Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Desired State Model

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) systems face incompatibilities between hardware and software components, leading to operational issues that require manual and costly user management of virtual computer desired states, which is error-prone and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A virtual environment management system that retrieves and compares predefined desired states for hardware and software components, allowing users to modify configurations and automatically detect and adapt to changes, merging user-defined and predefined states for seamless compatibility and future upgrades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual user management of virtual computer desired states is used, then flexibility and customization are improved, but error rate and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization flexibilityVSAvoiderror rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects hardware and software component states, compares them against the desired state model, and identifies non-compliant configurations without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service approach maintains customization flexibility while eliminating human errors associated with manual management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the actual state of hardware and software components, compares it with the desired state, and provides feedback about non-compliant configurations. This automated feedback loop ensures reliability by consistently identifying incompatibilities while allowing users to customize desired states without introducing errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual user management of virtual computer desired states is used, then customization capability is improved, but operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidoperational costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated detection and comparison of component states against the desired state model, eliminating the need for manual operational intervention. Users can customize desired states once, and the system handles all subsequent monitoring and identification automatically, reducing ongoing operational costs while preserving customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The desired state model is predefined and stored in advance, containing all necessary configuration information for hardware and software components. This preliminary preparation allows the system to automatically manage ongoing operations without requiring continuous manual input, reducing operational costs while maintaining full customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If automated detection and comparison of component states is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desired state model serves as a universal data structure that can represent both hardware and software component states using the same format and processes. This multi-functionality allows a single automated system to handle diverse component types without requiring separate complex management mechanisms for each, improving operational efficiency while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If compatibility checking between hardware and software components is performed, then system reliability is improved, but configuration time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility assuranceVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The desired state model is predefined and stored in advance, containing all necessary configuration information and compatibility relationships for hardware and software components. By preparing this model beforehand, the system can perform rapid automated comparisons during operation without requiring time-consuming manual compatibility checking, thus improving reliability while minimizing configuration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240086222A1Method to manage a hyper-converged infrastructure with a desired state model

Publication Date: 2024.03.14 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system for processing data, comprising a virtual environment management system operating on a processor and configured to retrieve a predefined virtual computer desired state first plurality of hardware components and a first plurality of software components, a virtual computer operating on the processor and configured to provide a user-defined desired state for a second plurality of hardware components and a second plurality of software components and wherein the virtual environment management system is configured to compare the first plurality of hardware components and the first plurality of software components with the second plurality of hardware components and the second plurality of software components and to modify the predefined virtual computer desired state if there are any differences between the first plurality of hardware components and the first plurality of software components with the second plurality of hardware components and the second plurality of software components.