BACKGROUND

Online computing resources are used in a wide range of industries to provide software and infrastructure to users via networks, such as the Internet. Accessing such computing resources via the Internet is commonly referred to as “cloud” computing. In cloud computing, large numbers of computers are connected through various communications networks in order to provide information services, such as virtualized data centers, to users around the world.

Information technology (IT) professionals commonly manage cloud computing resources using advanced management software, such as vCloud® Automation Center™ from VMware, Inc. Such management software typically provides a secure portal where authorized administrators, developers, and business users can request new IT services and perform management operations, such as provisioning and configuration tasks. For example, an authorized user may log into a cloud computing manager to browse a catalog of IT services, such as infrastructure, applications, desktops, etc., and submit a request for such services. In response, the management software may provision the requested IT services, allowing the user to easily deploy and scale cloud resources for various online applications.

Although cloud computing management software generally provides powerful tools for provisioning and managing IT services, the management software is typically configured as an internal application running within a secure server. As such, authorized users typically must access the management software via a secure connection, such as a local area connection (LAN) or virtual private network (VPN). In addition, management software is typically designed to be accessed via a conventional terminal, such a desktop computer or laptop computer that includes a mouse and keyboard. Consequently, although mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, provide secure connections, cloud computing management interfaces typically are not designed for use on such devices. Thus, enabling management software to be controlled using a mobile device typically requires custom software to be developed for multiple smartphone and tablet platforms (e.g., Android™, iOS™, Windows Phone™, etc.).

Accordingly, there are challenges faced by system administrators when attempting to manage cloud computing resources using a mobile device.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for managing a virtualized computing system using a mobile device. The system enables a user of a mobile device to efficiently track and manage computing resources via a management application that includes a graphical user interface that is designed to be operated using a conventional terminal (e.g., via a mouse and keyboard). The system may receive commands from the user of the mobile device in a first format and translate the commands into a second format that can be executed by a management application. Embodiments of the present disclosure further enable a management application to verify and securely communicate with users via existing communications services (e.g., social networking services) without expending additional resources to develop custom, secure interfaces for multiple mobile software and hardware platforms.

A method of processing commands for a management application that manages a virtualized computing system includes, in an embodiment, determining that a communications service account associated with a communications service corresponds to an authorized user account associated with the management application and receiving a first message from the communications service account via the communications service. The first message includes one or more commands for managing the virtualized computing system. The one or more commands are formatted according to a first format. The method further includes parsing the first message to extract the one or more commands, translating the one or more commands from the first format to a second format that is executable by the management application, and, based on determining that the communications service account corresponds to the authorized user account, causing the management application to execute the one or more commands.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed in a computing device, process commands for a management application that manages a virtualized computing system, by performing the steps of, in an embodiment, determining that a communications service account associated with a communications service corresponds to an authorized user account associated with the management application and receiving a first message from the communications service account via the communications service. The first message includes one or more commands for managing the virtualized computing system. The one or more commands are formatted according to a first format. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions for parsing the first message to extract the one or more commands, translating the one or more commands from the first format to a second format that is executable by the management application, and, based on determining that the communications service account corresponds to the authorized user account, causing the management application to execute the one or more commands.

A computer system for processing commands for a management application that manages a virtualized computing system, the computer system including a system memory and a processor programmed to carry out the steps of, in an embodiment, determining that a communications service account associated with a communications service corresponds to an authorized user account associated with the management application and receiving a first message from the communications service account via the communications service. The first message includes one or more commands for managing the virtualized computing system. The one or more commands are formatted according to a first format. The system memory and processor are further programmed to carry out the steps of parsing the first message to extract the one or more commands, translating the one or more commands from the first format to a second format that is executable by the management application, and, based on determining that the communications service account corresponds to the authorized user account, causing the management application to execute the one or more commands.

