Serverless App Engine:Release notes (from 2018 to 2022)

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Modification of stopped applications

New feature

The deployment configurations of a stopped application can be modified.

Update an application

User experience optimization

Optimization

• When the vSwitches of an application are changed, the application is not restarted. The restart-free feature is optimized to immediately take effect on all instances.

• The Server Load Balancer (SLB)-related change orders are classified into the following types: bind operation and modify operation. The IP addresses of associated SLB instances can be recorded.

• Tags by application name can be added when you collect logs to Log Service.

• The issue that a ConfigMap may fail to be configured in some cases is fixed.

• Change a vSwitch

• Bind an SLB instance to an application

• Configure log collection to Log Service

• Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Mounting of multiple NAS file systems

New feature

Multiple NAS file systems can be mounted to an application.

Configure NAS storage

Deployment optimization

New feature

SAE allows you to configure custom runtime environments when you use WAR, JAR, or PHP ZIP packages to deploy applications. For example, you can install PHP extensions or start dependencies, and upload specific files or scripts.

• Deploy a Java web application by using a WAR package in the SAE console

• Deploy a microservices application by using a JAR package in the SAE console

• Deploy a PHP application by using a ZIP package in the SAE console

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Native Jenkins

New feature

Native Jenkins is supported for automatic updates of application images. The update process is similar to implementing continuous delivery (CD) of an application by using Jenkins and kubectl scripts.

Use an SAE plug-in in Jenkins to build a job for application deployment

Auto scaling metrics

New feature

The following auto scaling metrics are added: Internal-facing CLB QPS and Internal-facing CLB RT. The metrics are suitable for the scenarios in which a large number of invocations, such as data mid-end jobs, are initiated from internal networks.

Configure an auto scaling policy

User experience optimization

Optimization

• The period of time that is required for a scheduled auto scaling policy to take effect is optimized.

• The issue that CLB instances may fail to be associated with an application in some cases is fixed.

• Scheduled auto scaling policies

• Bind an SLB instance to an application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

(Invitational preview) Trend chart of application instances

New feature

A trend chart is added for application instances. The chart helps you select suitable auto scaling metrics, specify suitable threshold values for auto scaling, and understand application resource utilization.

Configure an auto scaling policy

Google Remote Procedure Call (gRPC) in Application Load Balancer (ALB) gateway routing

New feature

ALB gateway routing is supported for backend HTTPS services that use the gRPC framework. This meets the load balancing requirements of users who deploy services in multi-language frameworks such as the .NET framework.

Configure gateway routing for an application by using an ALB instance

Image pulling from Container Registry Enterprise Edition instances across accounts

New feature

SAE allows you to pull images from the image repository of a Container Registry Enterprise Edition instance that belongs to another Alibaba Cloud account when you create or deploy an application. In most cases, this feature is used in deliveries of independent software vendors (ISVs) and cross-functional collaboration in enterprises.

• Deploy a Java application by using an image in the SAE console

• Deploy a PHP application by using an image in the SAE console

• Deploy applications in other languages by using images in the SAE console

• Pull Alibaba Cloud images across accounts

Java 17 runtime environment

New feature

The Java 17 runtime environment is supported when you create or deploy applications. The runtime environment meets the requirements of users who run Spring Boot 3.0.

Java runtime environments

One-click debugging

New feature

The one-click debugging feature is supported. If an application instance fails to be started, you can use the feature to quickly identify and analyze issues.

Debug an application instance

User experience optimization

Optimization

• The one-click start and stop feature is optimized.

• The reference of Kubernetes ConfigMaps when you create an application is optimized.

• The issue that auto scaling cannot be restored due to failed application deployment is fixed.

• Manage a scheduled start and stop rule

• Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Terraform

New feature

Infrastructure as code (IaC) implemented by using Terraform is supported. This way, you can manage SAE resources in a more secure manner and implement CI/CD by using GitOps.

• Terraform overview

• Use Terraform to manage SAE namespaces

• Use Terraform to manage SAE applications

• Use Terraform to associate an SAE application with an SLB instance

• Use Terraform to manage an auto scaling policy for an SAE application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

(Invitational preview) Configuration of ALB gateway routing

New feature

ALB gateway routing is supported in addition to CLB gateway routing. ALB provides powerful processing capabilities at Layer 7 and various advanced routing features.

