Cloud Controller Pre-generating VM First-Boot Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, the generation of first-boot metadata such as RSA keys, GUIDs, SSL certificates, and LTPA keys by virtual machines during deployment prolongs deployment time, as these processes consume cloud resources that could be utilized for other activities.
Innovation Solution
Pre-generating and storing these metadata by the cloud controller prior to virtual machine deployment, allowing the virtual machine to request and validate the pre-generated metadata post-deployment, thereby reducing deployment time and optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the virtual machine generates first-boot metadata at deployment time, then the metadata ensures randomness and security, but the deployment time becomes lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud controller pre-generates the first-boot metadata (RSA keys, GUID, SSL certificates, LTPA keys) before the virtual machine deployment. This preliminary action eliminates the time-consuming metadata generation step during deployment while maintaining security through cryptographic signing of the pre-generated metadata by the cloud controller's private key.
2Reliability
If the virtual machine generates first-boot metadata at deployment time, then the metadata is uniquely created for each instance, but cloud resources are consumed on first-boot activities
Solution Approach 1:
The metadata generation function is extracted from the virtual machine instance and relocated to the cloud controller. The cloud controller generates metadata for multiple virtual machines centrally, allowing cloud resources to be used efficiently for other productive activities while each virtual machine still receives unique, securely generated metadata.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for optimizing virtual machine deployment. A cloud controller pre-generates and stores a virtual machine's first-boot metadata (e.g., a RSA key) prior to the deployment of the virtual machine so that the virtual machine does not need to generate such metadata at deployment time thereby reducing the deployment time of the virtual machine. Instead, after the deployment and activation of the virtual machine, an activation agent running on the virtual machine requests the pre-generated first-boot metadata from the cloud controller. The cloud controller retrieves the requested pre-generated first-boot metadata to be transmitted to the requesting virtual machine and implements public-key cryptography so that the requesting virtual machine can verify the authenticity of the transmitted first-boot metadata. By reducing the deployment time for the virtual machine, cloud resources can be used for other activities.