CLOUD COMPUTING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

1 . A cloud computing network, comprising:

a plurality of resources configured to run at least one virtual machine; and

at least one resource configured to run a manager virtual machine for a user to automatically initiate a change in a number of virtual machines running for the user on at least one of the plurality of resources.

2 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein the manager virtual machine

determines at least one characteristic of a created virtual machine;

determines a location of the created virtual machine in the network by selecting one of the plurality of resources for running the created virtual machine; and

determines routing information for directing communications between the created virtual machine and another device.

3 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein the manager virtual machine

determines a load condition of virtual machines running for the user;

determines whether a new virtual machine is desired based on the determined load condition.

4 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein the manager virtual machine

determines a load condition of virtual machines running for the user;

determines whether retiring a running virtual machine is desired based on the determined load condition;

identifies a running virtual machine as one that will be retired if retiring a running virtual machine is desired;

places the identified virtual machine into an on-hold status; and

initiates transaction migration from the identified on-hold virtual machine to another virtual machine that has an active status.

5 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein

the network includes

a first switch, and

a plurality of second switches between the first switch and the plurality of resources, the plurality of second switches interface with the first switch,

the plurality of resources and others of the second switches;

the manager virtual machine determines when a virtual machine at a first one of the resources retires;

the manager virtual machine provides an indication to the second switch that interfaces with the first one of the resources to route communications intended for the retired virtual machine to another one of the second switches that interfaces with a second one of the resources running a virtual machine that replaces the retired virtual machine.

6 . The cloud computing network of claim 5 , wherein the indication provided by the manager virtual machine has a time limit after which the indication expires.

7 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein the manager virtual machine

determines a load condition of virtual machines running for the user;

determines if at least one virtual machine running for the user has an on-hold status; and

changes the at least one virtual machine to an active status based on an increase in the determined load condition.

8 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , comprising:

a plurality of top-of-rack (TOR) switches configured to interface with the plurality of resources;

at least one end-of-row (EOR) switch configured to interface with the plurality of TOR switches; and

an aggregation switch configured to communicate with the at least one EOR switch, the aggregation switch being configured to interface with a device external to the network;

and wherein

a packet addressed to one of the virtual machines includes:

an identifier of the TOR switch associated with the resource running the one of the virtual machines,

an identifier of the resource running the one of the virtual machines, and

an identifier of the one of the virtual machines.

9 . The cloud computing network of claim 8 , wherein

the aggregation switch, the at least one EOR switch and the TOR switches are arranged in a hierarchical order; and

the identifier of the TOR switch, the identifier of the resource and the identifier of the virtual machine are arranged in the packet in an order corresponding to the hierarchical order.

10 . The cloud computing network of claim 1 , wherein the manager virtual machine maintains a number of running virtual machines for the user between a preselected minimum and a preselected maximum.

11 . A method of managing cloud computing resources, comprising:

using a manager virtual machine running on at least one resource for a user to automatically initiate a change in a number of virtual machines running for the user on at least one of a plurality of resources.

12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising

determining at least one characteristic of a created virtual machine;

determining a location of the created virtual machine by selecting one of the plurality of resources for running the created virtual machine; and

determining routing information for directing communications between the created virtual machine and another device.

13 . The method of claim 11 , comprising

determining a load condition in the network;

determining whether a new virtual machine is desired based on the determined load condition.

14 . The method of claim 11 , comprising

determining a load condition in the network;

determining whether retiring a running virtual machine is desired based on the determined load condition;

identifying a running virtual machine as one that will be retired if retiring a running virtual machine is desired;

placing the identified virtual machine into an on-hold status; and

initiating transaction migration from the identified on-hold virtual machine to another virtual machine that has an active status.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein

the resources comprise

a first switch, and

a plurality of second switches between the first switch and the plurality of resources, the plurality of second switches interface with the first switch, the plurality of resources and others of the second switches;

and the method comprises

determining when a virtual machine at a first one of the resources retires;

providing an indication from the manager virtual machine to the second switch that interfaces with the first one of the resources to route communications intended for the retired virtual machine to another one of the second switches that interfaces with a second one of the resources running a virtual machine that replaces the retired virtual machine.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the indication provided by the manager virtual machine has a time limit after which the indication expires.

17 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

determining a load condition of the network;

determining if at least one virtual machine has an on-hold status; and

changing the at least one virtual machine to an active status based on an increase in the determined load condition.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the resources comprise:

a plurality of top-of-rack (TOR) switches configured to interface with the plurality of resources;

at least one end-of-row (EOR) switch configured to interface with the plurality of TOR switches; and

an aggregation switch configured to communicate with the at least one EOR switch, the aggregation switch being configured to interface with a device external to the network;

and the method includes

addressing a packet intended for one of the virtual machines with:

an identifier of the TOR switch associated with the resource running the one of the virtual machines,

an identifier of the resource running the one of the virtual machines, and

an identifier of the one of the virtual machines.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein

the aggregation switch, the at least one EOR switch and the TOR switch are arranged in a hierarchical order; and

the identifier of the TOR switch, the identifier of the resource and the identifier of the virtual machine are arranged in the packet in an order corresponding to the hierarchical order.

20 . The method of claim 1 , comprising maintaining a number of running virtual machines between a preselected minimum and a preselected maximum.