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A system and method for providing an abstraction of the VM environment for management and control of one or more VMs without being tied to a particular hardware platform or construct.
The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing a virtual machine environment, and in particular, to such a system and method which provides an abstracted management interface.
A "virtual machine" or VM is a processor which exists as a software construct, as opposed to a hardware processor. The VM also features memory and one or more I/O devices, as well as a control unit and one or more channels. Virtualization permits an operating system to be run by a non-native hardware system, as well as providing flexibility with regard to the number of entities operated by a single hardware platform. Multiple VMs may be operated by a single hardware computer, such as a mainframe for example. A VM may thereby provide flexibility in terms of providing multiple processors without requiring the purchase of specific numbers of hardware devices. Furthermore, VMs are useful for supporting operating systems such as LINUX on mainframe hardware, thereby permitting the same software operating systems and hence the same software packages to be operated across a plurality of different hardware platforms and configurations.
Currently VMs may be implemented according to one or more software support systems, such as the z/VM OS (operating system) running on the IBM System z for example. However, these software support systems do not provide a simple, intuitive interface and management control. Instead, specialized knowledge of the z/VM operating system and of the IBM System z hardware is required in order to operate the virtual machine solution, for example.
This situation may be contrasted with that of network management software for managing networks of hardware devices, which does provide a simple, intuitive GUI (graphical user interface) with much of the work automated. For example, software such as HP OpenView (Hewlett Packard) can automatically discover new network nodes, enable users to update permissions and/or tasks for various computers on the network and so forth. However, these software packages are only operable for networks of actual hardware devices connected in a network; they do not work for the virtual environment.
There is an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, a system and a method for management of a VM (virtual machine) computing environment. There is also an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, such a system and method which would support management without regard to the hardware platform or platforms on which the VM environment is operating. There is also an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, such a system and method which would abstract the VM environment (hardware and software) through a simple, easy to use GUI (graphical user interface).
The present invention overcomes these drawbacks of the background art by providing an abstraction of the VM environment for management and control of one or more VMs without being tied to a particular hardware platform or construct. More preferably the abstraction enables an administrator to easily interact with the VM environment, without being required to be expert on the details of the operation of the VM environment. Preferably the abstraction is of both the hardware and software components of the VM environment. Optionally and preferably, the VM environment appears to the human administrator in a similar manner to a regular hardware environment. More preferably, a plurality of VM machines connected together form a VM machines network (commonly referred to as a Guest LAN in the z/VM) which may then be managed as for regular hardware networks.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a user interface which features a GUI (graphical user interface). This permits the user to more easily manage, control and interact with VM machines, virtual networks and so forth (in fact the GUI optionally and preferably causes the VM environment to appear like the "real" open-systems hardware environment to the user).
According to other embodiments of the present invention, interactions of the user with the VM environment are recorded in a log, which more preferably records all events in the VM environment. The user preferably is required to log on with a unique user identifier, such as a user name and password for example. More preferably, one or more users may be granted different permissions, such that at least one user has greater permissions while at least one user has fewer permissions for operations in the VM environment. Hereinafter, the terms "admin" and "administrator" are preferably used interchangeably to refer to a user which has complete access to and control of the VM environment.
Hereinafter, the term "VM machine" refers to any software construct which is capable of running one or more software applications as though it was a single hardware computer. This term includes both full virtualization or emulation, such that the virtual machine simulates the complete hardware platform, allowing an unmodified operating system to be run regardless of the actual underlying hardware; and "para-virtualization" in which the software does not provide a full representation of the underlying hardware but instead provides an API (application programming interface) which does require modifications to the operating system to be operative.
Any two or more of such VM machines in communication with each other, optionally including any such VM machine in communication with a separate computer, may optionally comprise a "virtual network", also referred to herein as a "VM virtual network" or "Guest LAN".
It should be noted that when implemented according to the z/VM operating system for IBM System z hardware, cross-LPAR communication within the same CPC (Central Processing Complex—the System z server) may optionally be performed directly through memory, at the hardware level, through a construct known as hypersockets, which are optionally included in the above definition of VM machines network.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or stages manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, several selected stages could be implemented by hardware or by software on any operating system of any firmware or a combination thereof. For example, as hardware, selected stages of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected stages of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In any case, selected stages of the method and system of the invention could be described as being performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
The present invention is of a system and a method for providing an abstraction of the VM environment for management and control of one or more VMs without being tied to a particular hardware platform or construct.
It should be noted that the description below centers around the IBM System z architecture, and in particular to the management of one or more Linux virtual servers in the z/VM environment. However this description is provided for the purpose of clarity only and is not meant to be limiting in any way, as the present invention is applicable to any virtual machine environment. The z/VM environment is intended only as a non-limiting example of a virtual machine monitor or hypervisor (software which provides or hosts the virtual environment).
Optionally and preferably, the VM environment appears to the human administrator in a similar manner to a regular hardware environment through preferred embodiments of the system and method of the present invention. For example, the human user is preferably able to communicate with the VM machine through the system and method of the present invention, including performing management tasks as described in greater detail below. More preferably, a plurality of VM machines connected together form a VM machines network which may then be managed as for regular hardware networks.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a user interface which features a GUI (graphical user interface). This permits the user to more easily manage, control and interact with VM machines, virtual networks and so forth (in fact the GUI optionally and preferably causes the VM environment to appear like the "real" open-systems hardware environment to the user).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system and method for management of one or more VM machines which is provided through abstraction of the VM environment. Such management optionally and preferably includes at least basic management of the VM machine in the VM environment, including but not limited to, the ability to activate or deactivate the VM machine or machines, to show its status and so forth. More preferably, more complicated management tasks are also supported, such as managing (ie changing, deleting or adding) one or more attributes for a VM machine, such as memory and/or storage space (such as storage disks) allocated, password management and the like.
The user is also preferably able to view who is using each CSL-WAVE entity. Such an entity is a construct provided according to some embodiments of the present invention for controlling access to at least some aspects of the VM operating system. More preferably, such a construct is provided for at least those aspects, parameters or resources of the VM operating system which can only be provided for serial access, such that parallel access by a plurality of users could potentially cause damage to such aspects, parameters or resource, for example by corrupting a file or database. The entity features an implementation of Wave Resource Serialization mechanism, termed herein WRS.
Other information which is optionally and preferably provided includes the number of available disk slices (an example of virtual storage devices) are on each VM machine, as well as how much storage is being used, pages in virtual memory, storage type, CPU use and so forth. Preferably, for each type of information that is provided, a corresponding management action is also support (for example being able to add/remove disk slices, reduce/increase CPU use and so forth). It should be noted that the term "disk slice" refers to a type of hard disk storage available on mainframes, as a partition portion of a single hard disk volume or any portion of the disk that can be attributed to a specific user through the specific VM operating system. Any type of hard disk storage could optionally be substituted for the disk slice.
With regard to the Linux virtual server in the z/VM environment, such management commands may optionally and preferably include z/VM commands including but not limited to Activate, Deactivate and Show status, or provide a virtual network hardware definition, for a specific VM machine or alternatively for a group of VM machines (see below for more information). These commands may optionally and preferably be provided by the user through the interface according to the present invention, such as a GUI for example, without the user being required to know the underlying z/VM commands. Instead, the user may optionally and preferably issue the commands through selection from a menu, "drop down" box or any other simple interface choice selector.
Furthermore, the user is optionally and preferably able to modify such commands, for example to require a rapid or forced shutdown of a VM machine, or alternatively to require a more graceful shutdown in which various processes are first stopped, before the VM machine is shut down.
Optionally and more preferably, the system according to the present invention is capable of performing a discovery process, most preferably an automatic discovery process, for example for a new VM machine, in order to determine the type of installation of the operating system and its effect on the type of shutdown procedure(s) which may be performed. For example, in the case of the LINUX operating system for a LINUX server, the discovery process preferably includes determining whether the server installation process was defined properly (for example whether the zIPL control block was properly generated during installation). The shutdown process is preferably adjusted according to whether the server installation was performed properly, such that the system then preferably may shut down the server accordingly with user notification, preferably as gracefully as possible.
Discovery may optionally be an on-going process (ie it may optionally be performed more than once) and may also optionally be used to identify the operating system of each new discovered VM machine.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the system and method communicate with each VM machine through Communication-Less Connection referred to in the invention as "CLC" which permits communication even without a TCP/IP connection to the VM machine. Currently (as is known in the art), a virtual TCP/IP connection may be required for a VM machine, regardless of the underlying software system (or hypervisor) providing the VM machine. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a potential by-pass for such a virtual connection and instead preferably provides a permanent connection to the VM machine, regardless of its status. These embodiments are important because if the VM machine TCP/IP connection(s) were to "crash" or cease operating and/or otherwise have difficulties in operating, the user would still be able to issue one or more commands to the VM machine through CLC, which could for example optionally permit the user to "reboot" (restart) the VM machine.
Preferably the user can issue commands and obtain output from any VM machine, more preferably through the user interface, even if the VM machine has no operative TCP/IP connection, through communication-less connection according to some embodiments of the present invention.
