Cloud API Entrypoint for Multi-Tenant Service Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud computing systems lack a seamless method to extend services and functionalities in a multi-tenancy-compatible fashion, making it difficult for users to access and manage distributed, virtual data centers securely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A cloud application programming interface (API) entrypoint with a service-extension interface and an authorization-service management interface is introduced, allowing users to extend services and functionalities while ensuring authorized access through a cloud director management subsystem, utilizing a RESTful interface and an authorization service to manage access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cloud computing systems provide abstract interfaces for accessing services and functionalities, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because users cannot easily extend services and functionalities in a multi-tenancy-compatible fashion
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments cloud services into core services provided by the cloud director and extensible services that can be added by users. The service extension interface separates the base functionality from extendable functionality, allowing users to add custom services while maintaining the integrity of the core system.
Solution Approach 2:
The authorization service provides universal access control capabilities that work across both core cloud director services and user-defined service extensions. The standardized authorization interface ensures that all services, whether built-in or extended, can enforce multi-tenancy policies consistently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to extend services and functionalities, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens due to the need for authorization service and access control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The authorization service is designed as a universal component that handles access control for both core cloud director services and user-defined service extensions through a single standardized interface. This multi-functional authorization mechanism eliminates the need for separate access control systems for different service types.
Solution Approach 2:
The authorization service acts as an intermediary between service extensions and cloud director resources. It mediates access requests by verifying authorization tokens and enforcing policies, thereby isolating the complexity of access control from both the cloud director core and the service extensions.
3Ease of operation
If a standardized API interface is provided for service extensions, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens because securing access to extended services becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The authorization service provides universal security enforcement across the standardized service extension interface. The same authorization mechanisms that protect core cloud director services also protect user-defined service extensions, ensuring consistent security policies are applied regardless of service origin.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where authorization decisions are continuously validated. Service extensions receive authorization tokens that must be presented with each request, and the authorization service verifies these tokens against current policies, providing continuous security feedback rather than one-time authentication.
Data Source
AI summary
The current document is directed to an interface and authorization service that allows users of a cloud-director management subsystem of distributed, multi-tenant, virtual data centers to extend the services and functionalities provided by the cloud-director management subsystem. A cloud application programming interface (“API”) entrypoint represents a request/response RESTful interface to services and functionalities provided by the cloud-director management subsystem as well as to service extensions provided by users. The cloud API entrypoint includes a service-extension interface and an authorization-service management interface. The cloud-director management subsystem provides the authorization service to service extensions that allow the service extensions to obtain, from the authorization service, an indication of whether or not a request directed to the service extension through the cloud API entrypoint is authorized.