Hybrid Application Platform Virtual Machine Update Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud-based IT services reduce flexibility and control for organizations, leading to increased latency and integration difficulties with local and legacy systems, while also increasing IT management costs due to the complexity of unique, organically grown IT infrastructures.
Innovation Solution
The Hybrid Application Platform (HAP) combines local on-premise provision with centralized cloud management, utilizing virtualization to abstract and control resources, providing a remotely manageable environment for software services with a modular architecture that simplifies patching and maintenance through binary difference patching and secure update processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cloud-based IT services are used, then IT management complexity is reduced, but flexibility and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments IT services into virtual machines that can be independently managed, deployed, and controlled. Each virtual machine represents a discrete unit of computation that can be individually configured and maintained, allowing organizations to maintain control over specific services while benefiting from centralized management of the overall infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer that adds a new dimension between physical hardware and software services. This virtualization dimension enables simultaneous centralized management and distributed control, allowing IT services to be managed remotely while maintaining organizational flexibility and autonomy over local resources.
2Device complexity
If cloud-based services are accessed remotely, then local IT infrastructure complexity is reduced, but network latency and accessibility issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring and deploying virtual machines locally at edge locations or client devices. This allows services to be cached and executed locally without requiring continuous network connectivity, thereby reducing latency while maintaining simplified centralized management for updates and provisioning.
3Reliability
If virtual machines are updated with patches, then security and reliability are improved, but system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a discard and recover mechanism where outdated virtual machine images are discarded and replaced with updated versions. The system maintains multiple versions of virtual machine images and can rapidly switch between them, allowing security patches to be applied by discarding vulnerable versions and recovering service continuity through automated deployment of patched versions.
Solution Approach 2:
Security patches are applied in advance to create updated virtual machine images before deployment. The system pre-processes patches, tests them in isolated environments, and prepares updated images ready for rapid deployment, minimizing the time services remain vulnerable while ensuring thorough patch validation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom IT infrastructure is maintained, then organizational specific needs are met, but management and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual machine platform that can execute multiple different operating systems and applications through software configuration rather than hardware customization. This multi-functional platform allows organizations to deploy customized IT services for specific needs while maintaining a standardized underlying infrastructure that is easier to manage and maintain.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method of updating software in a computer system, the computer system including virtualisation software arranged to provide a virtualisation environment for running a plurality of virtual machines, wherein each virtual machine is arranged to run a respective software module for providing a respective set of software services. A software update relating to a first software module running in a first virtual machine is received. The first software module is stored on a first storage entity associated with the first virtual machine. A copy of the first storage entity is updated in accordance with the received software update to produce a second storage entity containing an updated version of the first software module. A second virtual machine is then created within the virtualisation environment. The second virtual machine is associated with the second storage entity and arranged to run the updated version of the software module from the second storage entity. The updating step is performed by an update module running outside the first virtual machine. The first virtual machine remains operational to provide software services during the updating step.