Also optionally and preferably, the user can directly edit one or more files on a VM machine, again more preferably through the user interface, even if the VM machine has no operative TCP/IP connection, again through communication-less connection edit feature.
As a non-limiting example of communication-less connection, if the VM machine was a virtual Linux server, the Linux "ifconfig" command could be used without an actual TCP/IP connection. Instead, preferably a separate console window is opened which operates the Linux commands, such as ifconfig. As another example, the command "ifconfig [network device] down" can be used to deactivate the TCP/IP communication of the VM machine through the virtual connection, while the command "ifconfig [network device] up" could be used to activate it, again even without a direct TCP/IP connection. Preferably, if the command would cause damage and/or a potential difficulty, then a warning is issued. For example if the last virtual Ethernet card in a VM machine is brought down, then any user connected to the virtual machine guest OS will be disconnected, so a warning is preferably issued. Of course, any other Linux commands (including the full-screen command "top") could be used, including operational interrupts (through a dedicated break button which is analogous to CTRL-C) for example.
Optionally and preferably, connection-less-communication (CLC) comprises a socket interface and a "listener" which receives commands to/from VM machines, and is therefore able to provide communication even if the VM machine doesn't have a direct TCP/IP connection. Preferably the VM environment (host software) has an active TCP/IP connection. The socket interface is preferably operated by a special or dedicated VM machine.
Also optionally and preferably, the system and method supports editing of files on a VM machine even without a direct TCP/IP connection to that VM machine.
Alternatively or additionally, the system and method of the present invention preferably supports SSH (secure shell) for communication and interactions with the LINUX guest (server) in an industry standard secure manner.
Alternatively or additionally, the system and method of the present invention preferably supports 3270 (terminal protocol) for communication and interactions with the LINUX guest (server) in a System z standard terminal communication.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, interactions of the user with the VM environment are recorded in a log, which more preferably records all events in the VM environment and most preferably also with the system of the present invention. An administrator can then optionally open and view the log of a plurality of users, more preferably with filtering on the log by user, type of message (for example for warning messages), time of day and so forth.
The user preferably is required to log on with a unique user identifier, such as a user name and password for example. More preferably, one or more users may be granted different permissions, such that at least one user has greater permissions while at least one user has fewer permissions for operations in the VM environment. For example, for security purposes, administrative users may optionally add new users and update the permission(s) available to each such user, preferably through a simple GUI (graphical user interface). Optionally and preferably, one or templates are available to set basic permissions (for example, regular user, network administrator, system administrator and so forth).
In addition, each user may optionally be assigned multiple scopes. Scopes define the z/VM Objects a user can view and interact with. Each scope contains a permission entry which describes the actions the user can perform on all the objects in that scope. Each scope is defined for one type of object—Guest LANs (GLAN), Projects or DASD Groups. Various menu choices preferably contain all z/VM Objects from the selected z/VM System that are in the current user's scope. Once an object is selected, preferably a plurality of actions that can be taken against these objects become selectable.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, the system and method provides a VM machine cloning facility which permits a new VM machine to be created according to a template. Such a template may optionally be determined according to an existing VM machine, such that the VM machine is literally "cloned". Additionally or alternatively, such a template may optionally be determined separately according to a plurality of parameters to define a prototype. Regardless, such a cloning facility optionally and preferably supports rapid provisioning of resources for workload distribution over multiple virtual servers, for example.
Optionally and more preferably, the cloning process of a z/VM guest from a prototype is a two phase process. In phase 1, the system of the present invention preferably performs various actions which are synchronous in nature. In phase 2, the system preferably uses API calls to clone the disks of the prototype. More preferably, the actions of phases 1 and 2 are performed by the clone dialog of CSL-WAVE and then by a scheduled work unit as described in greater detail below. This action might result in the creation of DIRMAINT Work Units and pseudo-work units. These work units are aggregated in a single CSL-WAVE Work Unit per virtual server clone. That is, if 10 virtual servers are cloned, 10 CSL-WAVE Work Units are generated. These work units are synchronous in nature and will be executed by the DATAMOVE service machines of Dirmaint on the z/VM System. The invention's Work Unit Monitor background service will monitor these work units and update their status. The Workunit Monitor service is a monitoring service, according to some embodiments of the present invention, that preferably runs constantly on the server that hosts the CSL-WAVE database. These services preferably constantly monitor several aspects of the z/VM instances, their resources and the virtual guests that run within these z/VMs.
The clone dialog mentioned above also preferably includes automatically suggesting an IP address as well as the automatic or manually selectable connection to a particular Guest LAN(s). Optionally, a plurality of such cloned servers may be created simultaneously.
According to still other embodiments of the present invention, the system and method support creation of a new network point on a VM Guest LAN. Optionally and preferably, the user may construct and/or alter VM Guest LAN(s) through the user interface. For example, the user may more preferably connect/disconnect VM machines such as virtual servers to the Guest LAN permanently or temporarily. Most preferably, such connection and/or disconnection is supported through a GUI operation, for example by drawing a line to connect a VM machine or deleting a line to disconnect a VM machine to a Guest LAN. While connecting or disconnecting from a Guest LAN, there is no connectivity to the virtual server; therefore, preferably CSL-WAVE uses the CLC API to make the necessary modification(s) to the virtual server.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, a new Guest LAN may be automatically discovered by the system and method of the present invention, through an auto-discovery mechanism employed by the Batch Service (one of the background services). Preferably the mechanism also fills the database with metadata automatically. The metadata may also optionally include information about each connection (IP address, permanent/temporary, who created it) and so forth. The auto-discovery, or auto-detect mechanism, preferably first attempts to connect to the new VM system through the API server. If the connection is made, then the user is preferably prompted for information, such as for example the virtual address of the disk addressed by DIRMAINT (for z/VM systems; this is an application for user directory management, as described in greater detail below), the name of the DASD Group or Volume on which the WAVECLC Service Machine will be store its code (described in greater detail below), the name of the TCP/IP virtual server (for z/VM systems) and the virtual address on which the TCPIP profile resides. Furthermore, preferably the system of the present invention, for z/VM systems, auto-detects all the z/VM Users on the new z/VM System and it classifies them into default Site Defined Groups. z/VM Users that CSL-WAVE finds on the z/VM System that are not included in the default z/VM User list are classified as "USERLOCAL". Preferably, the CSL-WAVE User is then prompted or allowed to assign an OS to those z/VM Users. The default OS is "UNASSIGNED".
Next, the user is preferably able to create links from DIRMAINT to TCPIP and WAVECLC, optionally by manually editing the DVHPROFA DIRMAINT file although alternatively such links may be created automatically. For example, for manual editing, the following lines may optionally be added: PURPOSE=WVA FM=P ACC=399 A link to WAVECLC disk for REXX; and PURPOSE=WVB FM=Q ACC=592 A link to the TCPIP 592 disk for IFCONFIG processing.
Optionally and preferably, the user may group a plurality of VM machines according to a user defined or selected attribute. Such a group is then preferably shown to the user upon selecting a view of the VM machines by characteristics (ie by groups). The user may optionally add a VM machine to a particular group by dragging and dropping the VM machine to the group on the GUI. The user may optionally perform one or more management operations on the group through a single action execution, for example by activating/deactivating such a group as a group, rather than by requiring the user to perform the activating/deactivating action on each member of the group singly. One or more messages may optionally be sent to a group for example. Such a group action is more preferably performed through a single GUI interaction, such as a single "mouse click" (or other single action by a pointing device).
Attribute changes are preferably performable on a group of VM machines, for example by permitting the user to alter one or more attributes for the group, such as memory and/or storage space (such as storage disks) allocated, password management and the like.
The groups of VM machines are optionally and preferably determined according to one or more metatags, which are preferably not related to network location. The metatags preferably determine one or more shared group properties, for example according to the resources permitted to the group, actions to be taken on the group and so forth. The user is preferably also able to perform one or more specific actions on a subgroup without needing to construct an entire new group; instead the subgroup is preferably defined temporarily for one or more actions.
The user may also optionally request a report separately from each
VM machine in a group or subgroup. For example, if the user chooses to activate a plurality of VM machines in a group or subgroup, the user is preferably able to request a verified status for each VM machine to be reported separately.
According to yet other embodiments of the present invention, the system and method may optionally and preferably be operated on a hardware platform, such as a mainframe, as part of the VM environment and/or alternatively on a separate physical server outside the realm of the VM environment.
According to still other embodiments of the present invention, a database of information about the VM environment is preferably maintained so that a GUI can be rapidly constructed (optionally and preferably with a timestamp to show the last time that it was updated). This database implementation enables the user to rapidly view a constructed GUI and/or to rapidly change GUI views. If the user wishes to a view the most up-to-date information about the VM environment, the user may optionally and preferably select an update function to obtain information about the VM environment in real time.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of VM environments may optionally be operated by a single hardware machine, such as a mainframe computer for example, which are then preferably displayable to the user through the GUI. By "displayable" it is meant that the GUI may provide at least one view in which the plurality of VM environments and their status is shown. Preferably, such a view would indicate whether the VM environment is registered through the system of the present invention.
