General information. Application store

Application store is a module for selling software deployed on the provider's infrastructure. The client selects an application from the catalog, specifies the order parameters, and receives a working service together with the server on which this service is installed.

The article describes the components of the Application store and instructions for installing it.

Composition and operating principle

The Application store combines the following components: 

• BILLmanager — stores application descriptions, manages tariffs and orders;
• an external infrastructure management platform (for example, VMmanager 6) — creates servers and runs installation scripts;
• deployment scripts that run on servers.

Application life cycle

Working with the Application store is organized as follows:

1. The provider installs the module and links it to the infrastructure processing module.
2. The provider creates an application recipe: selects the installation script, operating system, and minimum server resources.
3. The provider configures a tariff of the Application type and assigns the recipe and infrastructure tariff to it.
4. The client selects an application in the store, fills in the parameters, and pays for the order.
5. BILLmanager passes the parameters to the external platform: a server is created, the OS is installed, and the deployment script is launched.
6. The client receives a notification with access details for the application and server.

Service linkage

After an order is placed, two linked services are created in the system: the application and the server. Actions with one service affect the other: 

• deleting the application deletes the server;
• turning off the server stops the application;
• renewing the application renews the server.

The infrastructure is always available to the client — the server is displayed in the services list, and access details are sent in the opening notification. 

Installing the module

Before installing the module, make sure the following conditions are met:

• BILLmanager integration with the external platform is configured. To check this, go to Integration → Modules;
• the external platform contains scripts (recipes) and OS templates that will be used to deploy applications;
• the scripts and OS templates are synchronized with BILLmanager. To check this, go to Products → Product types → select a product type (for example, a virtual server) → Parameters → Preinstalled software and Operating systems.

Installation procedure

1. Go to Integration → Modules.
2. In the module list, find the Application store module (category "Additional modules").
3. Click Install.
4. Wait for the installation to complete.

After installation, the following become available in the system:

• the Application product type — for creating application tariffs;
• the Products → Application recipes section — for configuring deployment scenarios;
• the Products/Services → Application store section in the client area and on the storefront — for ordering applications.

Additional information

If the Application recipes section is not displayed after installing the module, make sure that the integration with the external platform is configured and the processing module is enabled.