Automated cost calculation for virtualized infrastructure

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes storing a cost assigned to a physical computing device in a storage device. The physical computing device is found in a physical infrastructure of a data center. The method determines an instantiation of a virtual machine in a virtual infrastructure. Information for a provisioning of the virtual machine with the physical computing device in the physical infrastructure of the data center is then received. The cost assigned to the physical computing device from the storage device is determined where the cost is used to determine a charge for the virtual machine based on usage of the physical computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 storing a cost assigned to a physical computing device in a storage device, the physical computing device being found in a physical infrastructure of a data center;   determining an instantiation of a virtual machine in a virtual infrastructure;   receiving information for a provisioning of the virtual machine with the physical computing device in the physical infrastructure of the data center; and   retrieving, by a computer system, the cost assigned to the physical computing device from the storage device, wherein the cost is used to determine a charge for the virtual machine based on usage of the physical computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cost is assigned to a computing resource of the physical computing device, and   the usage of the computing resource is used to determine the charge.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a plurality of costs assigned to a plurality of physical computing devices in the physical infrastructure in the data storage; and   retrieving one or more of the costs assigned to one or more physical computing devices from the data storage automatically upon instantiation of the virtual machine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical infrastructure comprises a plurality of physical computing devices, wherein one or more costs are assigned to one or more computing resources associated with each physical computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring usage of a computing resource for the virtual machine; and   applying the cost for the computing resource to the monitored usage to determine the charge for the virtual machine.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining a set of attributes for a computing resource of the physical computing device, wherein an attribute defines a way to measure usage of the computing resource; and   defining a set of billing policies for the physical computing device, wherein a billing policy defines a method to calculate usage of an attribute of the computing resource.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one or more attributes for a computing resource of the physical computing device;   receiving a selection of an operation; and   generating an expression from the selection of the one or more attributes and the operation, the expression used to determine the charge when the computing resource is used by the virtual machine.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a billing policy is generated that specifies one or more computing resources that are to be billed for the physical computing device,   one or more costs for the one or more computing resources are determined, and   the charge is determined based on the one or more costs for the specified one or more computing resources and the usage of the specified one or more computing resources.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a plurality of tiers for a computing resource of the physical computing device;   assigning a cost to each tier;   determining the virtual machine is associated with the computing resource included in a tier in the plurality of tiers; and   using the cost of the tier to determine the charge for the virtual machine.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cost assigned to the physical computing device is determined automatically upon instantiation of the virtual machine in the virtual infrastructure. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to be operable to:
 store a cost assigned to a physical computing device in a storage device, the physical computing device being found in a physical infrastructure of a data center;   determine an instantiation of a virtual machine in a virtual infrastructure;   receive information for a provisioning of the virtual machine with the physical computing device in the physical infrastructure of the data center; and   retrieve the cost assigned to the physical computing device from the storage device, wherein the cost is used to determine a charge for the virtual machine based on usage of the physical computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the cost is assigned to a computing resource of the physical computing device, and   the usage of the computing resource is used to determine the charge.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further operable to:
 store a plurality of costs assigned to a plurality of physical computing devices in the physical infrastructure in the data storage; and   retrieve one or more of the costs assigned to one or more physical computing devices from the data storage automatically upon instantiation of the virtual machine.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further operable to:
 receive a selection of one or more attributes for a computing resource of the physical computing device;   receive a selection of an operation; and   generate an expression from the selection of the one or more attributes and the operation, the expression used to determine the charge when the computing resource is used by the virtual machine.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further operable to:
 determine a plurality of tiers for a computing resource for the physical computing device;   assign a cost to each tier;   determine the virtual machine is associated with the computing resource included in a tier in the plurality of tiers; and   use the cost of the tier to determine the charge for the virtual machine.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 storing a plurality of costs to a plurality of computing resources in a data storage device, the plurality of computing resources being found in a physical infrastructure;   measuring usage of a computing resource by a virtual machine in a virtual infrastructure;   determining a physical computing device in the physical infrastructure associated with the computing resource;   retrieving a cost assigned to the computing resource from the data storage device based on the determined physical computing device; and   determining, by a computer system, a charge for the virtual machine based on the measured usage of the computing resource and the determined cost assigned the computing resource.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving information for a provisioning of the virtual machine with the physical computing device, wherein the information is used to determine that the computing resource is associated with the physical computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising defining a billing policy for the computing resource, wherein the billing policy is used to determine the charge for the virtual machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising associating the determined cost assigned to the computing resource with the virtual machine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cost assigned to the computing resource is determined automatically upon an instantiation of the virtual machine in the virtual infrastructure.