Also preferably, the user would be able to select each VM environment separately for viewing status information. Upon such selection, preferably information about the VM environment would be shown through the GUI, including but not limited to information about all CMS users, networks, prototypes to clone, the possibility to refresh (to obtain real time information about the VM environment), reconnecting to the VM environment if the connection is lost and the like.
Optionally and preferably, the user may view and/or manage and/or interact with and/or control more than one CPC through the GUI, more preferably including the ability to perform "zooming in", for example to view each CPC separately and also preferably including the ability to perform "zooming out", for example to view all CPCs and/or a plurality of CPCs at one time.
According to other preferred embodiments BMI (bare metal installation) is supported, for example to install a new version of an operating system such as Linux on the VM machines. Such installation may optionally be performed as follows. The user preferably loads the new installation onto the system of the present invention. The installation may optionally be provided on any suitable type of media and in any suitable format, such as an ISO image (or any other format). The system of the present invention then preferably automates the process of creating a new VM user, and then issuing one or more commands for an automatic install onto the new VM user, more preferably through a template or alternatively and more preferably through parameters provided by a human administrator. The automatic installation may optionally be performed according to a script and/or template provided by the operating system itself for installation.
According to still other preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a user interface which features a three dimensional GUI. This interface may for example optionally be provided through virtual reality or any other three dimensional display method, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,400, hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,012 describes a system for providing a virtual reality system for network management of hardware networks and is also hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The interface preferably enables the user to view the VM machine network and/or plurality of networks according to any desired model, including but not limited to viewing virtual server farms and/or a virtual data center, more preferably with all cross-references of networks.
A brief description of the IBM virtual machine environment for the mainframe hardware System z (referred by IBM as "z/VM") and the operation of Linux in the z/VM is now provided for the purpose of clarity only and without intending to be limiting in any way (this information was taken from "Getting Started with Linux on System z", version 5, release 3).
The z/VM environment allows each user to have a complete, virtual mainframe computer (VM machine), by virtualizing the actual mainframe computing resources. Since the z/VM environment provides complete virtualization, each VM machine runs its own operating system and manages its virtual resources. Furthermore it is possible to interact with each VM machine as though it was actual hardware: the operating system can be booted, disks or other peripherals can be added and removed, and so forth. Each VM machine is associated with a z/VM user identifier or logon identifier, for identifying the human user (and hence controller) of the VM machine.
The Control Program (CP) is the component of z/VM that manages the resources of a single hardware computer for providing a plurality of VM machines. CP is the equivalent hypervisor program for the z/VM environment, which is the supporting layer between the hardware of the computer and the VM machines themselves. The CP provides CPU (central processing unit) functions, input and output devices, and storage, including the ability to interact with "real" hardware peripherals and so forth. CP also enables each VM machine to run its own operating system, such as Linux (as for this example, although of course other operating systems could be used instead).
The CP may be used to dedicate one or more actual hardware resources to a particular VM machine, such as a network interface. On the other hand, hardware resources such as CPU(s) may be shared, such that each VM machine has at least one virtual CPU. Another example of a typically shared hardware resource is storage. Still other resources are completely simulated as for example a virtual switch, which is a simulated LAN networking switch.
As a specific example of hardware storage support by the CP, the CP provides the previously described "disk slices". CP can logically partition real DASD volumes into disk slices (the IBM terminology uses the word "mini disk"), such that each VM machine perceives the disk slice as a complete DASD volume, each starting at cylinder 0 and so forth. This reduces the management tasks for the VM machine. The CP reorients the channel programs by modifying the cylinder offsets in the channel program to address DASD cylinders owned by the VM machine. The CP also supports temporary disk slices, which last only as long as the VM machine is logged on; they are deleted upon log-off.
In some situations, virtual disks are provided for storage rather than disk slices. The virtual disks do not have any direct one-to-one relationship to a specific hardware disk and instead are formed from available storage. Again they are supported by the CP which handles the interactions with the actual underlying hardware.
Interactions between human users and z/VM are provided through the Conversational Monitor System (CMS). CMS is a single-user operating system that runs in a VM machine (VM user), but is also used to manage z/VM itself and also VM machines being operated through the z/VM environment. CMS also supports system utilities and tasks, such as TCP/IP and system management functions.
CMS also supports an automated application for assisting users to manage the z/VM environment, known as the Directory Maintenance Facility (DirMaint), which is an example of a commercially available product for VM management. DirMaint provides a simplified command interface and automated facilities for managing the VM machines and the users of such entities (ie the user directory).
For more rapid operation of the z/VM, the CP can allow all VM machines to access certain parts of real hardware storage in the same manner when required, which are termed "shared segments". For example, the CMS nucleus is shared in real storage by all VM machines.
As previously noted, among the drawbacks of CP and CMS are that they do not provide an intuitive user interface. Instead, the human user must learn a new set of commands and also a new command structure and interface. As described herein, including in an illustrative, exemplary manner with regard to the drawings below, the present invention overcomes this drawback by providing an additional interface layer.
Another product which provides a similar function to DirMaint includes VMSecure of CA (Computer Associates, USA). Of course any other product having at least similar functionality could also optionally be substituted for interaction with the system of the present invention as described herein.
The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown, a system 100 features a hardware computing platform 102. Hardware computing platform 102 may optionally be implemented as any type of computer, but for the purpose of description herein and without intending to be limiting in any way, is described with regard to a mainframe computer (such as those available from IBM for example with regard to System z). Hardware computing platform 102 features at least one CPU 104, of which a plurality are shown for the sake of illustration only and without intending to be limiting in any way. Hardware computing platform 102 also preferably features a DASD storage 106, a memory (shown as storage cards as an example only) 108, an I/O device 110 and a network interface 112 for connecting to a network (not shown; shown as an open system adaptor (OSA) NIC as an example only). Hardware computing platform 102 also preferably features one or more tape devices 111 and one or more printers 109. These components are shown as communicating through a plurality of channels 113.
Hardware computing platform 102 operates a plurality of VM machines 114 as shown (of which three are shown for the purpose of example only and without intending to be limiting in any way). VM machines 114 are part of a VM environment 115 and are supported by a CP (control program) 116, which is provided as a non-limiting example of a hypervisor; for the purpose of description only and without intending to be limiting in any way, the activities of the hypervisor (CP 116) are described with regard to the z/VM environment of IBM. CP 116 supports all interactions of VM machines 114 with hardware computing platform 102 as shown (and as previously described). Again for the purpose of description only and without intending to be limiting in any way, each VM machine 114 is described herein as running the operating system Linux (although of course other operating systems could be used in its place).
CP 116 interacts with a management module 118 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Management module 118 preferably supports communication-less connection with VM machines 114. As shown, each VM machine 114 preferably features a VM TCP/IP connection 120 to a TCP/IP service machine 122 of VM environment 115. As is currently known in the art, should VM TCP/IP connection 120 be lost (for example if VM machine 114 were to "crash" or cease correct operations), CP 116 could not communicate with VM machine 114. Management module 118 preferably provides a direct connection 124 which by-passes VM TCP/IP connection 120, as described in greater detail with regard to
Direct connection 124 is shown as supporting a CLC service machine 123 for supporting communication less connection as described in greater detail below. In fact any type of communication may optionally be supported, regardless of whether management module 118 is operated by a different computer than hardware computing platform 102 or by hardware computing platform 102 itself.
Management module 118 optionally and preferably provides a user interface 126 for enabling a human user to interact with each VM machine 114 as though VM machine 114 was an actual hardware device. As described with regard to
User interface 126 is preferably used to perform a plurality and more preferably all management tasks, including but not limited to activating and deactivating one or more VM machines 114, viewing their status, viewing resources being used, assigning one or more such resources and so forth. A description of these management tasks is provided in greater detail with regard to
A data mover service machine 133 is used under z/VM for moving data to/from DASD storage 106 and an API service machine 135 is used to communicate with DIRMAINT (application for user management, as described in greater detail below) through a directory maintenance service machine 137 (CP 116 may also optionally communicate directly to directory maintenance service machine 137).
WAVECLC 202 preferably features a listener 204, which may for example operate by listening on port 1925 (although other ports may be used instead). Listener 204 intercepts the request from socket interface 200 and sends it to a SECUSER module 206, which uses the z/VM command to establish WAVECLC 202 as a secondary console, so that all messages to/from the particular VM machine 114 are passed through WAVECLC 202. In other words, WAVECLC 202 is preferably acting as a VM user in the z/VM system.
SECUSER module 206 then uses the CP SEND command of z/VM to send this command to the particular VM machine 114, as shown with regard to reference number 208. Next, a wakeup module 210 is started to listen for messages from the particular VM machine 114.
Wakeup module 210 intercepts messages from the particular VM machine 114 and then sends them back to socket interface 200, as shown with regard to reference number 212. Upon completion of the socket-based operations, SECUSER is disabled and the socket is closed, as shown with regard to reference number 214. At this point, listener 204 again listens for a new socket request.
It should be noted that throughout this operation, socket interface 200 does not need to be aware of the existence of WAVECLC 202 or of any of its components, nor does socket interface 200 need to be adapted in any way.
