Patent Publication Number: US-9842004-B2

Title: Adjusting resource usage for cloud-based networks

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to products and services, more particularly, to systems and methods for cloud computing related services and products. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     The advent of cloud-based computing architectures has opened new possibilities for the rapid and scalable deployment of virtual Web stores, media outlets, and other on-line sites or services. In general, a cloud-based architecture deploys a set of hosted resources such as processors, operating systems, software and other components that can be combined or strung together to form virtual machines. A user or customer can request the instantiation of a virtual machine or set of machines from those resources from a central server or management system to perform intended tasks or applications. For example, a user may wish to set up and instantiate a virtual server from the cloud to create a storefront to market products or services on a temporary basis, for instance, to sell tickets to an upcoming sports or musical performance. The user can lease or subscribe to the set of resources needed to build and run the set of instantiated virtual machines on a comparatively short-term basis, such as hours or days, for their intended application. 
     Currently, when a user desires to can lease or subscribe to the set of resources, the user may request the set of resources based on their service level requirements and then receive a price for the request. Currently, no mechanism exists for users to view different pricing information for different possible service levels. Additionally, no mechanism exist for users to view pricing information for service levels across multiple cloud computing environments. Also, no mechanism exist for users to automatically select and modify or optimize the resources utilized based on updated pricing information and updated service level information in the cloud computing environment. Thus, there is a need in the art for methods and systems that provide relevant service level and financial information and optimization services for different cloud computing environments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various features of the embodiments can be more fully appreciated, as the same become better understood with reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overall cloud system architecture in which various embodiments of the present teachings can be practiced; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an overall cloud system architecture in which various embodiments of the present teachings can be practiced in another regard including multiple cloud arrangements, according to various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a network configuration in which a marketplace system can communicate with clouds, according to various embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary hardware configuration for a marketplace system, according to various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart for resource optimization in a cloud computing environment, according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring mainly to exemplary embodiments thereof. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be implemented in, all types of information and service portals, and that any such variations do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, in the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying figures, which illustrate specific embodiments. Electrical, mechanical, logical and structural changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Embodiments of the present teachings relate to systems and methods for optimizing resource usage for cloud computing environments. More particularly, embodiments relate to platforms and techniques in which a cloud marketplace system automatically evaluates the resources and services provided by the cloud computing environments in order to instantiate virtual machines optimized according to a requester&#39;s specifications and parameters. 
     According to embodiments, in general, the cloud marketplace system can be configured to communicate with multiple cloud computing environments in order to ascertain the details for the resources and services provided by the cloud computing environments for optimizing resources utilized by virtual machines. In particular, an optimization engine can be configured to receive a request to instantiate virtual machines. The request can include the specifications of the virtual machines and parameters for instantiating the virtual machines such as cost, time period, and resources/services desired. 
     In embodiments, the optimization engine can be configured to determine the resource and service data for the cloud computing environments. The resource and service data can include computing resources and services provided by the cloud computing environments, computing resources and services available in the cloud computing environments at particular time periods, cost data for computing resources and services provided by the cloud computing environments, and status data for the cloud computing environments at particular time periods. 
     In embodiments, the optimization engine can be configured to select a set of resource servers for instantiating the virtual machines based on the determined resource and service data, the specifications of the virtual machines, and the parameters of the request. Once selected, the optimization engine can request instantiation of the virtual machines or directly instantiate the virtual machines. 
     In embodiments, the cloud marketplace system can be configured to periodically monitor the cloud&#39;s resources and migrate the virtual machines if resources become available that more closely match the parameters of the virtual machines. In particular, the optimization engine can periodically monitor and determine the service and resource data for the cloud computing environments. The optimization engine can compare the service and resource data to the original specifications and parameters of the virtual machines. If more closely matching resource servers become available, the optimization engine can migrate the virtual machines to the more closely matching resource servers. 
