Hardware Management System for Disaggregated Rack Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data center operators face challenges in providing cost-effective cloud computing services due to the need for customized virtualization software specific to particular hardware types, limiting flexibility in sourcing hardware resources and requiring burdensome software development for disaggregated rack architectures.
Innovation Solution
A hardware management system (HMS) and physical resource manager (PRM) are implemented to manage disaggregated rack architectures, enabling the composition and configuration of servers from pooled compute, network, and storage resources across multiple hardware manufacturers without the need for custom software, using a vendor-agnostic virtualization approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customized virtualization software is developed for particular hardware types, then hardware compatibility and reliability are improved, but device complexity and software development burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal hardware management system that can manage multiple types of hardware resources (compute, network, storage) from different manufacturers through a single standardized interface. The system uses vendor-agnostic virtualization software that abstracts hardware-specific details, allowing the same management platform to handle diverse hardware types without requiring customized software for each hardware type, thus reducing software development burden while maintaining compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary hardware management layer between the physical hardware and the virtualization software. This intermediary layer translates hardware-specific operations into standardized commands, allowing the virtualization software to interact with diverse hardware through a common interface. This mediator approach maintains hardware compatibility while simplifying the software development process by hiding hardware complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware resources are disaggregated across multiple manufacturers, then adaptability and cost-effectiveness are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments hardware resources into distinct functional categories (compute resources, network resources, storage resources) that can be independently sourced from different manufacturers. Each resource type is managed through standardized interfaces, allowing operators to procure hardware from multiple vendors based on cost and performance requirements without increasing overall management complexity. The segmented approach enables flexible hardware sourcing while maintaining simplified management through category-based abstraction.
3Ease of operation
If vendor-agnostic virtualization is implemented, then ease of operation and scalability are improved, but manufacturing precision and hardware integration challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of hardware integration by establishing standardized interface specifications and communication protocols that hardware manufacturers must adhere to. By defining specific parameters for hardware integration (standardized APIs, communication interfaces, resource identification schemes), the system enables vendor-agnostic virtualization while maintaining manufacturing precision. Hardware components from different vendors can be integrated seamlessly as long as they meet the standardized parameter requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Hardware management systems for disaggregated rack architectures in virtual server rack deployments are disclosed herein. An example apparatus to manage disaggregated physical hardware resources in a physical rack includes a hardware management system to discover disaggregated physical hardware resources in the physical rack and generate a listing of the disaggregated physical hardware resources, and a physical resource manager to generate a composed resource based on resources from the listing of the disaggregated physical hardware resources, the hardware management system to manage the composed resource.