Instead, socket interface 200 needs to be compatible with z/VM environment and operational commands. Furthermore, the operations of WAVECLC 202 completely bypass the VM TCP/IP connection of VM machine 114.
The operative components of WAVECLC 202 which provide the listening services may optionally be implemented as a socket written in any suitable language, including but not limited to C, JAVA and/or REXX, thereby forming a CLCserv.exec 240 as shown.
As shown, management module 118 preferably features a management user module 300, for providing control over the functions of management module 118. Management user module 300 preferably stores data in a management database 302, which optionally and preferably includes such information as a list of users for management module 118, the permissions provided to each such user, metadata about the VM machines in the z/VM environment, a log of each user's actions in the z/VM environment, a list of all resources used by each user in the z/VM environment and so forth. Users preferably interact with management module 118 through user interface 126 as shown, which in turn sends such interactions to management user module 300 and then receives information in return from management user module 300.
WAVE management user module 300 preferably interacts with a z/VM discovery module 304, which directly interfaces with the DIRMAINT API (not shown). DirMaint is given as a non-limiting example of a user management tool as previously described. This interface is preferably used to facilitate and enable, management of VM users and defined virtual devices, including VM machines, as well as other components in the virtual environment. It is also preferably used to discover events and/or components in the virtual environment, and is also preferably used to execute commands.
The direct connection from
Management database 302 preferably also stores such information as a list of Guest LANs or local area networks in the z/VM environment, their attributes and their connections (ie to which virtual switches and VM machines they are connected). In addition, preferably information related to prototypes (cloning templates) and the like is also stored.
As an illustrative method for operation of management module 118 (from the perspective of the user), a user would preferably log-on through user interface 126, more preferably by providing a user name and password. Management user module 300 preferably determines whether the user is present in management database 302 and according to information stored therein, determines which permission(s) are to be granted to the user. In addition, the log-in time and location of the user is preferably noted in management database 302; subsequent actions of the user during the session are preferably also stored in management database 302.
The user may request a graphical view of the z/VM environment, optionally including a plurality of VM machines networks. For faster rendering, such data may be provided from management database 302. However, the user may also optionally request a "real time" or updated view, in which case user interface 126 preferably sends such a request to z/VM discovery module 304, which in turn submits the request for updated information to the hypervisor (in this example and for illustrative purposes only, the CP) through known mechanisms in the CP interface. The CP then sends the updated information to z/VM discovery module 304, which provides the information to user interface 126. The updated information is then used to update the graphical display on user interface 126.
The user may also optionally choose to issue one or more commands through user interface 126, for example to view the status of a VM machine, to change one or more aspects of the function of the VM machine and/or to alter a VM machines network. If the user has the requisite permission(s) to perform the requested action(s) according to information stored in management database 302, then the command(s) are passed to z/VM discovery module 304, which in turn submits the command(s) to the CP. Any information or status update(s) provided by the CP are given to z/VM discovery module 304, which then provides them to user interface 126. Management database 302 is preferably updated and the information is preferably displayed to the user through user interface 126.
z/VM discovery module 304 preferably also provides the ability to filter the display through user interface 126 by Site-Groups, User-Groups, Project Association, Linux Deployment, Guest-LANs, Server Name Mask and status (Active/Inactive) or any mixture of the above. In addition, z/VM discovery module 304 preferably also supports the ability to graphically manage the Guest-LANs and also optionally and more preferably the ability to graphically manage disk storage quotas, while confirming to the scope and permissions policies.
Script module 308 may also optionally and preferably be used to store one or more custom scripts for example for issuing one or more commands as described above. Preferably these scripts permit customization and automation. One or more scripts may optionally and preferably be run automatically in some circumstances (for example when adding a new user, can run a registry script, or when a user changes password, preferably to automatically change the data in management database 302 as well for example).
Script module 308 is preferably divided into three functions: Scripts Repository Manager, Script Editor and Script Executor. The Script
Repository Manager provides the user with the ability to manage scripts by categories, with the option to assign a script a private or global attribute. Depending upon permissions granted, scripts may optionally be shared across users of the CSL-WAVE system. Each script is managed with the additional attributes of CSL-WAVE user as the Owner who has created the script, Date-Time stamp of when the script was created and the same information of the last user who has modified the script. The user of the Scripts Repository can view the directory of the repository by a specific category, or all categories, in either case with additional filters of Private and Global attributes.
The Script Editor facilitates creation and update of script lines, as well as the script description and Private/Global attributes. The Script Executor allows the user to select the script from the Scripts Repository to run against any virtual server or group of virtual servers. The Executor operates in multiple threads when the user selects multiple virtual servers as the target of the run. The user has the option to move the Executor task to the background Session Tasks, where the Executor continues to monitor the execution of the script. The user may expand the Executor window at any time to check the progress of the script task for each virtual server, and then send it back to the background and continue with other CSL-WAVE activities.
Once all of the servers have reported of the completion of the script execution to the executor, it alerts the user with a popup message that the script execution has completed. The user can view the results of the run for each virtual server in a multi-tab window (a tab for each server).
Scripts in the repository can optionally call other scripts in the repository regardless of the virtual server on which they are running. The repository is dynamically mounted on each virtual server and un-mount at the end of the script execution. Optionally, multiple users are permitted to run multiple scripts concurrently on the same virtual server as each user preferably receives a different mount point dynamically.
The present invention, in the embodiments shown relating to management of multiple CPCs, is not limited in the number of CPCs or z/VM systems that may be managed simultaneously.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.
1. A method for abstracting a VM environment.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a GUI (graphical user interface).
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising abstracting said VM environment without being tied to a specific hardware platform or construct.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said abstraction is of both the hardware and software components of the VM environment.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the VM environment is graphically represented in a similar manner to a regular hardware environment.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said VM machine comprises a software construct selected from the group consisting of full virtualization and para-virtualization.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising managing said VM machine through said abstraction.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said managing comprises one or more of activating or deactivating said VM machine, showing status, connecting or disconnecting from a VM network, managing one or more attributes for a VM machine, password management and adding or removing one or more users.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said managing one or more attributes comprises one or more of number of available virtual storage devices, how much storage is being used, pages in virtual memory, storage type, or CPU use.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising discovering a new VM machine on a VM network connected to said VM machine.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding a new VM machine to a VM network connected to said VM machine.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising managing at least one user of said VM machine through said abstraction.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said managing said at least one user further comprises determining at least one user permission or scope, or a combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising cloning an instance of a VM machine according to a template or from another VM Machine.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of VM machines is operated by a single hardware device and wherein said abstraction enables a user to communicate with each VM machine as though each VM machine is a separate hardware device.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said VM machine is operated according to System z and wherein said abstraction is provided as an interface layer over System z.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said interface layer communicates with one or more APIs (application programming interfaces) of System z.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising supporting bare metal installation of a VM environment.
19. The method of claim 17, performed on a plurality of VM machines.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of VM machines is selected by the user.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein execution of a process on said plurality of VM machines is performed in the background.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the user is notified upon completion of said execution.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user selects to view progress of operation of said process.
24. A method for providing communication-less connection to a VM machine in a VM environment, such that the VM machine does not require a separate direct TCP/IP connection.
25. A method for managing a VM machines network with a plurality of VM machines, comprising providing a GUI to an administrator, such that the administrator alters at least one aspect of the VM machines network by drawing on said GUI.
26. A system for managing a VM machine, the VM machine being operated on a hardware computing platform through a hypervisor, comprising:
- a. a management module for interacting with the hypervisor; and
- b. a user interface for receiving information from said management module and for passing user input to said management module.
Patent History
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 13, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2011
Inventors: Sharon Chen (Hertzelia), Amir Glaser (Hertzelia), Itai Blaiman (Kadima)
Application Number: 12/673,507
International Classification: G06F 9/455 (20060101); G06F 3/00 (20060101);


text:
listen to: 5/4 by gorillaz and cactus by the pixies.
has there been a summer that your vast expectations have lived up to yet? you know what i'm talking about; you spend all winter and spring thinking about the Best Summer Ever and when it comes, most days are spent watching netflix and working 6 day weeks. that's what my summers are like, at least. i don't usually go anywhere or do anything grand and i have my reasons but a big part of has to do with the fact that i'm lazy. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing but honestly, some days, i just want more.
at the beginning of every summer i tell myself that i'm going to go places, even if they're not far, and i'm going to take pictures, and i'm going to stop lying to my friends about the fact that i'm busy and have plans so i dont have to hang out with them, yet here i am, unchanged.
am i planning on changing my ways? no, not really. not exactly. i know that i'm not going to make a whole effort to get out there and do things more than i would regularly, but i'm working on saying yes more.
anyway, so i met this guy riun, right, and on our first time hanging out, he asked me about a place i wanted to go. I said Yarrow. and he said, Let's go.
