File system interface to web and network services

1. A method for providing an interface to a plurality of services for a plurality of clients by a backend data center using a remote file system comprising:

receiving a first file by the remote file system from a client of the plurality of clients via a local file system executing on a computer system of the client,

wherein the first file comprises a client inventory listing physical supplies in physical possession of the client,

wherein the local file system comprises a directory structure with an interface to local storage and an interface to the remote file system, and

wherein the computer system is configured to transfer the first file to the remote file system using the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure;

identifying a vendor from the plurality of services associated with the first file, wherein identifying the vendor is triggered by receiving the first file by the remote file system, and wherein the vendor is identified based on a location of the first file within the remote file system;

creating a service request from the first file based on the vendor;

transmitting the service request to the vendor, wherein, based on the service request, the vendor reviews the client inventory to determine that a physical supply is missing from the client inventory and ships the physical supply to the client;

receiving a response to the service request from the vendor; and

storing the response in a second file on the remote file system,

wherein the second file is remotely accessible by the client from the remote file system using the directory structure, and

wherein the second file is simultaneously visible to the client and the backend data center, wherein the second file is visible to the backend data center using the remote file system, and wherein the second file is visible to the client via the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vendor is a component of the backend data center.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client accesses the remote file system using the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote file system uses a hierarchy.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising synchronizing the second file between the remote file system and a cache of the remote file system, wherein the cache executes on a satellite server located at the client.

6. A backend data center comprising:

a plurality of services for processing service requests for a plurality of clients, wherein the plurality of services comprises a vendor; and

a remote file system for:

receiving a first file from a client of the plurality of clients via a local file system executing on a computer system of the client,

wherein the first file comprises a client inventory listing physical supplies in physical possession of the client,

wherein the local file system comprises a directory structure with an interface to local storage and an interface to the remote file system, and

wherein the computer system is configured to transfer the first file to the remote file system using the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure;

identifying the vendor from the plurality of services associated with the first file, wherein identifying the vendor is triggered by receiving the first file by the remote file system, and wherein the vendor is identified based on a location of the first file within the remote file system;

creating the service request from the first file based on the vendor;

transmitting the service request to the vendor, wherein, based on the service request, the vendor reviews the client inventory to determine that a physical supply is missing from the client inventory and ships the physical supply to the client;

receiving a response to the service request from the vendor; and

storing the response in a second file on the remote file system,

wherein the second file is remotely accessible by the client from the remote file system using the directory structure, and

wherein the second file is simultaneously visible to the client and the backend data center, wherein the second file is visible to the backend data center using the remote file system, and wherein the second file is visible to the client via the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure.

7. The backend data center of claim 6 , wherein the client accesses the remote file system using the Internet.

8. The backend data center of claim 6 , wherein the remote file system uses a hierarchy.

9. The backend data center of claim 6 , wherein accessing the second file remotely by the client from the remote file system is performed using a satellite server.

10. The backend data center of claim 9 , wherein the second file is synchronized between the remote file system and a cache on the satellite server located at the client.

11. A first computer system for providing an interface to a plurality of services for a plurality of clients by a backend data center comprising:

a remote file system for receiving a first file from a client of the plurality of clients via a local file system executing on a second computer system located at the client,

wherein the first file comprises a client inventory listing physical supplies in physical possession of the client,

wherein the local file system comprises a directory structure with an interface to local storage and an interface to the remote file system, and

wherein the second computer system is configured to transfer the first file to the remote file system using the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure;

a processor within the first computer system for executing software instructions to:

identify a vendor of the plurality of services associated with the first file, wherein identifying the vendor is triggered by receiving the first file by the remote file system, and wherein the vendor is identified based on a location of the first file within the remote file system;

create a service request from the first file based on the vendor;

transmit the service request to the vendor, wherein, based on the service request, the vendor reviews the client inventory to determine that a physical supply is missing from the client inventory and ships the physical supply to the client;

receive a response to the service request from the vendor; and

store the response in a second file on the remote file system,

wherein the second file is remotely accessible by the client from the remote file system using the directory structure, and

wherein the second file is simultaneously visible to the client and the backend data center, wherein the second file is visible to the backend data center using the remote file system, and wherein the second file is visible to the client via the interface to the remote file system in the directory structure.

12. The first computer system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the second file between the remote file system and a cache of the remote file system, wherein the cache executes on a satellite server located at the client.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of services further comprises a patch retrieval service and a management service,

wherein the patch retrieval service:

processes an inventory stored in a third file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine whether a patch is required; and

stores the patch in the second file when the patch is required based on the inventory, and

wherein the management service:

processes a fourth file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine how a computer system of the client is operating; and

performs one selected from a group consisting of modifying the fourth file and generating a fifth file to replace the fourth file on the client when the computer system of the client is not current.

14. The backend data center of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of services further comprises a patch retrieval service and a management service,

wherein the patch retrieval service is configured to:

process an inventory stored in a third file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine whether a patch is required; and

store the patch in the second file when the patch is required based on the inventory, and

wherein the management service is configured to:

process a fourth file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine how a computer system of the client is operating; and

perform one selected from a group consisting of modifying the fourth file and generating a fifth file to replace the fourth file on the client when the computer system of the client is not current.

15. The first computer system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of services further comprises a patch retrieval service and a management service,

wherein the patch retrieval service is configured to:

process an inventory stored in a third file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine whether a patch is required; and

store the patch in the second file when the patch is required based on the inventory, and

wherein the management service is configured to:

process a fourth file on the remote file system received via the local file system to determine how a computer system of the client is operating; and

perform one selected from a group consisting of modifying the fourth file and generating a fifth file to replace the fourth file on the client when the computer system of the client is not current.