Hybrid Cloud Storage Caching for Virtual Machine Disk Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtualized computing instances accessing public cloud storage systems incur high costs and performance overheads due to frequent data access, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hybrid cloud storage system that caches data from public cloud storage in a private cloud storage system, reducing the need for frequent access to the public cloud by allowing data to be retrieved from the cache, thereby lowering costs and performance overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtualized computing instances frequently access public cloud storage systems, then data availability is ensured, but access costs and performance overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads data from public cloud storage into the private cloud storage system before it is actually needed by virtualized computing instances. This preliminary action ensures that when data is accessed, it is already available locally, eliminating the need for frequent remote accesses and reducing both costs and performance overhead while maintaining data availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a private cloud storage system as an intermediary layer between virtualized computing instances and public cloud storage. This intermediary caches frequently accessed data locally, reducing direct accesses to the public cloud while ensuring data availability through the caching mechanism
2Loss of energy
If data is cached in private cloud storage system, then access costs and performance overhead are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The private cloud storage system is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a local cache for frequently accessed data and a backup storage for less frequently accessed data. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while managing complexity through unified architecture
3Productivity
If hybrid cloud storage system is implemented, then public cloud access frequency is reduced, but initial setup and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid cloud storage system implements automated data placement and caching policies that dynamically determine which data should be cached in the private cloud and which should remain in the public cloud. This self-service capability reduces manual setup and maintenance complexity while effectively reducing public cloud access frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid cloud storage solution provides a private cloud storage system that is backed by a public cloud storage system. The private cloud storage system caches data files that are accessed from the public cloud storage system by virtual machines or containers in a virtualized computing environment. Subsequent accesses are directed towards the cached data files in the private cloud storage system, rather than being directed towards the public cloud storage system, thereby reducing costs and performance overhead associated with accessing the public cloud storage systems. The cached data files are contained in virtual machine disks (VMDKs) that are portable between virtualized computing instances that run in the virtualized computing environment.