Here are some pictures from our little day trip to yarrow and cultus lake.
this was a mix of some film, iphone, and dlsr pictures. riun's pretty cool. check him out on instagram: @riungarner.
till next time,

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A medium to large-sized tree with green glossy leaves and a bushy full habit. It has even branching while young which bushes out as the tree matures, with soft fleshy new growth and a light brown trunk. A quick, effective screening tree that can be used in numerous situations it is hardy, fast growing and can be manipulated very easily. Provides screening for taller situations or adds green colour to a garden back drop.
ApplicationsSpecimen tree
Screening and hedging
Sub tropical theme
Garden colour and texture
Clipped height2m
15 year height4-5m
Mature height15-20m
Soil conditionsMoist, free draining soils
WindProtect from strong winds
FrostProtect from harsh frosts
LightFull sun - semi shade
Tree ShapeUpright, spreading
Autumn colour
FlowerWhite flowers
FruitLong, dry seed pod
Available grades45lt


text:
Grease Message Board
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posts a message on 5/10/2009 8:41:47 PM
awesome this is my first grease message board and i am the biggest grease fan in the world i sware
posts a message on 5/10/2009 8:41:45 PM
awesome this is my first grease message board and i am the biggest grease fan in the world i sware
posts a message on 10/24/2005 8:06:58 PM
Hi, does anyone have a descriptive outfit of Frenchy's outfit in the Beauty School Dropout scene? I lost my Grease videotape, and I don't have time to rent it!! I am going to be her for Halloween but I need to see her outfit! help!
posts a message on 5/4/2005 1:30:04 PM
The car driven by Kenickie (and later Danny) is a white 1946 Ford Coupe Convertible (with custom lightning bolt paint job). The fantastic "Gresed Lightning" was a creation of car customizer George Barris. I hope this helps.
Karen Harborne
posts a message on 5/4/2005 1:10:11 PM
I am organising a Grease event and wondered if anyone out there knows where I can hire a mock up or a car that looks like the T-Birds car?
posts a message on 3/23/2005 10:47:17 AM
I am going to show Grease and have a party with a sing along and we'll dress up like the characters, etc..I am right outside Philadelphia.. Anyone have suggestions where I might find the Grease fans around my area? Websites, message boards, etc?
Eddy C
posts a bold assertion on 2/25/2005 1:16:53 PM
On the DVD, it looks like the blurred out sign is first seen in Chapter 7 (42:40). I think it is a Coca-Cola ad. Could be that Paramount didn't want to pay Coca-Cola a licensing fee for the use of their trademark (or something like that).
posts a message on 2/24/2005 1:21:50 PM
What the heck is the picture in the background at the Frosty Palace?? Even on HBO, ect, they blot it out... any guesses??
posts a message on 2/22/2005 8:22:21 PM
Dear Grease Fans, My husband and I have long been fans of this excellent film, especially due to the amazing performance of a background dancer. We have lovingly nicknamed him "cricket boy" because of his dance antics in his most prominent scene, the dance sequence for "We'll Always Be Together" at the Senior carnival. In this scene, he is wearing a lime green polo shirt and light pants and he has greased hair with a curl up front. You will notice him (if you haven't already)doing a dance in which he makes hand puppets and looks like he's chatting with them as he dances. Over the years, we have noticed his continued presence throughout the movie (another example: just behind Chacha right after the Rydell High theme song in the gym dance sequence, sticking out his tongue rapidly like a frog). Does anyone know the name of this fabulous artist? We'd love to know what happened to him, so if anyone has any information about Cricket Boy, please pass it along :) Thanks! -Kate
posts a message on 2/11/2005 7:19:43 AM
Can anyone tell me the words that the beaver sings on the commercial that Jan imitates?
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Jimmy Kimmel may rule the ratings among the coveted 18-49 demo on his late night ABC talk show, but Jay Leno still garners the best ratings of all of the late night shows and that's what matters, doesn't it?
Not according to NBC.
In the latest installment of the late night TV wars, the peacock network is reportedly trying to oust reigning ratings king Leno in favor of the younger, hipper, Jimmy Fallon, whose show currently comes on after Leno's.
The two NBC late night hosts have even been addressing a possible shake up at the network on their respective shows this week.
While Fallon joked, "The rumors are true. NBC is turning the 'Tonight Show' into a diving competition," Leno's barbs at NBC have cut a bit deeper, calling the network "snakes" and "extinct."
But Leno is rightfully upset. The 62-year-old comedian is still beating his longtime competition, David Letterman, as well as younger late night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, in the ratings.
"Leno has averaged 3.53 million total viewers, compared to 3.1 million for Letterman, and and 2.64 million for Kimmel," reports The Wrap. "In the younger demo, Kimmel closes the gap — but is still behind Leno. Leno has 1.02 million viewers 19-49, compared to 936,000 for Kimmel and 873,000 for Letterman."
"NBC isn't reacting to Kimmel beating Leno in younger viewers," adds The Wrap. "It's reacting to the possibility that Kimmel might start beating Leno soon."
Remember what happened last time NBC tried to replace Leno with the younger Conan O'Brien in 2010? It was bad.
The brass at NBC moved Leno to a primetime spot, giving his late night spot to O'Brien, whose show aired after Leno's. The scheduling change was attributed to poor ratings for both shows.
Though not technically a breach of either host's contract, the change resulted in public demonstrations in support of O'Brien and embarrassment for the network.
"Shortly after NBC made the schedule change proposal, O'Brien indicated that he would quit his show and leave the network if NBC were to implement it, citing the 'destruction' of the venerable franchise which had aired at or around 11:30 pm for over 60 years," according to a Wikipedia page devoted to the controversy.
Eventually, after nearly two weeks of negotiations, O'Brien walked and he, along with his staff, received a total of $45 million to peacefully exit the network.
"The odds are we will both leave this Earth without speaking to each other, which is fine," O'Brien told The Hollywood Reporter after the 2010 controversy with Leno. "There's really nothing to say. We both know the deal. He knows; I know. I'd rather just forget ... It helps that almost everybody involved in the craziness has been relieved of their jobs."
At the rate NBC is going, they're headed directly for another "2010 Tonight Show Conflict," as the incident is now known.


text:
by Denise
Can you tell me why my cockatiel is sputtering? it just started today. She is 2 yrs old. Her cagemate is not doing this. The only change is that I gave them some "Eatsmart Naturals" garden veggie sticks. Their ingredients are: potato flour, potato starch, rice flour, sunflower oil, corn starch, tomato paste, salt, spinach powder, turmeric, potassium chloride. produced in a facility handling peanut butter. I am not sure if she ate any of them. She also seems to be breathing heavier. Her chest is heaving more than my other bird.
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This winter its all about the pastels. I know they can be tricky to wear so I created a little look book to share with you some pieces I've been loving on one of my favourite online stores - SHEINSIDE. Enjoy!
I have loved and admired the Aziza Zina brand for a long time, ever since I met one of the designers at Mode Suisse several years ago. The brand's elegance and clean, chic cuts have always appealed to my style and this year, at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Days, the brand amazed once again. Summer collections are Aziza Zina's forte, the beautiful tailored silhouettes of the dresses sent down the runway made me want to be at a garden party in late Spring. The primal colours was white, with notes of baby blue and fuchsia, which created a pure and clean feeling. The intricate lace used as details for numerous designs made the collection even more interesting and alluring. To conclude I must say that it was one of my favourite collections and the flower power of the collection seemed to convert everyone observing the runway. Congratulations Aziza Zina for another amazing collection!
I love Zurich, it's so much more vibrant and international than Lausanne or even Geneva. It is the perfect mix of urban and luxurious style. I had a wonderful day that started with a brunch in Bohemia with Digital Eye and other Swiss bloggers. After which I attended the H&M Showroom (check out the full post HERE), and then headed back to town to get some Sprungli hot chocolate with the awesome Ana of Fashionoxic.
As you can see I had a lot of running around and going from place to place, therefore I needed an outfit that was comfortable and warm yet stylish. Denim on denim is one of those trends that have become permanent, it looks effortless and allows for movement and comfort. Here I paired a Mango shirt with my H&M boyfriend jeans, threw over my IRO fur coat and ran around merrily. As for the details, I wore the must-have H&M cap, my beloved 3.1 Philip Lim bag (I've been wearing it non-stop), and Louis Vuitton booties. Always remember comfort and style are not opposites.
This weekend I attended the Mercedes Benz Fashion Days in Zurich, one of the biggest fashion events in Switzerland. H&M is one of the biggest partners and sponsors of the event which means that during these days many events are organised by the fashion house. One of these events was a showroom that showcased the SS 14' collection which I attended on Saturday. I must say I was very impressed with the intricate details and quality of the pieces presented. The main inspiration behind the collection seemed to be boho-chic so lots of flowy dresses, headscarves and denim jackets. Very excited to see this collection hit the stores (put the navy blue sweater on my wishlist already).
There are classic pieces that belong in every girl's closet, a beige Burberry trench is one of them. I, in a very cliche fashion, got mine in London last fall and have sworn by it ever since. There are so many ways to wear it, and so many things to wear it with. It's an investment worth making. I am currently preparing for my exams while also making a schedule for my weekend in Zurich for the Mercedes Benz Fashion Days, I'm so excited to be back in the vibrant city. I will be updating you constantly on Instagram and Twitter!
