Cloud Manager Dependency Controller for Virtual Machine Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing virtual machine resources in cloud computing platforms is complex and requires significant expertise, as existing methods lack automation for provisioning multiple machines in parallel and sharing configuration information effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system automates management tasks by using a cloud manager with a dependency controller, configuration controller, and service manager to provision virtual machines in parallel, share configuration information, and dynamically attach services based on selected profiles or service levels, facilitating efficient resource management through automated workflows and interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual machines are provisioned manually using existing methods, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but provisioning time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the cloud manager automatically provisions virtual machines, manages configurations, and coordinates dependencies without requiring manual intervention. The dependency controller autonomously tracks and resolves provisioning dependencies between multiple virtual machines, while the configuration controller automatically distributes configuration information to all relevant machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining configuration templates and dependency relationships before provisioning begins. The configuration controller prepares configuration information in advance, and the dependency controller pre-establishes the provisioning sequence based on declared dependencies, enabling parallel provisioning to proceed efficiently without real-time coordination overhead.
2Loss of time
If multiple virtual machines are provisioned in parallel, then provisioning time is reduced, but configuration management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration controller serves as an intermediary that centralizes configuration management for all virtual machines. It receives configuration information, determines the appropriate provisioning sequence based on dependencies, and distributes configurations to machines in the correct order. This mediator approach enables parallel provisioning while maintaining configuration integrity without requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the provisioning process into independent, parallelizable tasks that are coordinated through the dependency controller. Each virtual machine's provisioning can proceed independently once its dependencies are satisfied, allowing the system to divide and conquer the overall provisioning task across multiple parallel execution streams.
3Extent of automation
If manual management methods are used, then system expertise requirements are reduced, but automation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud manager implements self-service automation that handles the entire virtual machine provisioning lifecycle automatically. The dependency controller self-manages tracking and resolution of provisioning dependencies, while the configuration controller self-coordinates configuration distribution. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity through automated workflows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the dependency controller continuously monitors provisioning status and automatically adjusts the provisioning sequence based on real-time dependency satisfaction. The configuration controller receives feedback from virtual machines about their provisioning state and dynamically distributes configuration information, enabling adaptive automation that responds to system state changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to manage virtual machines are disclosed. An example method includes determining that a deployment of a first virtual machine has halted because the first virtual machine is dependent on a second virtual machine that has not been fully deployed and in response to detecting that the second virtual machine has been deployed, notifying, via a processor, the first virtual machine that deployment of the first virtual machine may continue.