Directory Set Copying for Side-Effect Free Operation Testing

Solution Overview

Problem

Operation testing of host systems often causes unintended side effects, especially when performed with privileged access, and existing methods like container technologies require significant time, disk space, and resources.

Innovation Solution

A method involving preparing a copy of a host system disk directory set, creating links to files in the copied directory, and starting a non-privileged system using the disk image, which allows for operation testing without affecting the host system and reducing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If container technologies are used to isolate the execution environment, then side effects are prevented, but time and disk space consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside effectsVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the host system directory set and establishes links to files within this copied structure. This allows the test execution environment to operate on a replicated file system without modifying the original host system, thereby preventing side effects while avoiding the overhead of full containerization. The link mechanism enables efficient access to file contents without duplicating entire file systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary directory set from the host system to create a minimal test environment. Instead of using full container images that require significant resources, the invention isolates and copies only the specific directory structure needed for testing, reducing both time and disk space requirements while maintaining side-effect prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If container technologies are used to isolate the execution environment, then side effects are prevented, but disk space consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside effectsVSAvoiddisk space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the host system directory set and establishes links to files within this copied structure. This allows the test execution environment to operate on a replicated file system without modifying the original host system, thereby preventing side effects while avoiding the overhead of full container images. The link mechanism enables efficient access to file contents without duplicating entire file systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary directory set from the host system to create a minimal test environment. Instead of using full container images that require significant resources, the invention isolates and copies only the specific directory structure needed for testing, reducing both time and disk space requirements while maintaining side-effect prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If privileged access is used for operation testing, then comprehensive testing capability is achieved, but side effects on the host system occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the host system directory set and establishes links to files within this copied structure. This allows the test execution environment to operate on a replicated file system without modifying the original host system, thereby preventing side effects while avoiding the overhead of full containerization. The link mechanism enables efficient access to file contents without duplicating entire file systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The copied directory set with file links acts as an intermediary layer between the test execution and the host system. This intermediary allows comprehensive testing operations to be performed on the copied structure while preventing direct modification of the host system files, thus eliminating side effects while maintaining testing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12135896B2Side-effect resistant operation testing

Publication Date: 2024.11.05 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Operation testing without side effects may be enabled by a method including preparing a copy of a directory set of at least a part of a host system disk, creating a link to a file in a first directory in the host system disk, in a second directory of the copy of the directory set, wherein the second directory corresponds in position to the first directory in the directory set, and starting a non-privileged system using a disk image including the copy of the directory set and the created link.