Under my beloved trench I am wearing an intricate lace top I receiver from Sheinside, the embroidery is exquisite and makes for such a beautiful piece. Check it out - HERE. I am once again promoting flat shoes and sporting my Burberry wellies which look chic yet are very practical in the rain and snow. Along with those are some classic Levi's black jeans, my H&M hat which gives the look a touch of elegance and my 3.1 Philip Lim Pashli satchel which I now swear by. Overall the effect is a very classic look which is practical yet elegant.
I never liked anything about maths, especially not after letters started replacing more and more numbers. Geometry on the other hand I adored, playing with shapes and lines was perhaps the most fun I had in a maths class. Now I am done with school yet geometry seems to always catch my eye, in architecture, home design and, naturally, clothes. Im always a little wary about playing with patterns, I have very little appreciation for all the "Do's" and "Don'ts"so I just go with it.
I decided to wear stripes and checkers and shoot it against a lined background, when I go, I go all out. Im wearing a gorgeous structured miniskirt I received from a really cool online store called Choies, the material is sturdy and I was impressed by the quality of the garment. You can buy the skirt - HERE. I paired it with a vintage blouse that was given to me by my mother, from the "good old 80's". As for outerwear, this is my new favourite coat, the colour, the material, the structure are all perfect, god bless Zara! As for the accessories I am wearing the new cult classic H&M Collection sailor cap and my new Philip Lim 3.1 Pashli Satchel (an investment that's worth it). On my feet are some very comfortable and not heeled brogues which dont kill my feet while walking through town, hope you appreciate my commitment to wearing flat shoes!
I love autumn - the spicy scent of the cold in the mornings, the sounds of the falling leaves, and naturally the colours. Autumn has so many of them, beige, orange, red, brown, dark green, the list goes on and I cannot help but be inspired by all of them. Autumn is also quite a nostalgic time, we let go of the past and let the past die so that we can make something stronger. Maybe all the colours are nature's way of helping us let go.
As I said, I am inspired by the warm shades of autumn and I used as many as I could in this look. The sweater I am wearing is from SheInside and it is incredibly cosy and comfortable. I belted it to give it more shape over my checkered Zara shorts. I am also wearing some beautiful D&G boots and my wonderfully soft wool socks. I can tell they will be my best friends this winter (I got them in 3 colours). I added a little bling with a Topshop necklace and some Chanel pearl earrings. Hope you like the way I used the autumn palette.
I consider myself very lucky in terms of the people I am surrounded by, my closest friends are all creative, artistic and most importantly very talented. Day on day they make me discover and appreciate art, design, and inspire me to create myself. These images are the work of Zoe Horgan who is a little minx, an incredible talent and amazing friend. We took these a while ago and only now has she shown me the final result, and I love the creative way she put these images together. I hope you all do too.
Darker times. The mood of the streets shifted, gray skies, gray buildings, early sunset, late sunrise. I though I should adapt to this new mood and embrace it, which is why this series of pictures are much darker and have a different tone to them than my usual, bright and almost(!) over exposed ones. I took these with Romina right before the Mode Suisse event, which I must say was fantastic this year, and it was almost too dark to take them, yet I love the effect.
I was inspired by sailors, their commitment to comfort yet ability to look so casual and chic. So I mixed mostly the traditional navy, black and white hues. The blazer is a piece I have owned for year and was actually one of my first buys when I started interesting myself in fashion, it is the classic by MaxMara. The skirt is Zara, from the latest collection, and has such a great length and fabric it's perfect for winter. The shoes, the shoes, oh these shoes, I think they have been my most coveted buy this season, they are Louis Vuitton and happen to be the most comfortable, beautiful and perfect autumn shoes (a rare combination). I am also wearing very warm wooly sock as I have a strong appreciation for comfort (like sailors) and a H&M Collection cap. Accessorised with rings from Asos and Juicy Couture and the famous 2.55 Chanel bag I am officially a wanna-be sailor. Arr!
Here are some more modeling shots I wanted to share with you. The mood of these is much darker and more intense then the previous post, the make up is so minimal as is the styling. The power of these shots lies in the colours and shadows as well as the intense facial expression (I had to laugh in between shots to take the edge off, the photographer told me to look like I was an angry murderer). I think that a lot of the time simplicity holds so much more detail and power than elaborate styling or make-up, sometimes so much more character can be seen when all the unnecessary props are removed.
Today I wanted to share some of my favourite LUSH products with you. I love the philosophy of the brand, natural, cruelty free and sustainable. What's there not to love? Nevermind the fact that all of their products smell like heaven...and rainbows and unicorns. Anyways, there are four products I am faithful to and I wanted to share them with you!
1. The Olive Branch - Contains fairtrade olive oil, fresh mandarins, bergamot oil and vine leaves which give it a soft sweet smell, nothing overpowering like "Flying Fox". The olive oil also works wonders for the skin, it leaves it soft and lightly scented. I hate when my showegels smell overpowering or dry my skin out, this one is perfect - give it a shake and use it with a loofah (too runny to lather on using your hands) and your skin will glow!
2. Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - This is actually a conditioner, yes like the stuff for the hair, for your skin. Its really useful if youre like me and youre simply too lazy to apply cream after the shower, wait for it to dry, etc etc. This cream is easy to use and makes your skin softer than any other cream I have used. Containing a variety of moisturing oils that are good for the skin such as argan oil, cocoa butter, cupuaçu butter, brazil nut oil, almond oil and fair trade shea butter, it gives the skin a powdery rose smell while leaving it divinely smooth. I also noticed that it helps even out your skin tone. Just put it on in the shower after your shower gel, take off with water, and watch magic happen.
3. Rub Rub Rub - I hate it when scrubs are too rough, having sensitive skin some scrubs can be quite bad for it. This one however does a wonderful job at scrubbing without hurting or damaging the skin. It contains mineral-rich sea salt and organic lemon juice as well as some mimosa and orange flower absolutes to give it a subtle scent which lingers on the skin all day.
4. Ceridwen's Couldron - This product is divine, it is incredible, no really. Its a bath melt which is packed and I mean PACKED, with all sorts of oils and butters like cocoa butter, walnut oil, and oatmilk. It comes in a little mesh poch which, after the butter disolves into the water, can be used to wash your body as it contains oats and a wildflower mix which calms and soothes the skin. It also make it look like youre bathing in milk (for those who like to pretend to be Cleopatra) and leaves the skin soft for days after.
Here are my four favourite products from lush that I will never give up using, give them a try and let me know what you think!
I love the concept of "indian summer", I think it's what Switzerland is experiencing right now. The thought that you can enjoy several delicious days of warmth when summer seemed to have bid adieu, is divine. At this time I, of course, become sick and enjoy the beautiful sun from the confinement of my sofa. Murphy law all the way.
I took these pictures a few days ago with Romina of Blaastyle when the sun was being kind. Can you imagine I bought these awesome pants a year ago in Paris, in a store called Les Fees de Bengale which first attracted me with the whimsical dresses displayed in the window. I fell in love with the designs even more when I found out all the pieces were sustainable and made of high quality materials. I love Paris for that, it lets you discover so many new brands and cute stores. I paired these statement pants with a crop top I got at Asos and some nude Jimmy Choo heels. To add a contrasting pop of colour I wore the MAC Girl About Town lipstick and a beautiful necklace I received from Swarovski.
As promised I am continuing with the theme of office wear. I love women in suits, I think it is the most sexy yet understated look, a well tailored suit is a must. It's powerful and feminine, strong and fragile all at the same time. Here I decided to play with the rules a little and wore the jacket on bare skin, a look I wouldn't advise for the office (unless you have a very liberal boss), but perfect for an evening party. I find that the most simple things can be sexy without being vulgar, todays society seems to teach us that the more skin you show the more attractive you are. I believe that sexiness and allure are achieved not solely by what you wear, but "the look in your eyes" so to speak.
The suit I am wearing here is Dolce & Gabbana, one of my favourite fashion houses, you want powerful, strong, sexy and feminine all in one, they're your guy. I have owned this suit for years and it never went out of style, its so classic. I love the charcoal gray, the delicate pinstripes, the strong shoulder. Needless to say it's my coup de coeur. I paired it with some simple black heels and a bold red lip by MAC. Sometimes the most simple outfits can be the most intricate.
Have you seen my interview for Edelweiss magazine? I was one of the 13 bloggers asked to style pieces by Swiss designers which will be shown at the annual Edelweiss Showroom in Geneva this year. I chose this feminine Tamara Perez dress, the ethnic accents gave an original touch to what seemed to be a classic design. The full outfit post will be on the blog soon! For now read the whole interview - HERE.
I think nothing quite compares to the satisfaction of your first job, earning your first money and rewarding yourself using means that you earned. Having a paid job for the first time is liberating and also very rewarding in many ways, every purchase has a different meaning, every little luxury you paid for yourself, becomes that much more special. I think that young adults should engage in internships as much as they can before they find a proper job, it teaches discipline and manners that are hard to find elsewhere. My work in Philip Morris International has been an amazing experience that has taught me so many valuable lessons about corporate life.