Configure gateway routing for an application by using an ALB instance

User experience optimization

Optimization

• Multi-zone vSwitches are recommended.

• A hint message that appears if a change order fails to be executed is added.

• Release parameters are modified. This way, phased release efficiency is improved when the minimum number of available instances is approximately equal to the total number of application instances.

• If a metric-based auto scaling policy is enabled, and a scale-in operation is performed before a release, the number of instances after the release is greater than the number of instances before the release. This bug is fixed.

• Change the security group and vSwitch of an application

• Change orders

• Configure an auto scaling policy

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Log collection to Message Queue for Apache Kafka

New feature

Logs can be collected to Message Queue for Apache Kafka in addition to Log Service. This way, you can use Message Queue for Apache Kafka to deliver the logs that are collected from SAE to Elasticsearch.

• Collect logs to ApsaraMQ for Kafka

• Import logs from SAE to Message Queue for Apache Kafka

• View file logs

User experience optimization

Optimization

• Kubernetes ConfigMaps can be replicated.

• The timeout period for a graceful shutdown is increased from 60 seconds to 300 seconds.

• The deployment error messages of an application that is deployed by using an image from a Container Registry Enterprise Edition instance are optimized.

• The underlying persistent storage is optimized to decrease the time period that is required to create long-tail instances.

• Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

• Configure application lifecycle management

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Instance type

New feature

Instance types that support a CPU-to-memory ratio of 1:1 are supported. For example, an instance type that supports 1 core and 1 GiB of memory is available.

• Billing

• SAE instance types

• Change the instance specifications of an application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Enterprise cost allocation

New feature

Tag-based cost allocation is supported.

Split bills

Kubernetes ConfigMap management

New feature

The Kubernetes ConfigMap management feature is supported. This feature allows you to mount multiple Kubernetes ConfigMaps at a time.

Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Improved logging capabilities

New feature

Kubernetes stdout logs can be imported to Log Service.

• Configure log collection to Log Service

• View file logs

File uploads and downloads in webshells

New feature

The webshell feature is optimized to support file uploads and downloads.

Use the webshell feature to upload and download files

User experience optimization

Optimization

• The hint message that appears if you deploy an application by using the image of a Container Registry Enterprise Edition instance in a zone is optimized.

• The console UI strings that are used for Object Storage Service (OSS), NAS, and Log Service are optimized.

• The tag-related hint message that appears for the latest image is optimized for image-based deployment.

• The Application Monitoring agent of Application Real-Time Monitoring Service (ARMS) cannot be viewed when Dragonwell 11 or OpenJDK 11 is used in a Java custom image. This bug is fixed by providing an ARMS agent of the required version and automatically installing the agent.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Access over the Internet by using elastic IP addresses (EIPs)

New feature

EIPs can be used by applications to send or receive requests over the Internet. You can configure a public IP address whitelist for your application egress, configure your application to access databases across regions, and connect the video conferencing client by using inbound EIPs.

Enable Internet access for SAE instances based on EIPs

User experience optimization

Optimization

• The hint message that appears if a change order times out and a suspension occurs is optimized.

• The rollback process is optimized to resolve the issue in which an application cannot be rolled back due to OSS URL timeout.

• The display of release policies in release scenarios is optimized. You can view the output of release policy parameters during a phased release.

• The bug due to which Microservices Governance cannot be used together with ARMS Application Monitoring after you select Dragonwell 11 is fixed.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Auto scaling optimization

New feature

• The advanced features for auto scaling are supported. The advanced features include specifying the step size for scaling, specifying the cooldown period, and disabling scale-in operations. These features help prevent upstream risks and downstream risks, and ensure system stability in promotional events.

• The following auto scaling metrics are added: TCP Active Connections, Internet-facing SLB QPS, and Internet-facing SLB RT. This way, auto scaling can be implemented based on service characteristics.

• The hybrid auto scaling policy is optimized. You can specify multiple time periods in a hybrid auto scaling policy. This meets refined requirements for scheduled scaling or metric-based scaling in different time periods.

