Hyper-Converged Host OS Version Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual computing environments are complex and cumbersome to manage, requiring high skill levels for host configuration and workload domain management, particularly due to the distributed nature of these environments, which complicates host allocation and operating system version consistency.
Innovation Solution
A pre-configured hyper-converged computing device manages a pool of hosts allocable to workload domains, ensuring all hosts within a domain operate on the same operating system version, with unallocated hosts updated to match the domain's version, and maintaining a baseline OS version for efficient allocation and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional virtual computing environments are used with distributed host management, then flexibility in host allocation is improved, but management complexity and skill requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a baseline host as an intermediary component that mediates between the management system and allocated hosts. This baseline host maintains a reference operating system version that serves as a standard for consistency across all hosts in the workload domain, thereby reducing management complexity while preserving allocation flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enforces homogeneity by requiring all hosts in a workload domain to maintain the same operating system version as the baseline host. This creates a uniform environment that simplifies management and reduces skill requirements while still allowing flexible host allocation to different workload domains
2Adaptability or versatility
If hosts are allocated to different workload domains with different operating system versions, then workload domain specialization is improved, but consistency management across hosts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual computing environment into distinct workload domains, each with its own baseline host and operating system version. This allows each domain to be specialized for different workloads while maintaining internal consistency through domain-specific baseline hosts, resolving the conflict between specialization and consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of operating system version from a global system-wide setting to a domain-specific parameter. Each workload domain can have its own baseline operating system version, allowing specialization per domain while maintaining consistency within each domain through the baseline host mechanism
3Reliability
If unallocated hosts are updated to latest operating system versions, then system security and performance are improved, but allocation compatibility with existing workload domains may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a baseline operating system version before hosts are allocated to workload domains. This baseline version serves as a pre-configured standard that ensures compatibility with existing workload domains, preventing allocation issues while still allowing security updates through controlled update mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
In a computer-implemented method for maintaining unallocated hosts of a pre-configured hyper-converged computing device at a baseline operating system version, a plurality of hosts of a pre-configured hyper-converged computing device is managed, where the plurality of hosts are allocable to workload domains, where the plurality of hosts each have an operating system version within a range of supported operating system versions, where unallocated hosts of the plurality of hosts are maintained within a pool of unallocated hosts, and where the unallocated hosts of the pool of unallocated hosts have a baseline operating system version of the range of supported operating system versions. A new unallocated host is received at the pre-configured hyper-converged computing device for inclusion to the pool of unallocated hosts. An operating system version of the new unallocated host is determined. Provided the new unallocated host has an operating system version other than the baseline operating system version, the new unallocated host is updated to the baseline operating system version. The new unallocated host is released to the pool of unallocated hosts for allocation to a workload domain.