Optimizing allocation of on-demand resources using performance zones

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention can be used to efficiently allocate on-demand resources to a customer of a data center such as a multi-tenant data center having resources dedicated to given customers, as well as on-demand resources that can be flexibly provisioned to customers using a performance zone concept realized via logical switches to present a single logical network to the customer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a user request for allocation of an on-demand resource within a data center having a plurality of performance zones each logically connected by a logical network;   determining whether the user request includes a performance zone request for a performance zone with which the user is associated and if so, determining whether a resource corresponding to the requested on-demand resource is available within the requested performance zone; and   assigning to the user the resource within the requested performance zone if the resource is available, and otherwise causing the user request to fail.