Management of composite software services

Abstract

A computer implemented method, data processing system, computer usable program code, and active repository are provided for management of a software service. A request is received to deploy the software service in a computer network. A dependency analysis is performed for the requested software service to determine component software services and physical resources necessary to deploy and manage new software service as a composite in responsive to the software service being the new software service. An active object is created to manage the new software service using an active template based on the analysis. The new software service is deployed in the computer network using the active object. The new software service is managed using the active object.

1 . A computer implemented method for management of a software service, the computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving a request to deploy the software service in a computer network;   responsive to the software service being a new software service, performing a dependency analysis for the requested software service to determine component software services and physical resources necessary to deploy and manage the new software service as a composite;   creating an active object to manage the new software service using an active template based on the dependency analysis;   deploying the new software service in the computer network using the active object; and   managing the new software service using the active object.   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the dependency analysis is triggered by an imbalance in a current state and a desired state of the software service, wherein the imbalance in the current state and the desired state may occur in response to at least one of a service request, a request from a dependent service, global policies, global management actions, administrative actions, a supporting service, a supporting physical resource, or a spontaneous change in a state of the software service. 
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the active object performs at least one of a monitoring function, an analyzing function, a configuration function, or an execution function. 
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the active template represents one of a plurality of physical resources or one of a plurality of software service types in the computer network. 
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the active object uses a plurality of management interfaces to manage the new software service. 
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of management interfaces comprises at least one of a service specification interface, a dependency requirements interface, a service configuration interface, a service deployment interface, a service state interface, or a lifecycle management interface. 
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the service specification interface identifies functionalities provided by the new software service. 
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the dependency requirements interface provides at least one of:
 identifying the physical resources required for making the new software service available; or   identifying the other software services required for making the new software service available; or   identifying other software services that depend on the new software service.   
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the service configuration interface provides at least one of:
 managing information on configuring supporting services so that the new software service is deployed on top of the supporting services;   managing information on configuring the new software service given a set of the supporting services that meet a dependency requirement; or   managing a manner in which the dependent services are to be configured.   
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the service deployment interface provides at least one of:
 managing deployment of the new software-service given a specific configuration of supporting services;   managing the new software service functionality to be enabled; or   managing higher-level software services to be supported.   
   
   
       11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the service state interface provides at least one of:
 listing software service functions selected and enabled;   listing actual software service instances selected to support the new software service;   listing actual software service instances supported by the new software service, demand placed by the software service instances, or current usage by supported services;   listing any service level agreements with the supported software service instances; or   listing any service level agreement violations.   
   
   
       12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the lifecycle management interface provides at least one of:
 managing a service lifecycle;   managing a lifecycle of a software package used to deploy the new software service; or   managing a lifecycle of a service management layer.   
   
   
       13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to the software service being an existing software service, identifying an existing active object that manages the existing software service;   reconfiguring and deploying the existing software service in the computer network using the existing active object; and   managing the existing software service using the existing active object.   
   
   
       14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of software services are simultaneously managed by a plurality of active objects from an active repository, wherein each active object responding to state imbalances in the software service it manages. 
   
   
       15 . A data processing system comprising:
 a bus system;   a communications system connected to the bus system;   a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and   a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request to deploy the software service in a computer network; perform a dependency analysis for the requested software service to determine component software services and physical resources necessary to deploy and manage the new software service as a composite in response to the software service being a new software service; create an active object to manage the new software service using an active template based on the dependency analysis; deploy the new software service in the computer network using the active object; and manage the new software service using the active object.   
   
   
       16 . The data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the dependency analysis is triggered by an imbalance in a current state and a desired state of the software service, wherein the imbalance in the current state and the desired state may occur in response to at least one of a service request, a request from a dependent service, global policies, global management actions, administrative actions, a supporting service, a supporting physical resource, or a spontaneous change in a state of the software service. 
   
   
       17 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for management of a software service, the computer program product including:   computer usable program code for receiving a request to deploy the software service in a computer network;   computer usable program code for performing a dependency analysis for the requested software service to determine component software services and physical resources necessary to deploy and manage the new software service as a composite in response to the software service being a new software service,;   computer usable program code for creating an active object to manage the new software service using an active template based on the dependency analysis;   computer usable program code for deploying the new software service in the computer network using the active object; and   computer usable program code for managing the new software service using the active object.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the dependency analysis is triggered by an imbalance in a current state and a desired state of the software service, wherein the imbalance in the current state and the desired state may occur in response to at least one of a service request, a request from a dependent service, global policies, global management actions, administrative actions, a supporting service, a supporting physical resource, or a spontaneous change in a state of the software service. 
   
   
       19 . An active repository comprising:
 a plurality of active templates; and   an active object repository, wherein the active repository receives a request to deploy the software service in a computer network; performs a dependency analysis for the requested software service to determine component software services and physical resources necessary to deploy and manage the new software service as a composite in response to the software service being a new software service; creates an active object to manage the new software service using an active template based on the dependency analysis; deploys the new software service in the computer network using the active object; and wherein the active object manages the new software service.   
   
   
       20 . The active repository of  claim 19 , wherein the dependency analysis is triggered by an imbalance in a current state and a desired state of the software service, wherein the imbalance in the current state and the desired state may occur in response to at least one of a service request, a request from a dependent service, global policies, global management actions, administrative actions, a supporting service, a supporting physical resource, or a spontaneous change in a state of the software service.