With corporate life however, comes a dress code. When I found out I could wear jackets and knee length dresses and skirts, and kitten heels without looking ridiculous I was over the moon. In the next few weeks I will try to share with you several "smart" looks that are appropriate for the workplace without being boring. Here I am wearing a razor blue Zara dress that I got a few days ago, the material is great and the colour, even greater. I paired it with a white Sandro tuxedo blazer and really funky Zara heels. I wanted something official yet playful, and let me tell you these heels attracted attention!
I love how this song is so sensual yet still has a captivating and energizing beat. Enjoy!
Unfortunately summer in Switzerland is coming to its end. A betraying breeze can be felt in the morning, a light chill when the sun goes down. For me the end of summer is very melancholy and nostalgic, and quite more significant than... say the end of a year. I tend to have an urgent need to put my life in order, organise my closet, make a plan for the following months. I think it's a similar pattern to that of animals preparing for the long winter months. I have decided to take a gap year, travel, learn Italian, work on myself (cliche I know) and attend university in England next year. I have a lot of exciting plans and one of them is to develop the blog as much as I can, among many others that I plan to share with you!
To bid farewell to summer I picked out some bright shades you don't see much of in winter - blues and greens. This gorgeous top was a birthday gift from the amazing girl who I am lucky enough to call my best friend, who is also the photographer! She and I will be doing our best to take the best pictures in the upcoming month. I am also wearing the cult shorts, these are everywhere and sadly I have succumbed, I got these on SheInside. I also want to point out my beautiful bracelet, this is one of the creations of a new online store called Mosaika, the kind Evgenija gave me several of these bracelets to incorporate into my looks and share with you guys! She creates the bracelets herself from semiprecious stones and often with a small symbol. Mine is a cute bicycle! Check out more of her designs - HERE.
We are all familiar with "look" based fashion communities such as Lookbook and Chictopia. However there is a new player on the field - the Munich based STYLIGHT community. This new exciting platforms allows you to not only share your look, but to create a sort of moodboard, with videos, quotes, items, pictures or anything else you want. You can get creative and make really special boards which are then projected to the stylish and sleek STYLIGHT community. STYLIGHT allows you to discover new styles, bloggers, inspire, be inspired and most importantly get involved and be creative. I must highlight how amazing their whole team is in supporting and promoting bloggers, they did a lovely article about me earlier this year and I am very grateful for the recognition and continuous interest in Stylittude (follow me on STYLIGHT here). Be sure to check out STYLIGHT, if not to contribute then to be inspired!
I really wanted to share these pictures with you because of how much I love them. They were taken by an amazing photographer called Charles-Elie Lathion a few years back and still remain my favourite shots to date. I used to model more professionally when I was 16 however now I do it much less because of lack of time and lack of desire to do it professionally. However I still do a photoshoot here and there but these pictures have a certain mood to them - power? fragility? femininity? fierceness? or all of the above? Still not quite able to put my finger on it, let me know if you do!
I have decided to introduce a new weekly post on Stylittude. It will be my song inspiration of the week because of how important music is to me. Unfortunately I cannot sing to save my life, can't play any instruments so I resort to researching and discovering amazing artists with beautiful voices and songs that inspire me. I cannot function without music, it is one of my biggest inspirations, and essential part of my daily life, and ever present in almost all of my daily tasks. In this weekly post I will share with you my song crushes of the moment, judging on talent, tune, sometimes even video or styling of the video clip.
Trixie Whitley is a Belgian singer and song writer based in Brooklyn and has one of the most powerful voices I have heard in a while. This song, the words and her voice, are hypnotising and the minimalistic black and white elegance of the clip only highlight her talent. Listen and judge for yourself!
For this upcoming season Sandrine Barabinot, decided to explore the wilderness within us. Aptly named, Rita Wild, is inspired by nature, snowy pastures and wild animals, new symbols such the Rottweiler, lion, panther and wolf are introduced. These were classically used with wooden and semi precious beads such as jade or lapis lazuli to create necklaces and bracelets in numerous shades.
Another angle that was introduces are the cross motif necklaces, earrings and rings. I definitely fell in love with this edgy yet feminine symbol and can't wait to get my hands on those earrings. Another notable piece was the "python" necklace which can be used as a bracelet, necklace or belt. Its very elegant and discrete however is still enough to make a strong statement.
Rita&Zia already have several bag models, and this season they decided to branch out into shoes. Brogues, lace-ups, pumps and boots are all present and as always true to the brand image, available in a variety of styles and materials. It is a very exciting collection which is innovative yet true to the brand's image.
You never really value the freedom of summer holidays until you have to go back to responsibilities, deadlines, jobs, classes. I am finally finding time to get back into the blog, all between a full time office job, waiting for my university answer, and a prospect of moving to another country. This is by a mile, the most exciting and important year of my life so far. I graduated school, turned 18, got an offer from a n incredible university, spent the best summer, and am now getting valuable work experience at a huge corporation. This is a great year, and hopefully a great start to what will be a great journey.
As you probably know I have been loving SheInside, a trendy online boutique retailing trendy and quirky pieces. I recently received this beautiful dungaree-like lavender skirt which is perfect for summer. I paired it with a YSL t-shirt that I got on My Private Boutique, an online outlet with shocking deals on designer items. One thing about me as a blogger is my belief in flats, moccasins, espadrilles, and anything that is comfortable. A lot of bloggers claim their "live in their heels"... there is no way. I love these Louis Vuitton moccasins I received for my birthday, they are great walking shoes and still have an elegant touch. The jacket is another birthday gift, from Sandro, it took me a while to find the perfect white jacket. Hope you like it!
I don't believe in having one set style, maybe thats just my excuse. Most days I love dressing up, I love elegance and femininity, however I also believe in trying out new looks being influenced by different styles. Here I went for a very, rock-punk, dark look. I love feeling like a different person for a day, even if it's just my clothes that have changed. Do you guys think we should have one fixed style, and not stray into other influences?
As for the outfit, I am wearing the daring and infamous "COMMES DES FUCKDOWN" t-shirt that is part of the "Homies" "Feline" etc. family. I got this t-shirt on SheInside, the website I talked to you about in this post. The really have such an awesome choice of pieces that are updated every day. I paired this t-shirt with my classic, Zara leather jacket, and a pair of very explicit tight from Topshop. I also wore my super comfortable Steve Madden booties which I have owned for a while and are my go-to shoes to be comfortable. Another cool piece I am wearing are the Rings&Tings double spike rings I received a while ago, I think they do perfectly with the look and add to the rock-chic effect.
I have always been fascinated by what happens behind the scenes, the final product is always beautiful, however it is the hustle and bustle of what happens outside everyones eyes that intrigues me. I love seeing the organisation, the ways the models relax and act when they're not in the spotlight, the relationship between the team, the racks and racks of clothing and the moodboards. Here are some impressions from the Mode Suisse a couple of months ago. Hope you enjoy!
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Treatment of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis – EX735Ag Slider
Gender/age: 16 Year Old Female
Presented condition, complaints: Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Past medical history: Diagnosed with JRA
Time of action during session: 30-45 minutes
Action modes used: SCENAR-Cosmodic/Slider Auto + Cosmodic Myo at 40% ( Little Wings)
Areas treated:
- Ankles were most inflamed and painful
- Wrists inflamed and painful
- Sore neck and shoulders
Change of the patient's condition during and after session:
- Ankles – visible reduction in inflammation, warmer to touch, pain was eliminated totally on right leg/ankle, barely noticeable on left leg/ankle.
- Wrist – visible reduction in inflammation, pain totally eliminated
- Post C7 dose followed by 5 elevations of little wings, no pain in neck and/or shoulder areas.
Total number of sessions: 1 session. Coming in again next week.
Total time of treatment (days, weeks): One time
Final result of treatment:
Too early to tell long time but with Juvenile RA therapy may be on-going at a maintenance level as her condition dictates.
The Slider performed very well. The client used the device on herself for everything except Little Wings and dosing C7. She simply picked up the Slider, placed it on affected areas, eliminated the pain in one area and moved the device to another painful site until they disappeared.
Comments on the new device working:
The 735 Slider is extremely easy to use for people new to this technology it is simply a matter of placing the device on where you hurt and as this pain subsides follow the pain until it is eliminated.
