Graphic user interface for managing virtual machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11263056-B2
Application number	US-201815866997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2018
Priority date	Nov 1, 2010
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

Described are embodiments for management of virtual machines that are executed in one or more hosts. In one example, virtual machines are identified using a search criteria. A graphical user interface is generated with the virtual machines. Each of the plurality of virtual machines is listed in association with an indication of hardware utilized by the virtual machines. An input event is detected that specifies a selected virtual machine. The graphical user interface is updated to show and enable interaction with an operating system executed within the selected virtual machine.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1. A system, comprising:
at least one computing device; and
at least one storage device storing instructions executable by the at least one computing device, wherein when executed the instructions cause the at least one computing device to at least:
identify a search criteria entered through a search element of a graphical user interface, wherein the search element comprises a search indicator icon that specifies a selected one of a virtual machine operational state and a virtual machine host;
generate the graphical user interface to include a search results area comprising a plurality of virtual machines that correspond to the search criteria, wherein a respective virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines is represented as a virtual machine icon and the respective virtual machine is listed in the search results area in association with an overlay icon that matches the search indicator icon of the search element and provides an indication that the respective virtual machine comprises the selected one of the virtual machine operational state and the virtual machine host;
detect an input event that specifies a selected virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines; and
update the graphical user interface to include virtual machine panel area that enables user interaction with an operating system or an application executed within the selected virtual machine, wherein a user interface detected through the virtual machine panel area is transmitted to the selected virtual machine to enable user interaction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises an indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a datastore utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a network utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a tree structure and the respective virtual machine is listed within the tree structure under the indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises another plurality of virtual machines listed in association with an indication of hardware utilized by the another plurality of virtual machines.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein when executed the instructions cause the at least one computing device to at least obtain a selection of the hardware, wherein the search criteria is based at least in part on the selection of the hardware.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising at least:
identifying a search criteria entered through a search element of a graphical user interface, wherein the search element comprises a search indicator icon that specifies a virtual machine attribute;
generating the graphical user interface to include a search results area comprising a plurality of virtual machines, wherein a respective virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines is represented as a virtual machine icon and is listed in the search results area in association with an overlay icon that matches the search indicator icon of the search element and provides an indication that the respective virtual machine comprises the virtual machine attribute specified by the search indicator icon;
detecting an input event that specifies a selected virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines; and
updating the graphical user interface to include virtual machine panel area that enables user interaction with an operating system or an application executed within the selected virtual machine.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises an indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a datastore utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a network utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a tree structure and the respective virtual machine is listed within the tree structure under the indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises another plurality of virtual machines listed in association with an indication of hardware utilized by the another plurality of virtual machines.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising obtaining a selection of the hardware, wherein the search criteria is based at least in part on the selection of the hardware.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by at least one computing device, wherein when executed the instructions cause the at least one computing device to at least:
identify a search criteria entered through a search element of a graphical user interface, wherein the search element comprises a search indicator icon that specifies a virtual machine attribute comprising a virtual machine operational state or a virtual machine host; and
generate the graphical user interface to include a search results area comprising a plurality of virtual machines that correspond to the search criteria and the virtual machine attribute, wherein a respective virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines is represented in the search results area as a virtual machine icon and is listed in association with an overlay icon that matches the search indicator icon of the search element and provides an indication that the respective virtual machine comprises the virtual machine attribute specified by the search indicator icon.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises an indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a datastore utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the indication of hardware comprises an indication of a network utilized by each virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a tree structure and the respective virtual machine is listed within the tree structure under the indication of hardware utilized by the respective virtual machine.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the virtual machine attribute indicates that the virtual machine is powered on and running.

Assignees

• Vmware Inc

Inventors

• Trowbridge David Stephen

Classifications

• G06F9/5077 Primary

  Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources (specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455) · CPC title

• G06F9/485

  Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution (G06F9/4881 takes precedence) · CPC title