Host Agent for Seamless Physical-to-Virtual Machine Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transferring an operating environment from one computer to another with different hardware configurations are cumbersome, often requiring rebooting and failing to account for hardware nuances, leading to malfunctions and increased downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a host agent to profile the origin computer, modify configuration parameters, and transmit a bootable data image to a target computer, allowing seamless migration without shutting down the origin machine, and optionally restoring the original configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hardware detection and driver installation methods are used during OS installation, then the operating system can be adapted to the target hardware, but transferring an existing computing environment to another computer becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary profiling of the origin computer's hardware configuration, software environment, and settings before the transfer process. This pre-analysis creates a comprehensive configuration profile that guides the subsequent transfer operations, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-transfer adjustments and driver installations on the target system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of detecting hardware and installing drivers on the target system, the invention creates a complete copy of the origin computer's computing environment including optimized driver configurations and hardware abstraction layers. This copied environment is then transferred as a packaged image to the target computer, preserving the exact computing environment without requiring re-detection or re-installation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the origin computer is shut down to transfer the computing environment image, then the transfer can be performed, but system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer process is designed to operate continuously while the origin computer remains running. The system captures the computing environment image in real-time without requiring shutdown, ensuring continuous operation of the origin system while the image is being prepared and transferred to the target computer.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary capture and transfer mechanism that operates between the origin and target systems without interrupting the origin computer's operation. This intermediary process handles the image creation and transfer in the background, allowing the origin system to continue serving users while the migration准备工作 proceeds.
3Reliability
If hardware configuration is detected and drivers are installed during OS installation, then the system can operate on the target hardware, but legacy software may malfunction due to hardware configuration mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures and transfers specific hardware configuration parameters and driver settings from the origin computer where they are known to be compatible with legacy software. By preserving these parameter configurations in the transferred image, the target system maintains the same hardware abstraction parameters that ensure software compatibility while allowing hardware flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transferred computing environment image is designed to be universally applicable across different target hardware configurations. The packaged image includes optimized driver configurations and hardware abstraction layers that can adapt to various target systems while maintaining compatibility with legacy software, making the transfer process versatile across different hardware platforms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for migrating a computer to another computer having dissimilar hardware, wherein a preparation stage for the transfer of a disk image between the origin and target computer comprise analyzing the origin computer and modifying certain parameters therein while operating under its native operating system. After the modification an image of the origin computer is taken and sent to the second computer. The second computer can then boot the image as the necessary changes for booting the target machine were made at the origin computer. The invention is particularly useful for transferring physical computer to a virtual machine environment, where it minimizes the time the origin computer is out of service, where the transfer may occur remotely to the origin computer or the target computer. Most importantly, the invention provides a very high rate of success in migrating a physical system to a virtual system.