Methods and apparatus to manage asset capabilities in a computing environment using a common agent framework

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to manage asset in a computing environment using a common agent framework. An example method includes maintaining a catalog of capabilities available to an asset based on plugins installed at the asset. The example method also includes determining whether a capability is installed at the asset based on the catalog of capabilities, and installing the capability at the asset when the capability is not installed at the asset. The example method also includes receiving, at the asset, a request to perform the capability, validating, via a processor, the request, and, in response to the validating, performing the capability.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 memory including computer executable instructions;   at least one processor to execute the computer executable instructions to:
 in response to a request from a virtualization asset management application, determine whether a capability identified in a list of capabilities of a virtualization asset management application is installed at a virtualization asset based on a catalog of capabilities available to the virtualization asset, the catalog of capabilities available to the virtualization asset based on plugins installed at the virtualization asset; 
 when the capability is not installed at the virtualization asset, install the capability at the virtualization asset; and 
 responsive to a request to perform the capability, record an output from performing the capability. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further to execute the computer executable instructions to maintain the catalog of capabilities by:
 retrieving a set of capabilities provided by the one or more of the plugins; and   updating the catalog of capabilities to include the set of capabilities by:
 logging the set of capabilities in the catalog of capabilities; 
 logging arguments needed to execute corresponding ones of the capabilities; and 
 mapping the capabilities to corresponding ones of the plugins. 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the virtualization asset is to execute in a first container, the first container to operate on top of a host operating system without the need for a hypervisor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the application is a first application, and the first container is to isolate the virtualization asset from a second application in a second container, the second container to operate on top of the host operating system. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first container does not instantiate its own operating system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the application is a first application and the output is accessible by a second application. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the capabilities include at least one of a function, task, process and operation. 
     
     
         9 . A method to reduce computer resource usage, the method comprising:
 in response to a request from a virtualization asset management application, determining whether a capability identified in a list of capabilities of the virtualization asset management application is installed at a virtualization asset based on a catalog of capabilities available to the virtualization asset based on plugins installed at the virtualization asset;   in response to determining the capability is not installed at the virtualization asset, installing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the capability at the virtualization asset; and   responsive to a request to perform the capability, recording, by executing an instruction with the processor, an output generated by performing the capability.   
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , further including:
 registering a plugin in an inventory of plugins;   retrieving capabilities provided by the plugin; and   updating the catalog of capabilities to include at least one of the capabilities by:
 adding at least one of the capabilities to the catalog; 
 logging an argument needed to execute the at least one of the capabilities; and 
 mapping the at least one of the capabilities to the plugin. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virtualization asset is to execute in a first container, the first container to operate on top of a host operating system without the need for a hypervisor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the application is a first application and the first container is to isolate the virtualization asset from a second application in a second container, the second container to operate on top of the host operating system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first container does not instantiate its own operating system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the application is a first application and the output is accessible by a second application. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 in response to a request from a virtualization asset management application, determine whether a capability identified in a list of capabilities of a virtualization asset management application is installed at a virtualization asset based on a catalog of capabilities available to the virtualization asset, the catalog of capabilities available to the virtualization asset based on plugins installed at the virtualization asset;   when the capability is not installed at the virtualization asset, install the capability at the virtualization asset; and   responsive to a request to perform the capability, record an output generated by performing the capability.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:
 retrieve a set of capabilities provided by the one or more of the plugins; and   update the catalog of capabilities to include the set of capabilities by:
 logging the set of capabilities in the catalog of capabilities; 
 logging arguments needed to execute corresponding ones of the capabilities; and 
 mapping the capabilities to corresponding ones of the plugins. 
   
     
     
         17 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the virtualization asset is to execute in a first container, the first container to operate on top of a host operating system without the need for a hypervisor. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the application is a first application, and the first container is to isolate the virtualization asset from a second application in a second container, the second container to operate on top of the host operating system. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first container does not instantiate its own operating system. 
     
     
         20 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the application is a first application and the output is accessible by a second application. 
     
     
         21 . The tangible computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the capabilities include at least one of a function, task, process and operation.