     By providing optimization for the services and resources of cloud computing environments, users can perform efficient cost-accounting for, shopping for, and migrations of existing and planned workloads to the best possible cloud computing environment. As such, the user can locate and evaluate the best priced and best quality service for their workloads and applications within minimum interaction with the clouds. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an overall cloud computing environment, in systems and methods for the management of subscriptions of cloud-based virtual machines can operate, according to embodiments of the present teachings. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in or supported by a cloud network architecture. As used herein, a “cloud” can comprise a collection of resources that can be invoked to instantiate a virtual machine, process, or other resource for a limited or defined duration. As shown for example in  FIG. 1 , the collection of resources supporting a cloud  102  can comprise a set of resource servers  108  configured to deliver computing components needed to instantiate a virtual machine, process, or other resource. For example, one group of resource servers can host and serve an operating system or components thereof to deliver to and instantiate a virtual machine. Another group of resource servers can accept requests to host computing cycles or processor time, to supply a defined level of processing power for a virtual machine. A further group of resource servers can host and serve applications to load on an instantiation of a virtual machine, such as an email client, a browser application, a messaging application, or other applications or software. Other types of resource servers are possible. 
     In embodiments, the entire set of resource servers  108  or other hardware or software resources used to support the cloud  102  along with its instantiated virtual machines is managed by a cloud management system  104 . The cloud management system  104  can comprise a dedicated or centralized server and/or other software, hardware, and network tools that communicate via one or more networks  106  such as the Internet or other public or private network with all sets of resource servers to manage the cloud  102  and its operation. To instantiate a new set of virtual machines, a user can transmit an instantiation request to the cloud management system  104  for the particular type of virtual machine they wish to invoke for their intended application. A user can for instance make a request to instantiate a set of virtual machines configured for email, messaging or other applications from the cloud  102 . The request can be received and processed by the cloud management system  104 , which identifies the type of virtual machine, process, or other resource being requested. The cloud management system  104  can then identify the collection of resources necessary to instantiate that machine or resource. In embodiments, the set of instantiated virtual machines or other resources can for example comprise virtual transaction servers used to support Web storefronts, or other transaction sites. 
     In embodiments, the user&#39;s instantiation request can specify a variety of parameters defining the operation of the set of virtual machines to be invoked. The instantiation request, for example, can specify a defined period of time for which the instantiated machine or process is needed. The period of time can be, for example, an hour, a day, or other increment of time. In embodiments, the user&#39;s instantiation request can specify the instantiation of a set of virtual machines or processes on a task basis, rather than for a predetermined amount of time. For instance, a user could request resources until a software update is completed. The user&#39;s instantiation request can specify other parameters that define the configuration and operation of the set of virtual machines or other instantiated resources. For example, the request can specify an amount of processing power or input/output (I/O) throughput the user wishes to be available to each instance of the virtual machine or other resource. In embodiments, the requesting user can for instance specify a service level agreement (SLA) acceptable for their application. Other parameters and settings can be used. One skilled in the art will realize that the user&#39;s request can likewise include combinations of the foregoing exemplary parameters, and others. 
     When the request to instantiate a set of virtual machines or other resources has been received and the necessary resources to build that machine or resource have been identified, the cloud management system  104  can communicate with one or more set of resource servers  108  to locate resources to supply the required components. The cloud management system  104  can select providers from the diverse set of resource servers  108  to assemble the various components needed to build the requested set of virtual machines or other resources. It may be noted that in some embodiments, permanent storage such as hard disk arrays may not be included or located within the set of resource servers  108  available to the cloud management system  104 , since the set of instantiated virtual machines or other resources may be intended to operate on a purely transient or temporary basis. In embodiments, other hardware, software or other resources not strictly located or hosted in the cloud can be leveraged as needed. For example, other software services that are provided outside of the cloud  102  and hosted by third parties can be invoked by in-cloud virtual machines. For further example, other non-cloud hardware and/or storage services can be utilized as an extension to the cloud  102 , either on an on-demand or subscribed or decided basis. 
     With the resource requirements identified, the cloud management system  104  can extract and build the set of virtual machines or other resources on a dynamic or on-demand basis. For example, one set of resource servers  108  can respond to an instantiation request for a given quantity of processor cycles with an offer to deliver that computational power immediately and guaranteed for the next hour. A further set of resource servers  108  can offer to immediately supply communication bandwidth, for example on a guaranteed minimum or best-efforts basis. In other embodiments, the set of virtual machines or other resources can be built on a batch basis or at a particular future time. For example, a set of resource servers  108  can respond to a request for instantiation at a programmed time with an offer to deliver the specified quantity of processor cycles within a specific amount of time, such as the next 12 hours. 
