In-Memory Virtual Desktop System Using Hypervisor Disk Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual desktop systems experience performance deterioration due to concentrated load on disks during simultaneous access of virtual desktop images, leading to slower disk speeds compared to CPU or memory resources.
Innovation Solution
An in-memory virtual desktop system that stores virtual desktop images in main memory, utilizing a hypervisor with an in-memory disk virtualization engine and virtual desktop image management engine to generate and manage virtual disks, perform deduplication, and emulate memory-disk operations, allowing virtual desktops to operate directly from main memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual desktop images are stored on hard disk, then storage capacity is sufficient, but system performance deteriorates due to concentrated load on disk during simultaneous access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical disk storage system with a memory-based storage system. Specifically, it uses main memory (RAM) to store virtual desktop images instead of hard disks, thereby substituting a mechanical access system with an electronic access system that has significantly higher speed and no moving parts, resolving the bottleneck of disk access speed during simultaneous virtual desktop operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a memory disk conversion module that acts as an intermediary between the management module and the main memory. This module converts the virtual disk interface into a format compatible with main memory access, enabling virtual desktop images to be loaded into and accessed from main memory while maintaining compatibility with existing virtual desktop infrastructure
2Reliability
If multiple virtual desktops simultaneously access virtual desktop images, then service availability is maintained, but load concentration on disk causes performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into two distinct layers: a buffer area in main memory for high-speed access and a storage area on hard disk for persistent storage. This segmentation allows simultaneous access by multiple virtual desktops to be handled in the fast memory buffer, while the disk serves as a background storage layer, thereby maintaining service availability while eliminating performance deterioration under concurrent access
3Speed
If virtual desktop images are stored in main memory, then access speed improves, but memory capacity is limited compared to disk storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hierarchical storage architecture that adds a temporal and spatial dimension to storage management. Main memory provides high-speed access for currently active virtual desktop images, while hard disk storage provides extended capacity for dormant or less frequently accessed images. The system dynamically manages data movement between these two dimensions (speed vs. capacity), allowing the system to handle more virtual desktops than main memory alone could support while maintaining high access speeds for active desktops
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an in-memory virtual desktop system, which stores a virtual desktop image in main memory in order to prevent a load from being concentrated on a disk, and operates a virtual desktop using the virtual desktop image. The disclosed system includes an in-memory virtual desktop system, including hardware including main memory for storing virtual desktop images, and a hypervisor for virtualizing resources of the hardware and providing virtualized resources to a virtual desktop.