Determining resource instance placement in a networked computing environment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for provisioning a virtual resource instance (e.g., a server instance, etc.) in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) based upon network characteristics (e.g., physical locations, email addresses/configurations, network connection types, internet protocol (IP) addresses, etc.) of a set (at least one) of intended end users of the virtual resource instance. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, the network characteristics associated with the set of intended end users will be gathered and analyzed (e.g., to determine end user location, etc.). The analysis of the network characteristics will then be used to calculate/determine relative (e.g., network) efficiency scores for each intended end user for a set of potential data centers for the virtual resource instance. The relative efficiency scores for each potential data center will be summed/totaled to yield a total (e.g., network) efficiency score for each potential data center. Thereafter, the particular data center with the highest/best total efficiency score may be selected, and the requested resource instance may be provisioned at that data center.