Hybrid Virtualization Management via Network Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtualization technologies face challenges in efficiently managing and migrating virtual machines and applications between local and cloud-based virtualization infrastructures, particularly in maintaining network connectivity and minimizing costs while ensuring load balancing, fault tolerance, and high availability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides workflows for connecting and migrating virtual machines between local and cloud-based virtualization infrastructures, allowing for centralized management, secure tunnel creation, network extension, and virtual machine deployment across multiple cloud facilities without altering IP addresses or network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual machines are migrated between local and cloud-based virtualization infrastructures, then load balancing and fault tolerance are improved, but network connectivity and IP address management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network intermediary device that acts as a mediator between virtual machines and the external network. This intermediary maintains IP address mappings and routing information, allowing virtual machines to be migrated between local and cloud infrastructures without changing their IP addresses. The intermediary handles network packet routing and maintains connectivity state, thus resolving the complexity of network management during migration while preserving fault tolerance benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network architecture into distinct components: virtual machines, network intermediary device, and physical infrastructure. This segmentation allows independent management of each component, enabling virtual machines to be migrated without affecting overall network connectivity. The network intermediary device maintains separate routing tables and connection states for different virtual machines, simplifying the management of network connectivity across hybrid infrastructures.
2Reliability
If virtual machines are migrated between local and cloud-based virtualization infrastructures, then high availability is improved, but cost optimization becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic migration capabilities that allow virtual machines to be moved between local and cloud infrastructures based on real-time conditions such as load, availability requirements, and cost considerations. The system can dynamically adjust the placement of virtual machines, migrating them to cloud resources when local resources are overloaded or unavailable, and returning them when cost optimization is needed. This dynamic approach maintains high availability while enabling cost optimization through flexible resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the virtualization system by introducing configurable migration policies that balance availability and cost. Administrators can set parameters such as migration thresholds, cost weights, and availability requirements. The system monitors these parameters and automatically adjusts virtual machine placement accordingly, enabling cost optimization through parameter-driven decision-making while maintaining the required level of high availability.
3Ease of operation
If centralized management interface is implemented for hybrid virtualization infrastructures, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal management interface that can manage both local and cloud-based virtualization infrastructures through a single console. This multi-functional interface provides unified views of virtual machines, networking, and storage resources across hybrid infrastructures. The interface abstracts the underlying complexity of different infrastructure types, presenting a consistent set of management operations regardless of whether resources are located locally or in the cloud, thus improving ease of operation without requiring administrators to learn multiple management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The management interface acts as an intermediary layer between administrators and the complex hybrid infrastructure. It translates high-level management operations into infrastructure-specific commands, handling the complexity of coordinating between local and cloud resources. The intermediary maintains a unified view of the infrastructure state and coordinates migrations, provisioning, and management operations across different platforms, thus improving ease of operation while managing the inherent system complexity through abstraction.
Data Source
AI summary
In a computer-implemented method for connecting a local virtualization infrastructure with a cloud-based virtualization infrastructure, a first view comprising a control for connecting the local virtualization infrastructure to the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure is displayed within a graphical user interface for managing the local virtualization infrastructure. Responsive to a receiving a user selection to connect the local virtualization infrastructure to the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure, at least one workflow for effectuating a connection between the local virtualization infrastructure and the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure is displayed. Responsive to receiving a command to connect the local virtualization infrastructure to the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure at the workflow for effectuating a connection between the local virtualization infrastructure and the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure, a connection between the local virtualization infrastructure and the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure is established according to the at least one workflow. Responsive to establishing a connection between the local virtualization infrastructure and the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure, management of the local virtualization infrastructure and the cloud-based virtualization infrastructure through the graphical user interface for managing the local virtualization infrastructure is provided.