     The cloud management system  104  can select group of servers in the set of resource servers  108  that match or best match the instantiation request for each component needed to build the virtual machine or other resource. The cloud management system  104  can then coordinate the integration of the completed group of servers from the set of resource servers  108 , to build and launch the requested set of virtual machines or other resources. The cloud management system  104  can track the combined group of servers selected from the set of resource servers  108 , or other distributed resources that are dynamically or temporarily combined, to produce and manage the requested virtual machine population or other resources. 
     In embodiments, the cloud management system  104  can generate a resource aggregation table that identifies the various sets of resource servers that will be used to supply the components of the virtual machine or process. The sets of resource servers can be identified by unique identifiers such as, for instance, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or other addresses. The cloud management system  104  can register the finalized group of servers in the set resource servers  108  contributing to an instantiated machine or process. 
     The cloud management system  104  can then set up and launch the initiation process for the virtual machines, processes, or other resources to be delivered from the cloud. The cloud management system  104  can for instance transmit an instantiation command or instruction to the registered group of servers in set of resource servers  108 . The cloud management system  104  can receive a confirmation message back from each participating server in set of resource servers  118  indicating a status regarding the provisioning of their respective resources. Various sets of resource servers can confirm, for example, the availability of a dedicated amount of processor cycles, amounts of electronic memory, communications bandwidth, or applications or other software prepared to be served. 
     As shown for example in  FIG. 2 , the cloud management system  104  can then instantiate one or more than one set of virtual machines  116 , or other processes based on the resources supplied by the registered set of resource servers  108 . In embodiments, the cloud management system  104  can instantiate a given number, for example, 10, 500, 1000, or other numbers of virtual machines to be made available to users on a network  114 , such as the Internet or other public or private network. Each virtual machine can be assigned an instantiated machine ID that can be stored in the resource aggregation table, or other record or image of the instantiated population. Additionally, the cloud management system  104  can store the duration of each virtual machine and the collection of resources utilized by the complete set of instantiated virtual machines  116 . 
     In embodiments, the cloud management system  104  can further store, track and manage a user&#39;s identity and associated set of rights or entitlements to software, hardware, and other resources. Each user that populates a set of virtual machines in the cloud can have specific rights and resources assigned and made available to them. The cloud management system  104  can track and configure specific actions that a user can perform, such as provision a set of virtual machines with software applications or other resources, configure a set of virtual machines to desired specifications, submit jobs to the set of virtual machines or other host, manage other users of the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  or other resources, and other privileges or actions. The cloud management system  104  can further generate records of the usage of instantiated virtual machines to permit tracking, billing, and auditing of the services consumed by the user. In embodiments, the cloud management system  104  can for example meter the usage and/or duration of the set of instantiated virtual machines  116 , to generate subscription billing records for a user that has launched those machines. Other billing or value arrangements are possible. 
     The cloud management system  104  can configure each virtual machine to be made available to users of the one or more networks  106  via a browser interface, or other interface or mechanism. Each instantiated virtual machine can communicate with the cloud management system  104  and the underlying registered set of resource servers  108  via a standard Web application programming interface (API), or via other calls or interfaces. The set of instantiated virtual machines  116  can likewise communicate with each other, as well as other sites, servers, locations, and resources available via the Internet or other public or private networks, whether within a given cloud  102  or between clouds. 
     It may be noted that while a browser interface or other front-end can be used to view and operate the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  from a client or terminal, the processing, memory, communications, storage, and other hardware as well as software resources required to be combined to build the virtual machines or other resources are all hosted remotely in the cloud  102 . In embodiments, the set of virtual machines  116  or other resources may not depend on or require the user&#39;s own on-premise hardware or other resources. In embodiments, a user can therefore request and instantiate a set of virtual machines or other resources on a purely off-premise basis, for instance to build and launch a virtual storefront or other application. 
     Because the cloud management system  104  in one regard specifies, builds, operates and manages the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  on a logical level, the user can request and receive different sets of virtual machines and other resources on a real-time or near real-time basis, without a need to specify or install any particular hardware. The user&#39;s set of instantiated virtual machines  116 , processes, or other resources can be scaled up or down immediately or virtually immediately on an on-demand basis, if desired. In embodiments, the various sets of resource servers that are accessed by the cloud management system  104  to support a set of instantiated virtual machines  116  or processes can change or be substituted, over time. The type and operating characteristics of the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  can nevertheless remain constant or virtually constant, since instances are assembled from abstracted resources that can be selected and maintained from diverse sources based on uniform specifications. 
