Client-Specific Activation Credentials for Shared Virtual Disks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In shared virtual disk environments, the activation process for operating systems and applications faces challenges due to differing client characteristics, leading to issues with proper activation and potential rendering of applications unusable.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where client-specific data is maintained on a virtual disk server, allowing clients to retrieve and reinstall activation credentials during the first boot and subsequent boots, ensuring each client's application is properly activated by using unique identifiers like MAC addresses or UUIDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a shared virtual disk image is used across multiple clients, then maintenance simplicity and hardware cost reduction are improved, but application activation fails due to differing client characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the activation credentials from the shared virtual disk image by storing them in client-specific locations on the server. Each client retrieves its own activation credentials based on unique identifiers, allowing the shared image to remain unified while activation data is divided and customized per client.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making activation credentials client-specific rather than uniform across all clients. Each client receives activation credentials tailored to its unique characteristics (MAC address, UUID, etc.), ensuring proper activation while maintaining the shared image structure.
2Ease of operation
If activation credentials are stored in the shared virtual disk image, then deployment is simplified, but activation fails when clients have different hardware characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments activation credentials by client identifier, storing them separately in the database rather than embedding them in the shared virtual disk image. This allows the image to remain generic and easily deployable, while activation data is customized per client through segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary activation service that acts as a mediator between the shared virtual disk image and client-specific activation requirements. The service retrieves appropriate credentials based on client identifiers, bridging the gap between unified deployment and customized activation.
3Reliability
If manual activation intervention is required for each client, then activation accuracy is improved, but user interaction time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling clients to automatically retrieve and apply their own activation credentials during the first boot process. The activation service automatically matches clients with their credentials using unique identifiers, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring accurate activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing activation credentials in the database before clients need them. When a client first boots, the activation service proactively retrieves and applies the appropriate credentials automatically, preventing activation issues before they occur rather than requiring manual troubleshooting.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to activation of an application included on a shared virtual disk using client-specific data. In particular, example embodiments retrieve, from a client-specific location on a virtual disk server, activation credentials generated in response to successful activation of the application during a previous boot Example embodiments then reinstall the application activation credentials to verify activation of the application for the particular client computing device.