Abstract:
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management. In aspects, a stage management engine can be invoked by a developer to initiate the development, testing, and deployment of a software package, e.g. an application or operating system. A set of repositories can store related versions of the software under development at different stages of building, testing, and deployment. The repositories can enforce consistent file naming and avoid duplication of stored files. In embodiments, the stage management engine can likewise interface with a configuration management database that stores and manages a resource configuration state of a host virtual machine used to develop and run the subject software package. Both the package and virtual machine bed can be moved through various development stages to production in coordinated fashion, ensuring consistency in both the software to be installed and the target machine for the installation.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present teachings relate to systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management, and more particularly to platforms and techniques for integrating the production process for virtual machines and associated software packages, including virtual machine configuration management and promotion of virtual machines and/or packages through various stages of production. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Production management platforms for the development, debugging and deployment of software packages are known. For instance, software developers can utilize package management platforms which permit a developer to code, test, debug, iterate and deploy a software application or an undated version of a software application, operating system, or other software types. In general, at different stages of development the developer can complete and store various versions of the software in different repositories, such as network-accessible databases. The set of repositories can be named or labeled according to the various stages of development stored in that storage location, such as “Beta,” “Test”, “Stable,” “Quality Assurance (QA),” or “Production.” 
     Existing package management platforms and related development tools suffer from a number of operational or technical drawbacks, however. For one, in existing package management platforms the developer or other user may be required to reinstall a given set of resources to a virtual machine when a new stage is entered, for instance to ensure compatibility with a new application or operating system. For another, the developer or other user may be required to manually store different versions of the software as is progresses through various stages of the development life cycle, which can among other things create a risk of inconsistent versions. For still another drawback, existing platforms are configured to manage the development of individual packages, but not the overall configuration management of the virtual machine, itself. Thus, to configure or update the processor, storage, or other resources assigned to a virtual machine functioning as a test bed for the software package under development, the developer or other user may need to invoke a separate configuration management tool to track the resource settings of and updates to the underlying virtual machine. It may be desirable to provide systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management, in which both software packages and machine configurations can be generated, tracked, and moved through all phases of the development cycle using an integrated development tool. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present teachings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overall network in which systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management can be implemented, according to various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an overall network in which systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management can be implemented in further aspects, according to various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary hardware, software, and other resources that can be used in a management server which can support systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management, according to various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of package management and configuration management processing, according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present teachings relate to systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management. More particularly, aspects relate to platforms and techniques for initiating and managing the development of software package versions throughout the software development cycle, including stages or phases such as beta or other testing stages, stable stages, quality assurance stages, and production stages, among other possible stages. According to aspects, a package management tool hosted in a management server can permit a systems administrator or other user to track, store, and migrate the various package versions through the various development stages, which in aspects can be user-defined. The package management tool can store the package versions to corresponding repositories, which can comprise network-accessible databases for systems administrators, programmers, developers, end users, and/or other users to access those software versions for testing, download, and/or installation. In embodiments, software packages produced under management of the package management tool can be designed or intended for installation to a set of virtual machines, as the targets of that installation. In embodiments, the machines to which installation will be directed can in addition or instead include physical machines or other hardware. 
