Dynamic Content Disk for Virtual Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional virtual desktop environments are inflexible in accommodating diverse user application requirements due to limitations in the number of virtual disks supported by virtual machines, which can impact performance and restrict the presentation of a wide range of applications, especially in cloud environments with varied user needs.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic content disk is introduced for virtual machines, utilizing a thinly-provisioned file system with an IO filter that intercepts and converts IO requests to an application virtual disk stored across different back-ends, allowing for flexible provisioning of applications without increasing storage usage, by using sidecar files to manage metadata and data blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual disks are added to provide diverse applications, then application diversity is improved, but power-on performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple virtual disks into a single dynamically generated virtual disk. The disk generation module creates one unified virtual disk that integrates application data from multiple source virtual disks, allowing the VM to access diverse applications without having to boot with multiple separate virtual disks attached, thus maintaining power-on performance while providing application diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamically generated virtual disk serves multiple functions: it acts as a single bootable disk for the VM, simultaneously provides access to diverse applications from different source disks, and maintains the appearance of multiple separate disks to the VM. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making one disk perform the roles of multiple disks.
2Quantity of substance
If a single virtual disk covers a large set of applications, then storage efficiency is improved, but application flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual disk is dynamically generated based on the VM's identity and requirements. The disk generation module creates different virtual disks for different VMs, dynamically selecting and integrating appropriate application data from source disks. This dynamic approach allows efficient storage through consolidation while maintaining flexibility through customization for each VM.
Solution Approach 2:
The disk generation module acts as an intermediary between the physical storage layer (source virtual disks) and the VM layer. It translates the need for diverse applications into a unified virtual disk structure, mediating between storage efficiency requirements and application flexibility needs by generating customized disks for different VMs.
3Speed
If virtual disks are restricted in number, then power-on performance is maintained, but application provisioning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments application data from multiple source virtual disks and reassembles it into a single dynamically generated virtual disk. This segmentation allows the backend to organize applications from multiple sources while the frontend VM sees only one disk, maintaining performance limits while expanding provisioning capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic content disk for a virtual computing instance is created as a thinly-provisioned virtual disk having a file system that is synthesized in accordance with a set of applications that are provisioned for a virtual machine (VM). To limit the allocated size of the dynamic content disk, a filter is attached to the dynamic content disk to intercept input-output operations (IOs) directed to the dynamic content disk and convert them to IOs directed to an application virtual disk that stores the actual files of the applications that are provisioned for the VM. The application virtual disk may be stored on different back-ends, such as storage area network (SAN), network file system, virtual SAN, cloud storage, or local storage.