Converged Infrastructure Factory Reset via Snapshot Rollback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data centers face challenges in efficiently integrating converged infrastructure platforms due to siloed IT architectures and complexities in accessing resources, leading to increased costs and reduced flexibility in responding to market changes.
Innovation Solution
A method for installing an integrated computing platform that configures and manages networking, storage, and virtualized resources, allowing communication with existing services, and includes a snapshot service to restore resources to a previous state in case of installation failures, using a management server to orchestrate these processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an integrated computing platform is configured to communicate with existing services in a data center, then the platform can be integrated into the existing infrastructure, but the configuration process becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing snapshots of the computing platform's state before configuration changes are made. This allows the platform to be integrated into the existing infrastructure while maintaining a rollback capability that simplifies the configuration process by providing a safety mechanism against errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of the computing platform's state through snapshots. These snapshots serve as reusable templates that can be restored if configuration errors occur, thereby reducing the complexity and risk associated with integration configuration.
2Ease of operation
If configuration changes are made to integrate the platform, then communication with existing services is enabled, but errors may occur requiring time-consuming manual correction
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures snapshots of the computing platform's state before configuration changes are made. This preliminary action enables quick rollback to a known good state if errors occur, dramatically reducing the time required for correction compared to manual troubleshooting and fixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by maintaining a record of configuration states through snapshots. This feedback mechanism allows operators to quickly assess whether configuration changes caused issues and to revert to previous working states, reducing correction time.
3Ease of manufacture
If the platform is deployed without snapshot capability, then deployment is simpler, but any configuration errors require complete redeployment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating snapshots during the deployment process. This maintains deployment simplicity while adding the capability to rollback to previous states, avoiding the need for complete redeployment when errors occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by capturing snapshots of the computing platform's state before configuration changes. This cushioning mechanism protects against deployment errors by providing a safety net that allows rollback, eliminating the need for complete redeployment.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple IT roles are maintained in silos, then traditional organizational structure is preserved, but flexibility to respond to market changes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The snapshot capability provides a universal solution that benefits multiple IT roles (system administrators, developers, operations teams) simultaneously. This multi-functional tool enhances market responsiveness by enabling quick recovery and iteration while maintaining the stability of the underlying organizational structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for integrating a converged infrastructure platform in a data center is provided. The described apparatus configures the physical and virtual resources that run on the converged infrastructure to communicate with the rest of the data center. The described apparatus further enables a system administrator to rollback configurations of the physical and virtual resources of the converged infrastructure to restore the converged infrastructure to a factory state.