Host-Gateway Appliance for Virtual Management Server Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing and analyzing the operational characteristics of management servers in distributed computing systems are costly and time-consuming, particularly when managing multiple host systems with different virtualization layers, as they often require complex configurations and physical setups.
Innovation Solution
A host-gateway appliance with host-gateway control logic is used to connect management servers to non-native host systems, allowing simulation of management interfaces to test and analyze operational characteristics efficiently, by modifying the appliance to simulate host systems and interface with various virtualization layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical distributed computing systems with multiple host systems are used for testing management servers, then testing coverage and realism are improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of host systems through simulated management interfaces that replicate the behavior and characteristics of physical host systems. These virtual copies allow comprehensive testing of management servers without requiring actual physical hardware for each test scenario, significantly reducing setup time and resource requirements while maintaining testing realism.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulated management interface is designed to universally support multiple types of host systems and virtualization layers through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same testing infrastructure to evaluate management servers across diverse scenarios without requiring separate physical setups for each host system type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex physical configurations are used to interface management servers with multiple virtualization layers, then compatibility and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a simulated management interface as an intermediary layer between the management server and various host systems with different virtualization layers. This intermediary translates and standardizes communications from multiple virtualization types into a unified interface, enabling broad compatibility without requiring complex direct configurations for each specific host system type.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulated management interface implements universal support for multiple virtualization layers and host system types through a single unified implementation. This multi-functional design allows the interface to adapt to various host systems without increasing configuration complexity, as the simulation handles diverse protocols and interfaces through standardized methods.
3Measurement precision
If extensive physical setups are used for testing management servers, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual representations of host systems and their management interfaces that accurately replicate operational characteristics without requiring physical hardware. These copies enable precise measurement and analysis of management server operations while consuming minimal physical resources, as the simulations run in software environments rather than requiring actual distributed computing infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
The current document is directed to methods and systems for testing and analyzing the operational characteristics of management servers that manage multiple host systems in distributed computing systems on which virtual data centers and other types of virtual infrastructure are implemented. Management servers are generally designed to manage host systems that include particular types of virtualization layers, referred to as “native host systems.” In a described implementation, a management server is connected to a host-gateway appliance that includes host-gateway control logic implemented within a server computer. The host-gateway appliance allows a management server to interface to the management interfaces of non-native host systems that include visualization layers to which the management server is not designed to interface. The host-gateway appliance, in described implementations, is modified to simulate management interfaces of host systems in order to test and analyze the operational characteristics of the management server.