Generating target configuration containers providing computer environments based on a configuration container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10664265-B2
Application number	US-201816117109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2018
Priority date	Aug 30, 2018
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are provided for generating a container providing a computing environment. At least one processing device combines a base image of a first type of container, including at least one application and an operating system, with a base image of a second type of container including middleware and configuration information to produce a base image of a target container including, from the first type of container, the at least one application and the operating system, and the middleware and the configuration information from the second type of container. The base image of the target container is executed on a computer to provide the computing environment configured in accordance with the configuration information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a container providing a computing environment comprising:
combining, by at least one processing device, a base image of a first type of container including at least one application and an operating system, but not including middleware and configuration information, with a base image of a second type of container including the middleware and the configuration information, but not including any applications and any operating system, to produce a base image of a target container including, from the base image of the first type of container, the at least one application and the operating system, and the middleware and the configuration information from the base image of the second type of container; and
executing the base image of the target container on a computer to provide the computing environment configured in accordance with the configuration information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information includes information for a specific environment.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
combining a base image of each of a plurality of first type of containers with a base image of a respective second type of container of a plurality of second type of containers, each of the base images of the plurality of the second type of containers including middleware and configuration information for a respective specific environment, but not including at least one corresponding application and a corresponding operating system, to produce a respective base image for each of a plurality of target containers, each of the respective base images of each of the plurality of the first type of containers including the at least one corresponding application and the corresponding operating system, but not including the middleware and the configuration information for the respective specific environment, and each of the base images of the plurality of target containers including the at least one corresponding application, the corresponding operating system and the middleware and the configuration information for the respective desired specific environment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein each of at least two of the base images of the plurality of the first type of containers are combined with a base image of a same one of the plurality of the second type of containers to produce respective target containers.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first type of container includes at least one tag, and
the combining further configures the configuration information for a specific environment as indicated by the at least one tag such that the configuration information in the base image of the target container includes a configuration for the specific environment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:
combining each of a plurality of base images of first type of containers with the base image of the second type of container to produce base images of respective target containers.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein each of the base images of the respective target containers is configured for a respective specific environment as indicated by at least one tag in a respective base image of the respective first type of container.

8. A computer system for generating a container providing a computing environment, the computer system comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory connected to the at least one processor, the at least one memory having instructions stored such that when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor performs a method comprising:
combining a base image of a first type of container including at least one application and an operating system, but not including middleware and configuration information, with a base image of a second type of container including the middleware and the configuration information, but not including any applications and any operating system, to produce a base image of a target container including, from the first type of container, the at least one application and the operating system, and the middleware and the configuration information from the base image of the second type of container; and
executing the base image of the target container to provide the computing environment configured in accordance with the configuration information.

9. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the configuration information includes information for a specific environment.

10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
combining a base image of each of a plurality of first type of containers with a base image of a respective second type of container of a plurality of second type of containers, each of the base images of the plurality of the second type containers including middleware and configuration information for a respective specific environment, but not including at least one corresponding application and a corresponding operating system, to produce a respective base image for each of a plurality of target containers, each of the respective base images of each of the plurality of first type of containers including the at least one corresponding application and the corresponding operating system, but not including the middleware and the configuration information for the respective specific environment, and each of the base images of the plurality of target containers including the at least one corresponding application, the corresponding operating system and the middleware and the configuration information for the respective specific environment.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein each of at least two of the base images of the plurality of first type of containers are combined with a base image of a same one of the plurality of second type of containers to produce respective target containers.

12. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first type of container includes at least one tag, and
the combining further configures the configuration information for a specific environment as indicated by the at least one tag such that the configuration information in the base image of the target container includes a configuration for the specific environment.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , further comprising:
combining each of a plurality base images of first type of containers with the base image of the second type of container to produce base images of respective target containers.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein each of the base images of the respective target containers is configured for a respective specific environment as indicated by at least one tag in a respective base image of the respective first type of container.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith for execution on at least one processor of a computer device, the computer readable program code being configured to be executed by the at least one processor to perform:
combining a base image of a first type of container including at least one application and an operating system, but not including middleware and configuration information, with a base image of a second type of container including the middleware and the configuration information, but not including any applications and any operating system, to produce a base image of a target container including, from the first type of container, the at

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Viana Phillip L
• Luo Lan
• Wang Fang
• Michelini Vanessa
• Du Yan
• Chen Li Long

Classifications

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F8/63

  Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order · CPC title

• G06F9/45504 Primary

  Abstract machines for programme code execution, e.g. Java virtual machine [JVM], interpreters, emulators · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title