Container to Virtual Machine Conversion via ISO Image Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual machines are not suitable for production environments due to security and isolation concerns, as they share underlying host resources like memory management, CPU scheduling, and file systems, making them less secure and less isolated compared to traditional virtual machines.
Innovation Solution
Converting a Docker container into a virtual machine using the inherent hierarchy of container files, where the system receives an initial container file, parses the associated container files, generates an ISO image, and boots the virtual machine using these images to create a standalone environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If containers are used for development and test environments, then lightweight and rapid deployment is achieved, but security and isolation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the container file system into multiple layers (read-only root filesystem, read-write overlay, configuration files) and converts each layer into separate ISO images. This segmentation allows the virtual machine to maintain the lightweight container structure while achieving improved isolation through the virtualization layer, resolving the contradiction between rapid deployment and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion system that transforms container artifacts into virtual machine images. This intermediary process creates ISO images from container filesystems, adding a virtualization layer that provides enhanced security and isolation while preserving the original container's functionality and deployment speed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If containers share host resources, then resource utilization is improved, but security and isolation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from container sharing at the operating system level to virtual machine isolation at the hardware virtualization level. By converting container filesystems into VM images that run in isolated virtualized environments, the system maintains resource efficiency while adding a dimensional layer of isolation through virtualization, eliminating security risks associated with resource sharing.
3Reliability
If virtual machines are created from containers, then security and isolation are enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service conversion system where the container artifacts themselves (filesystem layers, configuration files) contain all necessary information for VM image creation. The conversion process automatically extracts and assembles these components into ISO images without requiring manual intervention or complex external tooling, reducing system complexity while achieving enhanced security.
4Reliability
If container files are parsed and converted to ISO images, then production environment suitability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by converting container filesystems into VM images in advance, before deployment to production environments. The conversion process prepares all necessary ISO images and configuration files beforehand, so that once converted, the virtual machines can be rapidly deployed and executed without further conversion delays, balancing processing time with production suitability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method include receiving, by a computing system, an initial container file of a container as input, such that the container is to be converted into a virtual machine and the initial container file is part of a plurality of container files associated with the container. The system and method also include parsing, by the computing system, the plurality of container files including the initial container file, generating, by the computing system, an ISO image from each of the parsed container files, and booting, by the computing system, the virtual machine using the ISO image from each of the parsed container files.