Daemon Proxy for Networking Manager VM Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cloud computing environments, configuration updates for networking manager virtual machines often require restarts, leading to downtime issues when managers are unavailable, causing network errors until manually resolved by users.

Innovation Solution

A method where a daemon on the host establishes a communication channel with a control plane agent to act as a proxy for the networking manager during updates, allowing for seamless configuration modifications and minimizing downtime by maintaining communication status information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a networking manager virtual machine is restarted for configuration updates, then the configuration is improved/updated, but network availability deteriorates causing errors until manually resolved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidnetwork availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A daemon process is introduced as an intermediary between the control plane agent and the networking manager virtual machine. During VM restart, the daemon maintains the communication channel and forwards messages, preventing network errors while allowing configuration updates to proceed without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The daemon is activated before the networking manager VM is restarted and maintains the communication channel in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the control plane agent continues to have a valid communication endpoint, preventing errors during the transition period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the networking manager is restarted for configuration updates, then the configuration can be modified, but downtime increases causing operational disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The daemon acts as a temporary proxy that maintains communication during the restart process, allowing configuration updates to be applied without causing operational downtime. The control plane operations continue seamlessly through the daemon intermediary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The daemon creates a temporary copy or proxy of the networking manager's communication interface. This copy maintains the communication channel during the VM restart, allowing configuration changes to proceed without disrupting ongoing network operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11822952B2Managing downtime to networking managers during configuration updates in cloud computing environments

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 VMWARE INC

AI summary

Described herein are systems and methods that manage configuration updates for networking manager virtual machines. In one example, a method includes identifying an update for at least one networking manager virtual machine. In response to identifying the update, the method notifies a daemon on the host with the networking manager virtual machine to establish a channel with a control plane agent to receive communications in place of the networking manager virtual machine. The method further identifies when the configuration modification is complete for the networking manager virtual machine and notifies the daemon on the host to break the channel with the control plane agent.