• Auto scaling efficiency is optimized. Basic images and system images can be pre-downloaded. This reduces the latency that occurs when you connect to monitoring systems, improves the efficiency of auto scaling, and reduces the time required to start auto scaling.

Configure an auto scaling policy

Automatic building of PHP images

New feature

Applications can be deployed by using PHP ZIP packages. SAE provides PHP runtime environments and application monitoring capabilities to help you perform end-to-end PHP application hosting.

Deploy a PHP application by using a ZIP package in the SAE console

NAS file subdirectory mounting

New feature

Applications can be mounted to the subdirectories of NAS file systems. Multiple applications can share a NAS file system to perform read operations and write operations. This helps reduce NAS costs.

Configure NAS storage

Multi-vSwitch deployment optimization

Optimization

The multi-vSwitch deployment feature is optimized so that new application instances can run as expected when you add or change vSwitches. You do not need to redeploy the corresponding application.

Change the security group and vSwitch of an application

Upgrade of the Dragonwell Java environment

Optimization

• Fonts are supported.

• Application deployment is accelerated.

• The Dragonwell version and OpenJDK version are upgraded.

Java runtime environments

User experience optimization

Optimization

The trigger conditions of auto scaling policies are optimized. The display of real-time pod logs is optimized.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

(Invitational preview) Image-based application deployment

New feature

Applications can be deployed by using images from Container Registry Enterprise Edition instances.

Deploy a PHP application by using an image in the SAE console

Gateway routing rules

New feature

The upper limit of gateway routing rules can be increased by increasing the related quota in SLB.

Configure gateway routing for an application by using a CLB instance

User experience optimization

Optimization

The operations to refresh instance status in the SAE console are optimized.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Hybrid auto scaling policy

New feature

Hybrid auto scaling policies are supported. A hybrid auto scaling policy integrates the capabilities of metric-based auto scaling and scheduled auto scaling.

• Configure an auto scaling policy

• Obtain the metadata of application instances

• RescaleApplication

• ListApplications

Auto scaling

Optimization

SAE allows you to select whether to resume auto scaling after you perform manual scale-out operations.

Manage the lifecycle of an application

User experience optimization

Optimization

• Applications can be searched by application ID, IP address of an SLB instance, and IP address of an instance.

• Application instances can be sorted by instance status. Abnormal instances are listed before other instances. A hint message that appears if an application package is changed during the deployment of an application is added.

• Obtain the metadata of application instances

• RescaleApplication

• ListApplications

Feature

Change type

Description

References

OSS bucket mounting

New feature

OSS buckets can be mounted. The feature is suitable for adapting applications to incremental updates of static files.

Configure OSS

Modification of the instance quota

New feature

The maximum numbers of instances that can be specified for automatic scale-out operations and manual scale-out operations can be dynamically changed.

Configure an auto scaling policy

Metrics in basic monitoring

Optimization

Metrics for network and disk monitoring are added in basic monitoring. Before you can view the metrics of historical applications, you must restart the applications.

Basic monitoring

User experience optimization

Optimization

The configuration of Kubernetes ConfigMaps in namespaces is optimized. The configuration of the hosts file is optimized. The configuration of application lifecycle management is optimized. The path of the directory to which an Extreme NAS file system is mounted is optimized.

• Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

• Configure application lifecycle management

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Top N monitoring reports from multiple dimensions

New feature

Top N monitoring reports from different dimensions are added to the Overview page to help you quickly identify faulty applications.

View top N application monitoring metrics

Logtail configuration

New feature

An existing Logtail configuration can be selected when you export business logs to Log Service.

Configure log collection to Log Service

HTTP protocol in SLB-based network access

New feature

The HTTP protocol is supported when you bind an SLB instance to an application.

Bind an SLB instance to an application

Change order details

New feature

API operations can be called by external users to query change order details. This enables you to integrate your DevOps platform with SAE.

• DescribePipeline

• DescribeApplicationInstances

Health check optimization

Optimization

The health check status can be viewed. The information about instance versions is optimized for releases. The gateway routing configurations can be synchronized to SLB.

Configure application health checks

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Guide for beginners

New feature

The guide for beginners is added to help beginners get started with SAE in 5 minutes.

