Dynamic Resource Allocation for Virtualized Telecommunications Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing 'N×(1:1)' configuration in telecommunications networks is inefficient in resource utilization, as standby servers reserve and use more resources than needed during normal processing to replicate state and exchange keep-alive messages, leading to suboptimal use of hardware resources, especially as the number of servers scales up.
Innovation Solution
Configuring virtual workloads in a telecommunications network to use a 'N+k' model, where N active workloads have associated secondary workloads that contend for resources, allowing the processing resource access priority of a standby workload to be dynamically increased during failover, thereby utilizing fewer resources and enabling efficient resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standby servers are configured with full resources to ensure they can take over from active servers, then system reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where standby virtual workloads can dynamically access additional processing resources from other standby workloads when failover is required. The resource allocation changes from a static reserved model to a dynamic shared model, allowing resources to be reallocated based on actual need during failover events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal resource pool where processing resources are not dedicated to specific standby workloads but are available to any standby workload that needs them. The second processing resources are configured to be contended for by multiple secondary virtual workloads, making the resources multi-functional and adaptable to different failover scenarios.
2Productivity
If the number of server pairs is scaled up to handle increased load, then system capacity is improved, but hardware cost and resource consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple standby virtual workloads onto shared host devices, allowing them to contend for common processing resources. Instead of dedicating separate physical hardware to each standby pair, multiple standby workloads share the same resource pool, reducing total hardware requirements while maintaining the ability to handle increased system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resource allocation parameters from fixed reservations to dynamic assignments based on failover priority. When a standby workload needs to become active, its resource access priority is increased, allowing it to acquire additional resources from the shared pool. This parameter change enables flexible scaling without proportional increases in hardware.
3Speed
If standby servers reserve full resources to ensure rapid failover capability, then failover speed is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares standby virtual workloads in advance by configuring them with basic processing resources and establishing their association with primary workloads. However, instead of reserving full resources beforehand, the system pre-configures the failover mechanism and resource access priorities, allowing rapid resource acquisition when needed without wasting resources during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resource management intermediary layer that mediates between standby virtual workloads and physical processing resources. This intermediary (the virtualization layer) allows standby workloads to quickly access resources during failover by dynamically adjusting resource allocation, without requiring pre-reservation of full resources. The intermediary enables rapid failover while maintaining resource allocation efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuring a virtualized environment in a telecommunications network is described. A plurality of primary virtual workloads are configured, including a first primary virtual workload, to use first processing resources on at least one host device in the network. A plurality of secondary virtual workloads are configured, including a first secondary virtual workload and a second secondary virtual workload, to use second processing resources on at least one host device in the network, each of the plurality of secondary virtual workloads being associated with a respective one of the primary virtual workloads. The secondary virtual workloads contend with one another. Causing, as part of a failover procedure, a processing resource access priority such that additional processing resources on at least one host device in the network are available to the first secondary virtual workload and not available to the second secondary virtual workload.