AppLogic User Interface

To achieve true utility computing, operators must have as much (or more) control of applications running in their virtual private data center as they have today in colo or in their own facilities. This requirement makes the user interface a critical component of the system. It must be both intuitive and powerful.

AppLogic's primary interface is an AJAX based system delivered via a browser. The interface is visual and highly interactive, with the look and feel of a desktop application. Designing infrastructure within AppLogic has the feel of diagramming on a white board - but with the addition of a "run button."

For power users, all system functions are also available through the command-line interface, making it easy to write automation scripts and integrate AppLogic with data center management systems.

The user interface of AppLogic consists of the following major components:

• System dashboard
• Infrastructure editor
• Visual monitoring console
• Command-line interface

System dashboard

The dashboard is a web application that displays the configuration and current status of the grid, and allows the user to start, stop and manage applications. In the next release, the dashboard will also support functions like log viewing, add/remove/manage servers, manage users, etc. The dashboard is accessed by pointing a browser at the IP address of the grid controller.

Infrastructure editor

The editor is a web application that allows you to visually assemble virtual infrastructure, create custom virtual appliances, manage catalogs of appliances and configure applications.

Visual monitoring console

The monitoring console is a web application that allows you to build a virtual network operation center by configuring, saving and displaying custom monitoring screens. The console combines run-time data for hardware, resource use and network traffic by application and appliance, as well as software-specific counters from inside virtual appliances such as the Linux /proc file system, Apache, MySQL and many others. The monitoring console is accessed through links on the system dashboard.

Command-line interface

The command line interface is access through a browser based shell session and provides operational control over applications. From the command line you can start and stop applications and appliances, repair volumes, and even migrate applications between data centers.