Generic Product Introspector Plugin for Virtual Assembly Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for virtual assembly builders in cloud environments lack the ability to automatically configure connections for generic appliances during deployment, limiting their functionality and flexibility in complex application structures.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a generic product introspector plugin allows users to specify metadata properties for editing and configuration by scripts during the creation of virtual assemblies, enabling the definition of inputs and outputs that can be used to automatically wire components and configure network connections during rehydration and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual assembly builders are used to deploy components in cloud environments, then deployment speed and efficiency are improved, but the ability to automatically configure connections for generic appliances is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing metadata properties, inputs, and outputs during the introspection phase before deployment. This allows the system to pre-configure connection information that will be automatically applied during rehydration, resolving the contradiction between fast deployment and automatic connection configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metadata properties as an intermediary layer between the virtual assembly builder and the generic appliance. This metadata acts as a bridge that carries connection configuration information through the deployment process, enabling automatic wiring without slowing down the deployment speed.
2Ease of operation
If generic appliances are deployed without metadata exposure, then deployment simplicity is maintained, but script-based configuration and automatic wiring capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively exposing only specific metadata properties that are relevant to connection configuration, rather than exposing all possible properties. This maintains deployment simplicity while providing sufficient automation capability for script-based configuration of network connections and component wiring.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive metadata properties are exposed for editing, then automatic wiring and configuration flexibility are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a standardized metadata property framework that serves multiple functions: it enables automatic wiring, supports script-based configuration, and provides connection information for generic appliances. This single metadata structure handles multiple configuration needs without increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a system and method for generic product wiring in a cloud environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a virtual assembly builder can be used to virtualize installed components in a reference environment, and then deploy those components into another destination environment. A user can capture the configuration and binaries of software components into software appliance artifacts, which can be grouped and their relationships defined as software assembly artifacts. In accordance with an embodiment, a generic product introspector plugin allows users to specify at introspection, during creation of a virtual assembly, one or more metadata properties to be exposed for editing and configuration by scripts, during a subsequent rehydration of the virtual assembly. The properties exposed for editing and configuration by scripts can be used during instantiation of an instance of the assembly to define one or more inputs and outputs for the instance.