     In embodiments, in addition to a package management tool, the management server can host, contain, and/or access a configuration management tool or other logic to track, store, and manage the configuration management profile(s) of the virtual machines, that may be used as test beds or hosts for corresponding versions of the software package under development. In aspects, the management server can provide an integrated user interface, an integrated file system including an integrated file naming system, and/or other comprehensive resources used to develop packages in concert with target virtual machines for the compatible installation of those packages, all from the same view, server, interface, tool, or site. These and other embodiments described herein address the various noted shortcomings in known package management and virtual machine management technology, and provide a user or network operator with enhanced power, flexibility, and integration in the software development and distribution process. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an overall network  100  in which systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management can be implemented, according to various embodiments of the present teachings. In embodiments as shown, a management server  102  can communicate with a managed network  110  to carry out various software development, testing, configuration management, deployment, maintenance, or other services. In embodiments, management server  102  can communicate with managed network  110  via secure or non-secure channels or connections, including, for instance, the Internet or other public or private networks. In embodiments, management server  102  can host, maintain, or communicate with a set of associated resources including a configuration management database  104 , which can be or include a local or remote database or data store hosting information related to a set of hosts  112 , set of virtual machines  116 , and/or other machines or nodes hosted in managed network  110 . In embodiments, management server  102  can comprise, host, or access a package management tool  120  containing applications, logic, and/or other resources to initiate, configure, update, store, and manage a set of package versions  124 . In aspects, each software package in set of package versions  124  can comprise a version of software such as an application, utility, gadget, script, operating system, and/or other software which can be developed in various versions over different development stages. The set of development stages can includes stages or phases such as “Beta,” “Test”, “Stable,” “Quality Assurance (QA),” “Production,” or others. In aspects, the package version for each stage can be stored or hosted in a corresponding repository in set of repositories  126 , which can be or include one or more local or remote databases or other data stores. In aspects, programmers, developers, administrator, and/or other users can access or invoke package management tool  120  to access, test, code, update, review, and/or otherwise manipulate the software packages stored in set of repositories  126 , for development, testing, distribution, and/or other purposes. In embodiments, access to management server  102  and related interfaces, storage, and other resources can be provided via a browser interface, or other interface, view, or channel. In embodiments, user access can be managed via credentials, such as user names, passwords, and/or other access management mechanisms. 
     Managed network  110  can include or host further resources including one or more set of virtual machines  116 , such as, for instance, one or more sets of virtual clients, servers, targets, hosts, and/or other virtual machines, nodes, or resources. In aspects, one or more versions of set of package versions  124  can be directed, developed, or intended for installation to one or more virtual machines in one or more set of virtual machines  116 . In embodiments, in addition to or instead of existing virtual machines, one or more versions of set of package versions  124  can be directed, developed, or intended for installation to one or more virtual machines in one or more set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134  which may not yet be instantiated or configured in managed network  110 . In embodiments, the one or more virtual machine to which installation of one or more versions of set of package versions  124  is directed can be or include an appliance, which can in embodiments can be a special-purpose or specifically configured machine whose software resources, storage, processing, and/or other resources are installed or configured according to predetermined purposes or applications, such as, for instance, to perform as a transaction server. According to embodiments, hosts  112 , a set of virtual machines  116 , set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 , and/or other nodes, machines, or resources of managed network  110  can be or include virtual machines, as well as hardware-based or hardware-implemented machines, and can be or include resources instantiated from or based on cloud-based networks. According to embodiments, management server  102  can host not only package management tool  120  to organize and manage set of package versions  124 , but also, can host additional logic including configuration management tool  122  to control, organize, and manage set of virtual machines  116 , set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 , and resources related to set of package versions  124  intended for installation on those virtual machines. 
     More particularly, in terms of the overall management of software packages developed for distribution to set of virtual machines  116 , set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 , and/or other virtual machines or nodes, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , configuration management tool  122  can communicate with configuration management database  104  to access and manipulate a set of configuration management profiles  132  that specify the configuration state of virtual machines in managed network  110 . Set of configuration management profiles  132  can, for instance, store the specification of an operating system type and versions, processor allocation, memory allocation, storage, communications bandwidth, ports, or other resources, and/or other hardware, software, and/or other resources for one or more virtual machine. In aspects, set of configuration management profiles  132  can store individual virtual machine resource profiles that correspond to different versions of software packages in set of package versions  124 . Thus, for instance, a first configuration management profile in set of configuration management profiles  132  can specify a virtual machine having “Operating System X,” installed at “Version 1.2” with minimum memory of “2 gigabytes” as the minimum, baseline, required, or other target configuration for a software package version 1.0 stored as “Beta” stage in set of repositories  126 . Similarly, a second configuration management profile in set of configuration management profiles  132  can specify a virtual machine having “Operating System X,” installed at “Version 1.4” with minimum memory of “4 gigabytes” as the minimum, baseline, or required configuration for a software package version 1.1 stored as “Stable” stage in set of repositories  126 . Other configuration types, parameters, values, and relationships, including versions in set of package versions  124 , stages in set of repositories  126 , can be used. However, in all cases because a software developer or other user can develop both a software package version, and the target, baseline, or required configuration profile for a virtual machine to which that version will be installed at the same time, via the same interface and/or a coordinated set of tools, compatibility, ease of use, debugging, and ease of distribution and installation of software packages are enhanced. 