     In terms of network management of the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  that have been successfully configured and instantiated, the cloud management system  104  can perform various network management tasks including security, maintenance, and metering for billing or subscription purposes. The cloud management system  104  of a given cloud  102  can, for example, install or terminate applications or appliances on individual machines. The cloud management system  104  can monitor operating virtual machines to detect any virus or other rogue process on individual machines, and for instance terminate the infected application or virtual machine. The cloud management system  104  can likewise manage an entire set of instantiated virtual machines  116  or other resources on a collective basis, for instance, to push or delivery a software upgrade to all active virtual machines. Other management processes are possible. 
     In embodiments, more than one set of virtual machines can be instantiated in a given cloud at the same, overlapping or successive times. The cloud management system  104  can, in such implementations, build, launch and manage multiple sets of virtual machines based on the same or different underlying set of resource servers  108 , with populations of different sets of instantiated virtual machines  116  such as may be requested by different users. The cloud management system  104  can institute and enforce security protocols in a cloud  102  hosting multiple sets of virtual machines. Each of the individual sets of virtual machines can be hosted in a respective partition or sub-cloud of the resources of the cloud  102 . The cloud management system  104  of a cloud can for example deploy services specific to isolated or defined sub-clouds, or isolate individual workloads/processes within the cloud to a specific sub-cloud. The subdivision of the cloud  102  into distinct transient sub-clouds or other sub-components which have assured security and isolation features can assist in establishing a multiple user or multi-tenant cloud arrangement. In a multiple user scenario, each of the multiple users can use the cloud platform as a common utility while retaining the assurance that their information is secure from other users of the overall cloud system. In further embodiments, sub-clouds can nevertheless be configured to share resources, if desired. 
     In embodiments, and as also shown in  FIG. 2 , the set of instantiated virtual machines  116  generated in a first cloud  102  can also interact with a set of instantiated virtual machines or processes generated in a second, third or further cloud  102 . The cloud management system  104  of a first cloud  102  can interface with the cloud management system  104  of a second cloud  102 , to coordinate those domains and operate the clouds and/or virtual machines or processes on a combined basis. The cloud management system  104  of a given cloud  102  can track and manage individual virtual machines or other resources instantiated in that cloud, as well as the set of instantiated virtual machines or other resources in other clouds. 
     In the foregoing and other embodiments, the user making an instantiation request or otherwise accessing or utilizing the cloud network can be a person, customer, subscriber, administrator, corporation, organization, or other entity. In embodiments, the user can be or include another virtual machine, application or process. In further embodiments, multiple users or entities can share the use of a set of virtual machines or other resources. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates aspects of a cloud marketplace system  200  and its interaction with various clouds  102 , according to various embodiments. In embodiments, the cloud marketplace system  200  provides a marketplace for the services provided by clouds  102 . In embodiments as shown, the cloud marketplace system  200  can comprise a a marketplace engine  205 , an optimization engine  210 , a marketplace store  215 , and an application programming interface (API)  220 . The marketplace engine  205  can be configured to contain control logic for performing the marketplace processes and for communicating with the clouds  102 , API  220 , and marketplace store  215 . In embodiments as shown, the cloud marketplace system  200  provides a marketplace for the services provided by clouds  102 . 
     In embodiments, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to communicate with the clouds  102  in order to ascertain the details for the resources and services provided by the clouds  102 . In particular, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to retrieve, from the clouds  102 , resource and service data  225  which describes the capabilities, services, status, and cost of the clouds  102 . The resource and service data  225  can include data detailing computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102 , computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  at particular time periods, cost for the services provided by the clouds  102 , and status for the clouds  102  at particular time periods. 
     In embodiments, the data detailing the computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102  can include resource data specifying the sets of resources servers  108  contained in the clouds  102  and the computing resources provided by the sets of resources servers  108  (computing cycles, bandwidth, memory, storage). Additionally, the data detailing the computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102  can include service data specifying particular services provided by the clouds  102  such as identity management services, cloud management services, application and appliance building services, and the like. 
     In embodiments, the data detailing the computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  at particular time periods can include data specifying computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  current or at some future time. Additionally, the data detailing the computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  at particular time periods can include data specifying service level agreements for the cloud  102  for a period of time. 
