Elastic Cloud Web Server Farm with Isolated Virtual Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional server farms lack elasticity and isolation when processing multiple web applications, and require complex infrastructure for maintaining dedicated virtual machines, making it inefficient for handling high throughput internet traffic.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for building an elastic cloud web server farm that registers web applications on a serving cloud, copies them to a distributed store, specifies load, adds nodes based on load, initializes web servers, and routes user requests to available web servers for processing, utilizing a central registry, distributed store, and process coordinator to manage web applications and resources dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional server farm is used to host web applications, then the infrastructure is simple, but the system lacks elasticity and cannot provide isolation to multiple web applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the server farm into isolated virtual machine instances, each dedicated to a specific web application. This segmentation enables elasticity by allowing independent scaling of each application while maintaining infrastructure simplicity through virtualization. The isolation mechanism ensures that resource allocation for one application does not affect others, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud computing infrastructure as an intermediary layer between the physical server farm and the web applications. This intermediary provides virtual machine abstraction, enabling elastic resource allocation and application isolation without requiring complex manual infrastructure management. The intermediary simplifies the system by automating resource provisioning and deployment.
2Reliability
If dedicated virtual machines are deployed for each web application in a cloud computing infrastructure, then isolation and elasticity are provided, but the infrastructure becomes complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cloud computing infrastructure that serves multiple web applications through a common virtualized platform. This multi-functional infrastructure provides isolation through virtual machine snapshots and cloning capabilities, allowing the same infrastructure to support diverse applications without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each. The universality reduces overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary actions by pre-configuring virtual machine templates and images that can be rapidly deployed and cloned. When a new web application needs to be isolated, the system uses pre-prepared templates to quickly provision dedicated virtual machines, eliminating the need for complex real-time infrastructure assembly. This preliminary preparation maintains isolation guarantees while simplifying operational complexity.
3Productivity
If a server farm processes multiple web applications simultaneously, then resource sharing is enabled, but the system cannot provide necessary isolation between applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a nested architecture where web applications are nested within isolated virtual machine containers, which in turn are nested within the shared cloud infrastructure. This nested structure allows multiple applications to share physical resources at the infrastructure level while maintaining strict isolation at the virtual machine level. The nesting enables efficient resource sharing without compromising application isolation, as each nested layer provides the necessary separation guarantees.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for building an elastic cloud web server farm. The method includes registering a web application on a serving cloud and copying the web application to a distributed store. A load of the web application is specified, and a plurality of nodes is added for the web application based on the load. A web server corresponding to a node of the plurality of nodes is then initialized. A web request is received from a user and a web server is selected from a list of available web servers to process the web request. The web request is further transmitted to the web server. A web response, based on the web request, is transmitted back to the user. The system includes a central registry, a distributed store, a process coordinator, one or more web servers, and a router.