GO HERE to learn more about the EX735Ag Modific – The BEST SCENAR Yet


text: Funny Birthday eCards | Greetums eCards Keyword Search in categoriesAll categoriesFunny Birthday Search exact word Birthdays Holidays Because Occasions Keyword Search in categoriesAll categoriesFunny Birthday Search exact word Join Now Login Funny, video birthday eCards at Greetums for that person in your life with a sense of humor! Home Birthdays Funny Birthday A Special Song Birthdays are even funnier when you are old! Premium Fill them up with some laughs on their birthday. Tree-mendous A funny surprise birthday greeting from the great outdoors! Very Ice Put those birthday blues on ice with this funny little eCard. Any Day Above Ground …is a good day for a birthday celebration! Big Bang Give them an explosion of laughter with this silly eCard! Turning 40 Turn their special birthday into a circus! Birthday Parade Throw a parade for a Happy Birthday. Knock Knock Send in the clown to deliver this funny happy birthday message! Birthday Monkey What makes a Happy Birthday Greeting fun explained by a fully-trained Birthday Monkey! Have Your Cake Or is that CAKES?! Sweeten their birthday with this silly eCard. Birthdays are a Beach Send sun and fun with a little bit of sand with this funny birthday eCard. Elongated Wishes Bark the herald birthday sings and many many more funny greetings! You Made It! Getting older is an accomplishment. Let's celebrate with sweets! Turning 60 Now THAT'S reason to celebrate them! Birthday Safety Remind them to be careful. Only ONE candle on their cake this year! Top Secret Admirer This president is still at work on wishing people a Happy Birthday! No Birthday Left Behind This Republican First Lady wants to wish even Democrats a Happy Birthday! Not Easy Getting older is not easy. Tell them to keep their chins up! Coffee Can't Cure This Here's a cure for the common birthday eCard! « 123 » Sort by Default List cards I can send now only Newest on top. Oldest on top. Most popular on top. Least popular on top. Top-rated on top. Lowest-rated on top. Account Tools My Account Address Book My Calendar Event Reminder Favorites History Birthday Calendar Pick Up Card Newsletter Upcoming Celebrations May 12 Mother's Day27 Memorial Day Jun 16 Father's Day About Support Terms Privacy Archives Copyright © Kat Caverly Enterprises, Inc.


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Olivia Wilde Separates From Husband Tao Ruspoli — So Sad!
Olivia Wilde and her hubby have been secretly separated for months! Is that why she's getting sexy in magazines?
It's always sad to hear about a break-up, especially when a couple have been together for as long as Olivia Wilde and her husband Tao Ruspoli have. Unfortunately, Olivia's rep confirmed the actress has been separated from her Italian husband of eight years.
According to People Olivia, 26, and Tao, 25, have already been separated for a little while. "They have been living apart after trying for quite some time to make their relationship work," says a source.
Olivia eloped with her Italian prince when she was 18-years-old. The House M.D. star has had a busy film schedule lately, which could have led to the separation. It's often tough for actors to see their loved ones when they are constantly filming. Olivia is starring in hit movies like Tron: Legacy and Cowboys and Aliens.
The actress recently stirred up buzz with her topless FHM France photo shoot. Is she trying to ramp up her sex symbol status now that she's single?


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The Official Supporter Tour programme is managed by Lions Rugby Travel, the British and Irish Lions very own travel company. Fans have been able to purchase official match tickets with a wide range of hotels, flights and other fantastic once in a lifetime experiences to New Zealand.
2013 Lions Tour
In 2013, we created, managed and delivered thousand of Lions experiences for fans from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England during the Tour to Australia. From the amazing atmosphere generated in our supporter villages in Melbourne and Sydney, our Gala Dinner on the eve of the second Test match, fantastic off-field adventures, hotels, flights and of course official match tickets, the 2013 Lions Tour went down in rugby folklore.
Our Lions Rugby Promise
Our promise is that we will support you throughout - from the moment you make contact with us right the way through New Zealand, we will be with you in every single step of the way. From helping you choose the right tour options, through the booking process and eventually on tour with our dedicated staff, Lions Rugby Travel is able to provide you with the specialist advice you need for every aspect of your experience.
New Zealand
For the Lions, New Zealand represents the ultimate. It is arguably the most passionate rugby country in the world. The All Blacks are revered and hold an almost mythical status. For the 2017 Lions Tour, tickets will be at a premium and demand will out-strip supply. The only guaranteed way to be sure of being there is with Lions Rugby Travel.
Team Training
Ever wanted to know what it's like to tackle, pass and prepare like a Lion? We get you closer than ever before – take part in a team training session, get right to the heart of the Lions only with us.
Eve of Test Match Events
Fabulous Lions legends, fantastic stories, the best insight and memories – all wrapped up with great hospitality alongside other passionate Lions fans. Our eve of Test match events are a great pre match experience.
Supporter Villages
Touring is special and our Supporter Villages brings Lions fans together like a Sea of Red. Fantastic food and drink, wonderful entertainment, special guests and much more. Feel the atmosphere build as the Lions get ready to roar
Our People
We love the Lions as much as you do. Our staff will bring a passion to your experience every step of the way. Knowledgeable, travel specialists and Lions fans, we make it our business to ensure you have a faultless service every step of the way.
Gala Dinner
A gala experience in every way. Hear from the Lions head coach, special guests and Lions legends at a luxurious eve of Test gala dinner. Quite simply, an on tour experience that is impossible to beat.
No matter what Lions Tour you want, we will make it possible. With the choice of hotels, flight options, excursions, stop-overs and much more, our dedicated team will guarantee you the Lions Tour of your choice.
Lions Rugby Travel is the official travel company for the British and Irish Lions. Lions Rugby Travel Limited is a joint venture company owned by British Lions Designated Activity Company and The Mike Burton Group Limited, registered in Ireland with company number 488318 with its registered office at First Floor, Simmonscourt House, Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, Ireland.
All tour packages sold on this website are supplied by, and your booking will be with, Mike Burton Travel Limited trading as Lions Rugby Travel, a trading name used under licence from British Lions Designated Activity Company. Mike Burton Travel Limited is registered in England with company number 02616655 with its registered office at Carter Court, 8 Davy Way, Quedgeley. Gloucester, GL2 2DE, England, VAT Registration No: 576 2954 00. Mike Burton Travel Limited is a member of ABTA (V4759/D0596) and is an ATOL holder (3030).


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Maui Sweet Cakes was founded in 2012, by Heidi Cramer. Heidi's experience began as a child, cooking and learning along side her mother and grandmother. Those experiences contributed to Heidi's desire to start her own bakery. Cakewalk opened in Paia, Maui in 2001, where all the sweets were based on old fashioned favorites, made by hand, from scratch daily.
2010 brought about the sale of Cakewalk and Heidi got the chance to explore a different avenue of pastry. Maui Sweet Cakes was born specializing in wedding cakes. Still, her heart kept returning to the joy of bringing smiles with small sweets, so, in 2014 she decided to add a line of packaged cookies, one based on an old favorite from her childhood-Shortbread! Next she added to the excitement with Sprinkle Cookies, large shortbread cookies covered edge to edge in colorful sprinkles, and Swirl Brownies, for those who want something more decadent!
All Maui Sweet Cakes products are beautifully packaged and are great for gift giving for all occasions! Our sweets are available at a wide variety of local Maui retailers in addition to mail order. Please contact us directly for wholesale orders or for bulk orders.


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Join Tha Index Team! Submit Your Music
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Singer says the actor 'gets a raw deal'
Madonna has defended the honour of A-list actor Tom Cruise, and says that people are generally suspicious of those who want to do something good.
The Queen Of Pop is currently gearing up for the release of her brand new album 'Hard Candy' and the premiere of her Malawi documentary 'I Am Because We Are', which will screen at the forthcoming Tribeca film festival in New York.
In an interview with New York Magazine, the singer commented on being the subject of criticism for her charity work alongside the likes of Angelina Jolie, saying: "It's not just celebrities. I think people are just strangely suspicious of people who want to do something good."
When asked about Tom Cruise, who attended her 'Raising Malawi' fundraiser for orphans in February, Madonna admitted she sympathises with the actor and commented: "I don't care if people worship turtles or frogs — if they're good people, that's all I care about, and he is a good person.
"I think he gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal, just as I think a lot of marginalised people get a raw deal."
'Hard Candy' comes out in the US on Tuesday (April 29).
–By our New York staff.


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Columbus Short Leaves ABC's 'Scandal'
Next season, there is going to be one less employee at the offices of Olivia Pope & Associates: actor Columbus Short has released a statement to media outlets stating that he will not be returning to ABC's hit series 'Scandal' amidst a scandal of his own.
Short says in a statement to PEOPLE: "At this time I must confirm my exit from a show I've called home for three years, with what is the most talented ensemble on television today."
"Everything must come to an end and unfortunately the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas," he continues. "I wish nothing but the best for [series creator] Shonda [Rhimes], Kerry [Washington] and the rest of the cast, who have become like a second family to me in such a short amount of time. For this, I will forever be grateful."
The 31-year-old actor has been battling personal issues off the screen this year, including attacking a man at a restaurant and threatening his own wife, Tuere Short, with a knife. He's been charged with a felony for the restaurant incident and his wife, who has filed for divorce, has obtained a restraining order against Short. Tuere Short will be requesting full custody of their 2-year-old daughter.
Luckily for 'Scandal' writers, it won't take much to write the character of Harrison Wright out of the show. ('Scandal' season three finale spoiler alert) At the end of the finale for season three, we see Harrison uncovering the truth about Olivia Pope's dad, Rowan Pope (Joe Morton). Rowan, along with his associate Tom (Brian Letscher), hold Harrison at gunpoint and his fate is left uncertain as the episode ends. Well, I think we can guess what will happen from there.
'Scandal' fans aka "gladiators," are you going to miss seeing Columbus Short on the show?