Automatic Driver Injection for Virtual Machine Migrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual installation of required drivers for virtual machines during hypervisor migrations is costly and time-consuming, as it often requires manual intervention before booting up with a new hypervisor, leading to inefficiencies in the conversion process.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves automatically injecting necessary drivers during the migration process using an access node in the destination virtual cloud environment or through a customized machine image that determines and installs the required drivers, enabling seamless operation with the destination hypervisor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual driver installation is performed before virtual machine migration, then the virtual machine can be properly configured for the new hypervisor, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring driver injection mechanisms in the migration system before the actual migration occurs. The source hypervisor is equipped with driver injection capabilities that automatically transfer and install required drivers during the migration process, eliminating the need for manual driver installation after migration and significantly reducing migration time while ensuring compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a driver injection system that acts as a mediator between the source hypervisor and the destination hypervisor. This intermediary automatically handles the driver transfer and installation process during migration, coordinating the compatibility configuration without requiring manual intervention and reducing the overall migration timeline.
2Reliability
If manual driver installation is performed during virtual machine migration, then the virtual machine functions properly with the new hypervisor, but the process becomes complex and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the migration system to automatically handle driver configuration without human intervention. The source hypervisor autonomously identifies required drivers, transfers them to the destination environment, and installs them automatically during the migration process, transforming a complex manual task into an automated self-service operation that reduces process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate operations - driver identification, driver transfer, and driver installation - into a single integrated migration process. By combining these functions into one unified automated workflow, the system reduces the complexity that would otherwise arise from managing separate manual tasks for each operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drivers are installed on the virtual machine before migration, then the virtual machine can operate with the new hypervisor, but the installation process is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the driver injection mechanism in advance within the source hypervisor before migration begins. This pre-configured system automatically handles driver transfer and installation during migration, ensuring the virtual machine adapts to the new hypervisor without requiring time-consuming manual driver installation, thus improving migration efficiency while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual driver installation process with an automated electronic injection system. Instead of requiring physical manual intervention to install drivers, the system uses automated software-based driver injection mechanisms that transfer and install drivers during the migration process, significantly improving productivity and reducing costs while ensuring proper hypervisor adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The methods and systems described herein provide a solution that allows the necessary drivers to be automatically injected into a restored or migrated virtual machine. In one solution, using an access node installed in the destination virtual cloud environment, the required drivers are injected into a restored operating system volume/disk after the source VM has been restored/migrated to the new environment. In another solution, a customized machine image is created comprising of tools necessary to determine and install necessary drivers during migrations. This machine image is then used to create an intermediary virtual machine that determines and injects the necessary drivers needed for the source VM to properly function with the destination hypervisor.