• The health status of an instance can be viewed. Health check failures are displayed.

• The description of an application is optimized. The display settings of applications can be modified on the Applications page.

• The remote debugging feature and the scheduled startup and stop feature are optimized.

None

Instance health check

New feature

The health status of an instance can be viewed. Health check failures are displayed.

Configure application health checks

User experience optimization

New feature

• The description of an application is optimized. The display settings of applications can be modified on the Applications page.

• The remote debugging feature and the scheduled startup and stop feature are optimized.

Manage a scheduled start and stop rule

Application health check

New feature

Shortcut settings for HTTP health checks and TCP health checks are supported for applications.

• The scheduled refresh frequency of real-time logs can be changed. The minimum refresh frequency can be set to 5s.

• Application monitoring groups can be filtered during a canary release or phased release to improve observability.

• Auto scaling efficiency is optimized to improve end-to-end scaling efficiency.

• Frontend pages are optimized.

Configure application health checks

Application cloning and replication

New feature

Applications can be cloned and replicated.

Copy an application

Deletion and rebuilding of a single application instance

New feature

A single instance in an application can be deleted or rebuilt.

Delete an application instance

User experience optimization

Optimization

• The scheduled refresh frequency of real-time logs can be changed. The minimum refresh frequency can be set to 5s.

• Application monitoring groups can be filtered during a canary release or phased release to improve observability.

• Auto scaling efficiency is optimized to improve end-to-end scaling efficiency.

• Frontend pages are optimized.

View real-time logs

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Application instance restart

New feature

The in-place restart feature is supported for application instances.

Restart application instances

Cross-account private images

New feature

Private images from another Alibaba Cloud account can be used to deploy applications.

Pull Alibaba Cloud images across accounts

Basic application monitoring

New feature

The basic application monitoring feature is optimized and upgraded.

CloudMonitor

Application startup

New feature

The startup of Java 11 or Alibaba Dragonwell and applications is accelerated.

• Configure a startup command

• Configure startup acceleration for a Java application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Tomcat configuration

New feature

WAR packages support Tomcat configurations.

Configure Java Tomcat parameters

Java environment

New feature

Dragonwell 8 and Dragonwell 11 are supported by Java environments.

Deploy a microservices application by using a JAR package in the SAE console

Permission management

New feature

The permission prompts that are displayed for RAM users are optimized.

Preparations

Auto scaling settings

New feature

The QPS settings and response time settings for auto scaling are optimized.

Configure an auto scaling policy

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Image repository

New feature

Image repositories can be changed during application deployment.

Perform a canary release for an application

Custom Log Service projects

New feature

Custom Log Service projects are supported for application deployment.

Configure log collection to Log Service

Configuration of the waiting period for a graceful shutdown

New feature

A waiting period can be specified for a graceful shutdown.

Configure application lifecycle management

Configuration of the minimum number of available instances

New feature

The minimum number of available instances can be automatically specified.

Manage the lifecycle of an application

Configuration of phased release by using Alibaba Cloud Toolkit

New feature

A phased release can be configured to deploy an application by using Alibaba Cloud Toolkit.

Use the Alibaba Cloud Toolkit for IntelliJ IDEA plug-in to deploy an application

User experience optimization

Optimization

The Overview page and deployment-related pages are optimized.

Deploy a Java web application by using a WAR package in the SAE console

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Instance type

New feature

New instance types are introduced.

Billing

VPC environment

New feature

The automatic configuration of a VPC environment is supported when you create an application.

Deploy a Java web application by using a WAR package in the SAE console

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Remote debugging

New feature

The remote debugging feature is supported for applications.

None

Security group

New feature

Security groups can be selected for applications and can be changed.

Deploy a Java web application by using a WAR package in the SAE console

Service-linked role

New feature

The service-linked role of SAE can be created and used.

Service-linked role

Feature

Change type

Description

References

ConfigMap

New feature

Kubernetes ConfigMaps are supported.

• Manage a Kubernetes ConfigMap

• Inject configurations

• Configure environment variables

Scheduled start and stop of multiple applications at a time

New feature

The scheduled start and stop feature is supported for multiple applications within a namespace. This reduces costs and increases efficiency.

