Container Runtime Migration Using Shim and Agent Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods struggle to transparently migrate executing containerized processes due to their dependencies on underlying operating systems, making it difficult to migrate processes without disrupting execution or requiring full virtual machine migration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a modified container runtime process, shim process, and scheduler component to instantiate and transparently migrate containerized processes across machines, employing dedicated operating system kernels and network connections to maintain process continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional container runtime processes are used to migrate containerized processes, then the processes can share operating system kernel resources, but the migration cannot be performed transparently during execution because the operating system kernel cannot be migrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operating system kernel into a migratable component that can be separated from the host system and transferred along with the containerized process. This allows the kernel to be divided into portable elements that can be migrated independently, resolving the contradiction between resource sharing and migration capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary migration mechanism that facilitates the transfer of the operating system kernel and containerized process between hosts. This intermediary layer enables transparent migration by handling the complex kernel relocation process, making it appear seamless to the running process while enabling resource optimization
2Reliability
If full virtual machine migration is used to migrate executing processes, then the processes can be migrated with all required resources, but the complexity of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential migratable components (containerized process and its associated kernel segment) from the full virtual machine environment. This extraction approach maintains process migration completeness while eliminating the unnecessary complexity of migrating entire virtual machine infrastructures, achieving reliability without excessive device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic migration approach where the system adapts to migrate only what is necessary for process continuity. The migration mechanism dynamically determines the minimal required resources and kernel components, reducing system complexity while ensuring complete process migration capability when needed
3Productivity
If containerized processes are migrated during execution, then high availability and resource optimization are achieved, but the operating system dependencies make transparent migration difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal migratable kernel component that can function across different host operating systems. This universal element provides multi-functionality by enabling the same containerized process to be migrated between diverse OS environments, achieving both resource optimization and operating system compatibility through a standardized migration interface
Data Source
AI summary
A method for instantiating and transparently migrating executing containerized processes includes receiving, by a container engine executing on a first machine, an instruction to instantiate a container image on the first machine. The container engine transmits, to a modified container runtime process, executing on the first machine, the instruction to instantiate the container image on the first machine. The modified container runtime process generates, on the first machine, a shim process representing the instantiated container image. The shim process forwards the instruction to an agent executing on a second machine, via a proxy connected to the agent via a network connection. The agent directs instantiation of the container image as a containerized process. A scheduler component executing on the first machine determines to migrate the containerized process to a third machine. The scheduler component directs migration of the containerized process to the third machine, during execution of the containerized process.