     In embodiments, the data detailing the cost for the resources and services provided by the clouds  102  can include data such as the cost for subscription to the clouds  102 , the cost for usage of the resources and services of the clouds  102 , and any discounts of the costs based on the usage. For example, the cost for usage can include the cost for the resources consumed to support the virtual machines and can include the cost for the utilization of the virtual machines by the user or third parties. These can include the cost for the instantiated time of the virtual machines, the computing resource consumed by the virtual machines (computing cycles, bandwidth), the time frame of the computing resource consumption (peak time, off-peak time), and combinations thereof. The cost data can include cost data for a current time or cost data for resources and services in the future, such as total lifetime costs of a cloud application. 
     In embodiments, the data detailing the status for the clouds  102  at particular time periods can include data specifying the resources and services current being utilized in the clouds  102 . For example, the status data can include virtual machines currently instantiated in the clouds  102  and the computing resources of the sets of resources servers  108  (computing cycles, bandwidth, memory, storage) currently utilized. 
     In embodiments, in order to acquire the resource and service data  225 , the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to request the resource and service data  225  from cloud management systems  104  located in the clouds  102 . Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to communicate with the set of resource servers  108  directly in order to obtain the resource and service data  225 . The cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to communicate with the clouds  102  via network  106  or any other available public or private network. In particular, marketplace engine  205  can be configured to communicate with the clouds  102 . 
     In embodiments, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to maintain a repository  230  for the resource and service data  225  in order to provide the marketplace for the clouds  102 . In particular, the marketplace engine  205  can be configured to maintain the repository  230 . The repository  230  can be configured in any format to allow the resource and service data  225  to be stored and retrieved. For example, the repository can be configured in any type of proprietary or open-source database format. The repository  230  can include a record for each cloud  102  that includes various searchable data fields for storing the resource and service data  225  for that particular cloud. 
     The cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to update the repository  230  periodically to maintain current resource and service data  225  for the clouds  102 . Likewise, when providing the marketplace, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to obtain the resource and service data  225 , on-demand, and directly from the clouds  102 . 
     In embodiments, to provide the marketplace, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured receive a request for information pertaining to the resources or services provided by or available in the clouds  102 . For example, a intiator may request information on clouds  102  that can provide a certain level of computing resources at a specific cost during a specific time period. The initiator of the request the information in order to see all available resources of the clouds  102  that may meet the initiator&#39;s requirements. As such, the request can include the information regarding the resources desired by the initiator. This can include the desired computing resources, the time period for the resources, the duration of the resources, the cost of the resources, services provided by the cloud, the availability of the resources, and the like. 
     In particular, the marketplace engine  205  can be configured to communicate with the initiator of the request via API  220 . API  220  can be configured to generate GUIs, e.g. dialog boxes, web pages, as required by marketplace engine  205  and to provide an interface for receiving requests. The initiator of the request can be a user desiring utilization of the clouds  102  or the cloud management systems  104  of the clouds  102 . 
     Once the request is received, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to search the repository  230  for resource and service data  225  relating to the request. In particular, the marketplace engine  205  can be configured to access the repository  230  stored in marketplace store  215  and search the repository  230  for resource and service data  225  matching the request. Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to obtain the resource and service data  225  directly from the clouds  102 . 
     Once located, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to generate a marketplace report  235  detailing the resource and service data  225  matching the request. For example, the marketplace report  235  can include a list of clouds  102  matching the request alone with the data detailing computing resources and services provided by the matching clouds  102 , computing resources and services available in the matching clouds  102  at particular time periods specified in the request, cost for the services and resources requested, and status for the matching clouds  102  at particular time periods specified in the request. 
     In particular, the marketplace engine  205  can be configured to extract the matching resource and service data from repository  230 . Marketplace engine  205  can be configured to arrange the matching resource and service data  225  in marketplace report  235 . 
     After generating the marketplace report  235 , the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to provide the marketplace report  235  to the initiator of the request. In particular, the marketplace engine  205  can be configured to provide the marketplace report  235  via API  220 . 
     Once the report is received, the initiator or the user can make a determination on which resources of the clouds  102  to utilize. This can include utilizing resources from a single cloud  102  or resources from multiple clouds  102 . For example, the initiator can select one or more cloud  102  with which to instantiate a virtual machine or machines. The initiator can make a request for the resources directly to the clouds  102 . Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to receive the initiators requests for resources and forward the request to the clouds  102 , or reserve the resources directly. 