Manage a scheduled start and stop rule

QPS and RT metrics

New feature

The metrics such as QPS and RT are added to trigger auto scaling.

Configure an auto scaling policy

Image-based deployment

New feature

Alibaba Cloud public images and demo images can be used to deploy applications.

Deploy a PHP application by using an image in the SAE console

User experience optimization

Optimization

The display of abnormal instances is optimized. The number of restarts is displayed.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Multi-vSwitch deployment

New feature

An application can be deployed in multiple vSwitches.

Multi-vSwitch deployment

Application tag

New feature

Tags can be added to applications.

Split bills

Application rollback

New feature

An application can be rolled back with a few clicks.

Manage the lifecycle of an application

RAM-based permission management

New feature

RAM-based permission management is supported.

Policies and examples

SLB configuration overwriting notes

New feature

SLB configuration overwriting notes are supported.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Gateway routing

New feature

Gateway routing is supported.

Configure gateway routing for an application by using a CLB instance

Configuration of PostStart and PreStop

New feature

The configurations of PostStart and PreStop are supported.

Configure application lifecycle management

Alert notification

New feature

Alert notification is supported.

• CPU and memory metrics for auto scaling

• JVM configuration during WAR package-based deployment

Feature

Change type

Description

References

One-click start and stop

New feature

An application can be started and stopped with a few clicks.

Use the one-click start and stop feature to manage applications

NAS storage

New feature

NAS storage is supported.

Configure NAS storage

Viewing of application events

New feature

Application events can be viewed.

View application events

User experience optimization

Optimization

• An instance type with 0.5-core CPU and 1-GiB memory is added.

• Tomcat 8 is supported when you use WAR packages to deploy applications.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

SAE commercial use

New feature

SAE is available for commercial use and begins to incur fees.

Billing

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Auto scaling

New feature

The auto scaling feature is supported.

Auto scaling

File log collection

New feature

File logs can be collected.

Collect file logs

Reuse of SLB instances and configuration of HTTPS listeners

New feature

SLB instances can be reused, and HTTPS listeners are supported.

Reuse an SLB instance and configure an HTTPS listener

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Service name change

New feature

EDAS Serverless is renamed SAE and is available in public preview as an independent Alibaba Cloud service.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Application Configuration Management (ACM)

New feature

ACM is integrated.

What is ACM?

Configuration of environment variables for applications that are deployed by using WAR packages

New feature

Environment variables can be configured for the applications that are deployed by using WAR packages.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

High-speed service framework (HSF)

New feature

HSF is supported. HSF allows you to deploy applications by using WAR packages and JAR packages.

None

Integration of ARMS Application Monitoring

New feature

ARMS Application Monitoring is integrated.

What is ARMS?

Release policies

New feature

Multiple release policies are available.

• Perform a phased release for an application

• Perform a canary release for an application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Plug-in-based deployment

New feature

SAE applications can be deployed by using plug-ins.

• Use a Maven plug-in to automatically deploy applications to SAE

• Use the Alibaba Cloud Toolkit for IntelliJ IDEA plug-in to deploy an application

• Use the Alibaba Cloud Toolkit for Eclipse plug-in to deploy an application

Feature

Change type

Description

References

API operations

New feature

API operations that are related to application lifecycle management are available.

None

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Advanced settings

New feature

• Advanced settings are supported for applications.

• The Webshell feature is added.

• Configure host bindings

• Configure a startup command

• Configure environment variables

Webshell feature

New feature

The Webshell feature is added.

None

Internet access

New feature

An Internet access solution is added.

Enable Internet access for applications

Feature

Change type

Description

References

Application lifecycle management

New feature

The application lifecycle management feature is supported.

Manage the lifecycle of an application

Microservices management

New feature

Basic microservices capabilities, such as service registration, service calling, and service query, are supported.

None

Manual scaling

New feature

The manual scaling feature is supported.

None

Basic monitoring

New feature

The basic monitoring feature is supported.

Basic monitoring

Real-time logs

New feature

Real-time logs are provided.

View real-time logs

Resource usage statistics

New feature

Statistics can be collected for resource usage.

None