Method and system for identity-based authentication of virtual machines

Abstract

A cloud computing system configured to run virtual machine instances is disclosed. The cloud computing system assigns an identity to each virtual machine instance. When the virtual machine instance accesses initial configuration resources, it provides this identity to the resources to authenticate itself. This allows for flexible and extensible initial configuration of virtual machine instances.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cloud computing system, the system comprising
 a resource having configuration information;   a virtual machine instance operably coupled to the resource, wherein an immutable value denotes an identity of the virtual machine instance and is assigned to the virtual machine instance; and   an authentication manager that receives a request including the immutable value from the virtual machine instance for access to the resource, authenticates, based on the identity of the virtual machine instance, the virtual machine instance, determines that the virtual machine instance has successfully authenticated, and provides, based on the determination that the virtual machine instance has successfully authenticated, the configuration information to the virtual machine instance.