Data center selection for cloud application deployment

1. A data center selection device for cloud-based application deployment, the device comprising:

a communication interface configured for communication with a directory server, and for communication with multiple test applications; and

a processor configured for:

receiving over the communication interface computer network addresses of multiple data centers;

executing a test application to:

send a request for test data from multiple test applications at the multiple data centers;

measure network connectivity delays in receiving the test data from the multiple data centers, and

determine separate network statistics for the multiple data centers from the measured network connectivity delays; and

selecting a data center to host the cloud-based application based at least in part on the measured network statistics and causing the cloud-based application to be deployed at the selected data center.

2. A data center selection device as in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to configure the cloud-based application at the selected data center for deployment.

3. A data center selection device as in claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to send an upload request to a further server instructing the further server to upload the cloud-based application to the selected data center.

4. A data center selection device as in claim 3 , wherein the network connectivity statistics include a latency statistic and/or a bandwidth statistic.

5. A data center selection device as in claim 1 , wherein the request for test data from a test application at a first data center includes a request for test data from a second data center, the test application being configured to request test data from a test application at the second data center.

6. A data center selection device as in claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to download from the directory server software configured at least for measuring the network connectivity statistics.

7. A data center selection device as in claim 5 , wherein multiple requests for test data are sent in parallel to the multiple data centers.

8. A data center selection device as in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured for:

in a first phase, requesting test data from a first set of data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics;

selecting from the first set a smaller second set based on the measured network connectivity statistics of the data centers in the first set; and

in a second phase, requesting test data from the second set of data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics, wherein

more test data is requested in the second phase from a data center in the second set than in the first phase, and wherein the data center for deploying the cloud-based application is selected from the second set.

9. A data center selection device as in claim 8 , wherein the test applications are configured to send random data and/or use randomized URLs.

10. A data center selection device as in claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured for displaying a visualization of at least part of the network statistics.

11. A data center selection method for cloud-based application deployment, the method comprising:

communicating with a directory server, and with multiple test applications;

receiving computer network addresses of multiple data centers;

executing a test application to:

send a request for test data from multiple test applications at the multiple data centers;

measure network connectivity delays in receiving the test data from the multiple data centers, and

determine separate network statistics for the multiple data centers from the measured network connectivity delays; and

selecting a data center to host the cloud-based application based at least in part on the measured network statistics and causing the cloud-based application to be deployed at the selected data center.

12. A data center selection method as in claim 11 , the method comprising:

in a first phase, requesting test data from a first set of data centers of the multiple data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics;

selecting from the first set a smaller second set of data centers based on the measured network connectivity statistics of the data centers in the first set; and

in a second phase, requesting test data from the second set of data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics, wherein

more test data is requested in the second phase from a data center in the second set than in the first phase, and wherein the data center for deploying the cloud-based application is selected from the second set.

13. A data center selection method as in claim 12 , wherein the test applications are configured to send random data and/or use randomized URLs.

14. A data center selection method as in claim 11 , wherein the request for test data from a test application at a first data center includes a request for test data from a second data center, the test application being configured to request test data from a test application at the second data center.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising data representing instructions, which when executed by a processor system, cause the processor system to:

receive over a communication interface computer network addresses of multiple data centers;

execute a test application to:

send a request for test data from multiple test applications at the multiple data centers;

measure network connectivity delays in receiving the test data from the multiple data centers, and

determine separate network statistics for the multiple data centers from the measured network connectivity delays; and

select a data center to host the cloud-based application based at least in part on the measured network statistics and causing the cloud-based application to be deployed at the selected data center.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor system, cause the processor system to configure the cloud-based application at the selected data center for deployment.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor system, cause the processor system to send an upload request to a further server instructing the further server to upload the cloud-based application to the selected data center.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 17 , wherein the network connectivity statistics include a latency statistic and/or a bandwidth statistic.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 15 , wherein the request for test data from a test application at a first data center includes a request for test data from a second data center, the test application being configured to request test data from a test application at the second data center.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, which when executed by a processor system, cause the processor system to:

in a first phase, request test data from a first set of data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics;

select from the first set a smaller second set based on the measured network connectivity statistics of the data centers in the first set; and

in a second phase, request test data from the second set of data centers, and measuring associated network connectivity statistics, wherein more test data is requested in the second phase from a data center in the second set than in the first phase, and wherein the data center for deploying the cloud-based application is selected from the second set.