Dynamic Virtual Storage Appliance Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional virtual server environments are inadequate in providing dynamic provisioning of customized virtual storage appliances (VSAs) in cloud computing environments, leading to inefficiencies in load balancing and increased costs for managing complex storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically provisions virtual storage appliances by utilizing storage network components, cloud management components, and storage management components to create and configure VSAs with minimal human intervention, allowing for automated deployment, monitoring, and cost-effective management of storage resources within cloud computing environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional virtual server environments are used, then load balancing of applications can be improved, but dynamic provisioning of customized virtual storage appliances cannot be adequately provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancingVSAvoiddynamic provisioning of customized VSAs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic provisioning of virtual storage appliances through automated workflows that can be triggered on-demand. The VSA manager dynamically creates, configures, and deploys VSAs based on service requests, allowing the system to adapt to changing storage needs without manual intervention for each deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional system where a single virtual storage appliance can serve multiple purposes and be deployed in various cloud computing environments. The VSA manager handles multiple operations including creation, configuration, deployment, monitoring, and termination of VSAs, making the system universally applicable to different storage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional hardware is purchased and configured for each new storage system, then dedicated storage features can be provided, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededicated storage featuresVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses virtualization to create virtual copies of storage appliances that run on shared physical hardware infrastructure. Instead of purchasing separate physical hardware for each storage system, the VSA manager creates virtual instances that emulate dedicated storage appliances, providing the same functionality at lower hardware costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple virtual storage appliances onto a single physical hardware platform. The cloud computing environment consolidates storage resources, allowing multiple VSAs to share the same underlying hardware infrastructure while maintaining isolated and dedicated storage features for each virtual appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If VSAs are deployed en-mass with automated provisioning, then deployment efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VSA manager implements self-service automation where the system automatically handles the entire VSA provisioning lifecycle without requiring manual configuration or intervention. The automated workflows manage resource allocation, configuration, deployment, and termination, allowing the system to service itself and reducing the operational burden on administrators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a VSA manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the cloud computing environment and the virtual storage appliances. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of automated provisioning, managing the intricate coordination between compute resources, storage resources, and VSA instances while presenting a simplified interface for deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration and management of VSAs is performed, then customization is possible, but management time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidmanagement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements preliminary action by pre-configuring VSA templates with standard settings and configurations. When a VSA needs to be deployed, the manager can quickly instantiate these pre-configured templates, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps and significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining customization options through template parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9473577B2Dynamic provisioning of a virtual storage appliance

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 OS NEXUS INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating dynamic provisioning of a virtual storage appliance in a cloud computing environment are presented herein. A storage system management component can provision storage from a storage medium to facilitate access of at least a portion of the storage by a virtual storage appliance (VSA) based on a request for at least one resource associated with the VSA. Further, a network management component can provision the VSA to facilitate the access of the portion of the storage by the VSA. Furthermore, a storage fabric management component can configure a network to facilitate the access of the portion of the storage by the VSA via the network.