     In additional embodiments, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to utilize the resource and service data  225  to provide automatic and optimized initiation and migration services for virtual machines initiated in the clouds  102 . In particular, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to contain control logic for performing the initiation and migration processes and for communicating with the clouds  102 , the marketplace engine  205 , API  220 , and the marketplace store  215 . 
     In embodiments, for a particular virtual machine or machines to be instantiated in the cloud  102 , the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to receive a request to instantiate virtual machines in the clouds  102 . The request can include specifications of the virtual machines or copies of the virtual machines. The request can also include parameters for instantiating the virtual machines, such as desired cost for instantiating the virtual machine, time period for instantiation of the virtual machine, desired resources for the virtual machine (computing cycles, bandwidth, etc), and the like. 
     In embodiments, once the request is received, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to determine a set of resource servers from clouds  102  on which to instantiate the virtual machines according to the request. In particular, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to determine a set of resource servers that most closely match the specifications for the virtual machines and the parameters specified by the requester. For example, a requester can request that virtual machines be instantiated in order to minimize cost and, in response, the optimization engine  210  can determine a set of resources servers that meet the specifications of the virtual machines while minimizing the cost of instantiating and supporting the virtual machines. 
     In embodiments, in order to determine a set of resources servers, the optimization engine  210  can be configure to determine resource and service data  225  for cloud  102 . The optimization engine  210  can be configured to request resource and service data  225  from marketplace engine  205 . Additionally, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to retrieve stored resource and service data  225  from marketplace store  215 . Also, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to include the logic of the marketplace engine  205  in order to determine resource and service data  225  directly from the clouds  102 . As mentioned above, the resource and service data  225  can describe the capabilities, services, status, and cost of the clouds  102 . The resource and service data  225  can include data detailing computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102 , computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  at particular time periods, cost for the services provided by the clouds  102 , and status for the clouds  102  at particular time periods. 
     Once the resource and service data  225  is determined, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to select a set of resource servers from clouds  102  that most closely match the specifications and parameters of the request. The optimization engine  210  can compare the specifications and parameters to resources and services data  225  in order to select a set of resource servers that most closely match the request. The optimization engine  210  can select the set of resource servers for the overall virtual machines. Likewise, the optimization engine  210  can select the set of resource servers that most closely match the request based on each component of the virtual machines. That is, the optimization engine  210  can compare the specifications and parameters for each component of the virtual machines to resources and services data  225  in order to select a set of resource servers for each component. 
     In embodiments, once the set of resource servers are selected, optimization engine  210  can be configured to send a request to the clouds  102  to initiate the virtual machines. Additionally, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to directly instantiate the virtual machines in the clouds  102 . 
     In embodiments, for a particular virtual machine or machines instantiated in the clouds  102 , the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to periodically monitor the clouds  102  for resources that more closely match the specification and parameters of virtual machines and migrate the virtual machines if more closely matched resources become available. In particular, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to periodically monitor resource and service data  225  and compare resources and service data  225  to the specification and parameters of the virtual machines. If a more closely matched set of resource servers become available, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to migrate the virtual machines to the more closely matched set of resource servers in clouds  102 . The optimization engine  210  can be configured to migrate the entire virtual machines or portions of the virtual machines. 
     To migrate the virtual machine or machines, the optimization engine  210  can be configured send a request, to the clouds  102  currently instantiating the virtual machine or machines, to migrate the virtual machine or machines to a new set of resource servers. The request can include an identification of the virtual machine or machines and an identification of the new set of resource servers. Likewise, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to retrieve the virtual machine or machines from the clouds  102  currently instantiating the virtual machine or machines and pass the virtual machine or machines to the new set of resource servers. 
     Prior to migrating, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to notify the user or initiator of the possible migration and allow the initiator to approve or decline the migration. Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to migrate the virtual machines automatically and transparent to the user or initiator. Once migrated, cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to notify the user or initiator of the migration. For notification, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to notify the user or initiator via API  220 . 