     More particularly, and as for instance as shown in  FIG. 2 , the set of package versions  124 , set of configuration management profiles  132 , and/or related code or resources can be freely exchanged, updated, modified, duplicated, and/or promoted or migrated between different development stages using management server  102  along with package management tool  120 , configuration management tool  122 , and/or related development resources. In embodiments, for instance, a given configuration management profile, such as a profile specifying the operating system, processor, memory, storage, and/or other resources for a target virtual machine to which a software package is intended to be installed, can be stored as “Configuration Management Profile Versions 1.2”, and designated or associated with a specific package version, such as a Web browser application, package Version 2.4 which may for instance be stored to a repository designated “Stable” in set of repositories  126 . A systems administrator, developer, or other user can, using management server  102  including package management tool  120  and/or configuration management tool  122 , migrate, promote, or otherwise move Web browser application, package Version 2.4 to a repository designated “Production” in set of repositories  126  after debugging activities are complete. Conversely, a user can likewise use package management tool  120  and/or configuration management tool  122  to migrate, promote, or otherwise move or re-designate or re-associate a configuration management profile in set of configuration management profiles  132  to a new development stage, or to be associated with a package version occupying a different stage. In embodiments, configuration management profiles stored in set of configuration management profiles  132  can record a stage with which a virtual machine profile or template is associated. In embodiments, configuration management profiles stored in set of configuration management profiles  132  can record a software package version with while that profile is associated, thereby indirectly encoding a stage for the profile via its corresponding package. In embodiments, set of configuration management profiles  132  can also or instead be stored directly to set of repositories  126 , or to other storage encoding or indicating development stages to which the configuration profile of a virtual machine may apply or which may be required for proper operation of a package. Thus, for example, a configuration management profile designated as “Testing” stage can be re-designated as the required or associated profile for a “Stable” stage, or other development stages or phases. A user can thereby specify both different configuration profiles of a virtual machine to receive and operate various software package versions at different stages of development, and freely move or migrate those versions of configuration profiles and packages between those stages. 
     After completion of a “Production” stage version of a software package or at other times, the developer, administrator, and/or other user can initiate the distribution and installation of a software package from set of repositories  126 . Distribution and installation can, in aspects, take place on a manual basis specified by the user, and/or be initiated on an automatic basis, using for instance update logic or schedules. In embodiments, management server can transmit a set of installation commands  138  to one or more virtual machine in set of virtual machines  116 , to one or more virtual machine in set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 , and/or other virtual machines or resources, to cause installation to be initiated using the configuration management profile and/or software package version selected or stored in set of repositories  126 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary diagram of hardware and other resources that can be incorporated in a management server  102  configured to communicate with managed network  110  including set of virtual machines  116 , set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 , set of repositories  126 , set of hosts  112 , and/or other resources, according to embodiments. In embodiments as shown, the management server  102  can comprise a processor  124  communicating with memory  126 , such as electronic random access memory, operating under control of or in conjunction with operating system  130 . Operating system  130  can be, for example, a distribution of the Linux™ operating system, the Unix™ operating system, or other open-source or proprietary operating system or platform. Processor  124  also communicates with configuration management database  104 , such as a database stored on a local or remote hard drive or other storage. Processor  124  further communicates with network interface  128 , such as an Ethernet or wireless data connection, which in turn communicates with one or more managed network  110 , which can be, include, or be accessed with via private or secure channels, and/or the Internet or other public or private networks. Processor  124  also communicates with package management tool  120 , configuration management tool  122 , and/or other resources or logic, to execute software package coding, testing, distribution, and/or installation, as well as integrated virtual machine management including configuration management, and/or other control, configuration, development, messaging, and other management processes described herein. Other configurations of the management server  102 , associated network connections, and other hardware and software resources are possible. While  FIG. 3  illustrates management server  102  as a standalone system comprises a combination of hardware and software, management server  102  can also be implemented as a software application or program capable of being executed by a conventional computer platform. Likewise, management server  102  can also be implemented as a software module or program module capable of being incorporated in other software applications and programs. In either case, management server  102  can be implemented in any type of conventional proprietary or open-source computer software, code, logic, or language. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of overall processing that can be used in systems and methods for integrated package development and machine configuration management, according to various embodiments. In  402 , processing can begin. In  404 , a developer, systems administrator, or other user can invoke, access, and/or instantiate package management tool  120  and/or configuration management tool  122 , hosted by management server  102 , as appropriate. In  406 , a developer, systems administrator, or other user can access set of package versions  124  and/or set of configuration management profiles  134 , as appropriate, via package management tool  120  or configuration management tool  122 , respectively. In  408 , the user can configure, revise, and/or update one or more package versions in set of package versions  124 , and/or configure, revise, and/or update one or more configuration management profiles in set of configuration management profiles  124 , as appropriate. For instance, a user can update a browser application and/or related resources, to create a new version of that software package. Similarly, a user can in addition or instead configure or update a virtual machine configuration profile, and create a new profile version to correspond to the updated browser, or other package versions of that or other software. 
     In  410 , any newly configured and/or revised package version can be stored to set of repositories  126 , as appropriate. The subject package version can be stored, for instance, to a new or revised stage in set of repositories, such as “Quality Assurance” or other stage designations. In  412 , any newly configured and/or revised configuration management profile can be stored to set of configuration management profiles  124 , for instance, to reflect or encode the minimum or required set of resources for a virtual machine capable of hosting a browser software package registered to the “Quality Assurance” stage. In  414 , one or more selected configuration management profile(s) can be migrated to or associated with a new or different repository stage. For example, a user can move a configuration management profile, such as “Version 1.2” for a server virtual machine template or profile, from a stage designated as “Quality Assurance” to a stage designated as “Production” in set of configuration management profiles  132 , or change a designation in set of configuration management profiles  132  to indicate the configuration management profile is associated with a package version itself stored to those stages. In  416 , one or more selected package version(s) can be migrated to or associated with a new or different repository stage. For example, a user can move a software package version, such as Version 4.4 of a messaging application, from a stage designated as “Beta” to a stage designated as “Stable” in set of repositories  126 . In embodiments, changes to the stage assignment of package versions and changes to the stage assignment of configuration management profiles can be made together in coordinated fashion and/or at the same time, or can be made independently and/or at different times. In embodiments, a configuration management profile can be assigned to more than one stage and/or more than one package version or package type. 
     In  418 , installation of one or more software packages can be initiated from set of repositories  126 , for instance, by set of installation commands  138  initiated by user selection and/or automatic update. In embodiments, installation can be performed to one or more virtual machines in existing set of virtual machines  116 . In embodiments, installation can in addition or instead be performed to one or more newly instantiated machines in a set of newly instantiated virtual machines  134 . Other virtual machines, or in cases, physical or non-virtual machines, can likewise receive set of installation commands  138  and associated software package installation and/or virtual machine configuration. In  420 , processing can repeat, return to a prior processing point, jump to a further processing point, or end. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative, and variations in configuration and implementation may occur to persons skilled in the art. For example, while embodiments have been described in which a single management server  102  hosts package management tool  120 , configuration management tool  122 , and other resources, in embodiments, package management logic, configuration management logic, and other logic, rules, or resources can be hosted in separate or remote servers or other sites, hardware, or resources. For further example, again while embodiments have been described in which package management tool  120  and configuration management tool  122  comprise separate software, engines, or logic, in embodiments those tools, along with other software or logic, can be combined. Other resources described as singular or integrated can in embodiments be plural or distributed, and resources described as multiple or distributed can in embodiments be combined. The scope of the present teachings is accordingly intended to be limited only by the following claims.