EXTENDING FUNCTIONALITY OF LEGACY SERVICES IN COMPUTING SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT

摘要

Methods and apparatus involve extending functionality of legacy services. A legacy application has functionality designed for use on an original computing device. In a modern environment, virtual machines (VMs) operate as independent guests on processors and memory by way of scheduling control from a virtualization layer (e.g., hypervisor). At least one VM is provisioned to modify standard entry points of the original legacy application for new accessing of various system functions of the hardware platform. Representative functions include network access, processors, and storage. Policy decision points variously located are further employed to ensure compliance with computing policies. Multiple platforms and computing clouds are contemplated as are VMs in support roles and dedicated software appliances. In this manner, continued use of legacy services in modern situations allows participation in more capable environments and application capabilities heretofore unimagined. Other embodiments contemplate computing systems and computer program products, to name a few.

主权项

1. In a computing system environment, a method of extending functionality of legacy services including one or more legacy applications, the legacy services having original executable instructions for execution on a computing device, the method comprising:
converting at least one legacy application having original executable instructions to a virtual machine configured to operate as an independent guest computing device on a hardware platform by way of scheduling control from a virtualization layer also on the hardware platform; and provisioning the virtual machine with a plurality of functions of executable instructions that are executed on a processor of the hardware platform to modify standard entry points of system functions of the hardware platform of the original executable instructions of the legacy services and allow the legacy services to access the plurality of functions of the virtual machine to access the system functions of the hardware platform by the legacy services, without otherwise modifying the original executable instructions of the legacy services.