Dynamic Boot Image Reprovisioning for Cluster Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise computing environments often waste resources due to idle non-production instances, leading to high maintenance and labor costs, as provisioning processes are time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for computer cluster virtualization that dynamically selects nodes based on policy, resets boot images, and associates virtual disk images to execute applications, allowing for on-the-fly reprovisioning and reallocation of nodes, reducing provisioning time and IT costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional provisioning is used to instantiate compute resources, then compute resources can be allocated to enterprise applications, but provisioning time exceeds ten minutes and computing resources are wasted during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-provisions boot images and virtual disk images in a repository before they are needed. When a compute resource needs to be instantiated, the system retrieves pre-prepared boot images and associates them with virtual disk images, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-demand provisioning and reducing allocation time to under 15 seconds
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of boot images and disk images that can be rapidly instantiated and associated with compute resources. These virtual copies allow multiple compute resources to be provisioned simultaneously from the same image repository, dramatically increasing provisioning throughput and reducing the time required to allocate computing power
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple computing environments are maintained for different application instances, then application flexibility is improved, but maintenance and labor costs increase due to idle non-production environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a universal image repository that stores boot images and virtual disk images usable across multiple computing environments and application instances. A single repository serves production, test, and development environments, allowing these diverse environments to share common infrastructure resources and eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure for each environment
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically allocates compute resources from a shared pool based on actual application needs rather than maintaining static dedicated environments. Compute resources can be rapidly instantiated, deactivated, or reallocated as demand changes, enabling the system to adapt to varying workloads and eliminate idle costs in non-production environments
3Productivity
If compute resources are dynamically reallocated between applications, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a centralized management layer that acts as an intermediary between applications and physical compute resources. This management layer handles the complexity of image retrieval, virtual disk association, and resource allocation decisions, shielding applications from infrastructure complexity while enabling efficient dynamic reallocation of resources across multiple applications
Data Source
AI summary
A method for computer cluster virtualization includes selecting a distributed application. A policy associated with the distributed application is retrieved. One of a plurality of nodes is dynamically selected. Then, a boot image of the selected node is reset based, at least in part, on the retrieved policy, with the boot image being compatible with the distributed application. Then, a virtual disk image is associated with the node. At least a portion of the distributed application is then executed on the reset node using the associated virtual disk image.