     In embodiments, once virtual machines are instantiated, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be configured to receive updated parameters for the instantiated virtual machines. For example, a requester can send a request to change the virtual machines from being optimized for cost to being optimized for a particular resource or service level. As such, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to determine the resource and service data  225 , as described above, and compare resources and service data  225  to the new parameters of the virtual machines. If a more closely matched set of resource servers are available, the optimization engine  210  can be configured to migrate the virtual machines to the more closely matched set of resource servers in the clouds  102 , as described above. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary diagram of hardware and other resources that can be incorporated in a cloud marketplace system  200  configured to communicate with instantiated the clouds  102  and users or initiators via one or more networks  106 , according to embodiments. In embodiments as shown, the cloud marketplace system  200  can comprise a processor  300  communicating with memory  302 , such as electronic random access memory, operating under control of or in conjunction with operating system  306 . Operating system  306  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  300  also communicates with the marketplace store  215 , such as a database stored on a local hard drive. Processor  300  further communicates with network interface  304 , such as an Ethernet or wireless data connection, which in turn communicates with one or more networks  106 , such as the Internet or other public or private networks. Processor  300  also communicates with marketplace store  215  and the marketplace engine  205 , to execute control logic and perform the marketplace process described above. Additionally, processor  300  also communicates with marketplace store  215  and the optimization engine  210 , to execute control logic and perform the migration process described above. Other configurations of the cloud marketplace system  200 , associated network connections, and other hardware and software resources are possible. 
     While  FIG. 4  illustrates the cloud marketplace system  200  as a standalone system comprises a combination of hardware and software, the cloud marketplace system  200  can also be implemented as a software application or program capable of being executed by a convention computer platform. Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can also be implemented as a software module or program module capable of being incorporated in other software applications and programs. In either case, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be implemented in any type of conventional proprietary or open-source computer language. 
     Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cloud marketplace system  200  can be a standalone system capable of being access by or controlled by a user or initiator of the marketplace, optimization, and migration processes. Likewise, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be integrated into one or more of the clouds  102 . Additionally, the cloud marketplace system  200  can be integrated into one or more of the systems of the clouds  102  such as the cloud management systems. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flow diagram of overall optimization and migration processes in a cloud marketplace system  200 , according to embodiments of the present teachings. In  502 , processing can begin. In  504 , the optimization engine  210  can receive a request to instantiate virtual machines in the clouds  102 . In  506 , the optimization engine  210  can determine the resource and service data  225  which describes the capabilities, services, status, and cost of the clouds  102 . The resource and service data can include computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102 , computing resources and services available in the clouds  102  at particular time periods, cost data for computing resources and services provided by the clouds  102 , and status data for the clouds  102  at particular time periods. 
     In order to acquire the resource and service data, the optimization engine  210  can request the resource and service data from marketplace engine  205  or marketplace store  215 . Likewise, the optimization engine  210  can communicate with the resources of the clouds  102  directly in order to obtain the resource and service data. 
     In  508 , the optimization engine  210  can select a set of resource servers that match the request based on the resource and service data  225 . In  510 , the optimization engine  210  can generate a request to instantiate the virtual machines on the selected set of resource servers. 
     In  512 , the optimization engine  210  can periodically monitor resource and services data  225  for the clouds  102 . In  514 , the optimization engine  210  can periodically determine the resource and service data  225 . In  516 , the optimization engine  210  can determine if an additional set of resource servers exits that more closely match the original request. If an additional set of resource servers exits, in  518 , the optimization engine  210  can migrate the virtual machines to the additional set of resource servers. Otherwise, the optimization engine  210  can continue to monitor the resource and service data  225  for better matching resource servers. 
     In  520 , optimization engine  210  can receive a request to optimize the virtual machines based on a new parameter. If the request is received, the optimization engine  210  can determine if an additional set of resource servers exits that match the new request. If an additional set of resource servers exits, the optimization engine  210  can migrate the virtual machines to the additional set of resource servers. 
     Then, in  522 , the process can end, but the process can return to any point and repeat. 
     In the foregoing and other embodiments, the user or initiator making an request for marketplace processes or migration processes can be a person, customer, subscriber, corporation, organization, or other entity. In embodiments, the user can be or include another virtual machine, application or process. In further embodiments, multiple users or entities can share the use of a set of virtual machines or other resources. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments without departing from the true spirit and scope. The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. In particular, although the method has been described by examples, the steps of the method may be performed in a different order than illustrated or simultaneously. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.