Systems and methods for customizing and programming a cloud-based management server

1. A method for managing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provided by a cloud of one or more virtual machines, the method being performed in a system comprising a processor and a memory coupled with the processor, the method comprising:

transmitting, by an agent application executing on a virtual machine in the cloud, a feature package to a management system in response to adding a new function to the cloud, wherein the one or more virtual machines are created based on a virtual machine template, and the feature package enables a management application in the management system to configure the virtual machine and perform at least a first action and a second action associated with executing the new function at the virtual machine;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a first command issued by the management application performing the first action, invoking execution of a first operation of the agent application, wherein the first operation returns a first status message associated with the new function;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a second command issued by the management application performing the second action, continuously executing a second operation of the agent application at the virtual machine based on the second command, wherein the second action is selected based on the first status message, and the second operation returns a second status message associated with the new function; and

transmitting, by the agent application to the management application, a message after executing the new function, wherein the message is associated with an operating condition of the virtual machine.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the feature package comprises:

an executable module for the management application, wherein the executable module is configured to generate the first command and transmit the first command to the virtual machine.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a user interface configured to provide an interface for the executable module, wherein the management system is configured to install the user interface as a component of the management application.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a workflow defining the first command and the second command, wherein the management application is configured to process the workflow and generate the first command and the second command.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first operation and the second operation belong to two concurrently executing threads on the virtual machine.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that includes a set of instructions which, in response to execution by a processor of a system including a memory coupled with the processor, cause the processor to perform a method for managing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provided by a cloud of one or more virtual machines, the method comprising:

transmitting, by an agent application executing on a virtual machine in the cloud, a feature package to a management system in response to adding a new function to the cloud, wherein the one or more virtual machines are created based on a virtual machine template, and the feature package enables a management application in the management system to configure the virtual machine and perform at least a first action and a second action associated with executing the new function at the virtual machine;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a first command issued by the management application performing the first action, invoking execution of a first operation of the agent application, wherein the first operation returns a first status message associated with the new function;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a second command issued by the management application performing the second action, continuously executing a second operation of the agent application at the virtual machine based on the second command, wherein the second action is selected based on the first status message, and the second operation returns a second status message associated with the new function; and

transmitting, by the agent application to the management application, a message after executing the new function, wherein the message is associated with an operating condition of the virtual machine.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the feature package comprises:

an executable module for the management application, wherein the executable module is configured to generate the first command and transmit the first command to the virtual machine.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 7 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a user interface configured to provide an interface for the executable module, wherein the management system is configured to install the user interface as a component of the management application.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a workflow defining the first command and the second command, wherein the management application is configured to process the workflow and generate the first command and the second command.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first operation and the second operation belong to two concurrently executing threads on the virtual machine.

11. A computing system configured to manage Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provided by a cloud of one or more virtual machines, wherein the computing system comprises:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes a set of instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the processor to:

transmit, by an agent application executing on a virtual machine in the cloud, a feature package to a management system in response to adding a new function to the cloud, wherein the one or more virtual machines are created based on a virtual machine template, and the feature package enables a management application in the management system to configure the virtual machine and perform at least a first action and a second action associated with executing the new function at the virtual machine;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a first command issued by the management application performing the first action, invoke execution of a first operation of the agent application, wherein the first operation returns a first status message associated with the new function;

in response to receiving, by the agent application, a second command issued by the management application performing the second action, continuously execute a second operation of the agent application at the virtual machine based on the second command, wherein the second action is selected based on the first status message, and the second operation returns a second status message associated with the new function; and

transmit, by the agent application to the management application, a message after executing the new function, wherein the message is associated with an operating condition of the virtual machine.

12. The computing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the feature package comprises:

an executable module for the management application, wherein the executable module is configured to generate the first command and transmit the first command to the virtual machine.

13. The computing system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a user interface configured to provide an interface for the executable module, wherein the management system is configured to install the user interface as a component of the management application.

14. The computing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the feature package further comprises:

a workflow defining the first command and the second command, wherein the management application is configured to process the workflow and generate the first command and the second command.

15. The computing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first operation and the second operation belong to two concurrently executing threads on the virtual machine.