;

detecting a start event of the virtual container and recording a start time of the start event in the database, wherein the start event comprises running the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is a live virtual container; and

detecting a stop event of the virtual container and recording a stop time of the stop event in the database, wherein the stop event comprises ending the running of the set of images associated with the virtual container such that the virtual container is not a live virtual container.

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

presenting the database as an event log, so as to enable tracking of software in the set of images and in the live virtual container.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the event log comprises at least one of an image ID, a container ID, an action, an action time, and a usage duration.

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

removing the virtual container record from the database.

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

relating data in the database to data in a software license database to build a relationship between the virtual container and an existing software component in the software license database.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:

reporting a licensing violation when it is determined that a license quantity limit stored in a software license database is exceeded.