Event Aggregation Server Redirecting Guest Events in Virtualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed network management systems, especially those involving virtual machines, SNMP and WMI trap traffic can cause congestion, overwhelming network managers and slowing or halting the network due to the high volume of asynchronous notifications from multiple virtual machines.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an event aggregation server that redirects and filters asynchronous events from virtual machines to a distinct event aggregation manager, reducing the load on network management servers by centralizing and offloading event processing, thereby reducing congestion and processing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SNMP/WMI trap notifications are sent directly from virtual machines to the network manager, then event monitoring is achieved, but network congestion occurs and the network manager becomes overwhelmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent monitoring capabilityVSAvoidnetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an event aggregator as an intermediary component between virtual machines and the network manager. The event aggregator collects trap notifications from multiple virtual machines, filters and processes them locally, then forwards only relevant events to the network manager. This mediator approach reduces the direct traffic burden on the network manager while maintaining comprehensive event monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the event processing function by deploying event aggregators at intermediate locations (such as switches or dedicated servers) between virtual machines and the network manager. This segmentation distributes the event handling workload across multiple devices rather than concentrating all processing at the network manager, thereby reducing single-point congestion and improving system scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the network manager processes all asynchronous events from multiple virtual machines, then complete event processing is achieved, but processing time increases and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent processing completenessVSAvoidevent processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The event aggregator performs preliminary event processing and filtering actions before events reach the network manager. It pre-filters events based on subscription criteria, pre-aggregates related events, and pre-processes notifications to determine relevance. This preliminary action reduces the volume and complexity of events that the network manager must process, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining completeness through thorough pre-filtering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If trap-directed notification is used to reduce notification traffic, then network resources are saved, but event aggregation and filtering complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidevent aggregation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The event aggregator implements self-service capabilities by autonomously filtering, aggregating, and routing events based on locally stored subscription information and event characteristics. It independently determines which events to forward to the network manager without requiring continuous guidance or complex centralized control, thereby reducing the operational complexity of the system while maintaining effective event management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9135051B2Redirecting guest-generated events to an event aggregator in a networked virtualization environment

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 RED HAT ISRAEL

AI summary

A method for integrating responses to asynchronous events is provided. A hypervisor of a host receives a request from a network manager to re-direct asynchronous events from a guest to an address of an event aggregation manager distinct from an address of the network manager. The hypervisor receives an asynchronous event having a destination address of the network manager from the guest. The hypervisor maps the destination address of the network manager to the address of the event aggregation manager. The hypervisor transmits the asynchronous event to the event aggregation manager.