Linked Clone Virtual Machine Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtualization technologies face challenges in efficiently configuring virtual machines (VMs) to run different software applications, as they require specific system resources and settings, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves creating a base virtual machine (VM) with various software applications installed, and then generating thin linked clones of this base VM, each configured on the fly to match the resource requirements of specific software applications, allowing for efficient resource allocation and seamless application execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a base virtual machine is created with all software applications installed, then application execution capability is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual machine into a base VM containing common applications and multiple linked clones for specific applications. Each clone is a lightweight copy that shares the base VM's system files but maintains its own application-specific configurations and data files. This segmentation allows the system to provide full application execution capability while avoiding the complexity of managing one large monolithic VM.
Solution Approach 2:
The base virtual machine serves as a universal platform that can support multiple different software applications through its linked clones. The base VM contains common system files, drivers, and frequently used applications that are shared across all clones, making it a multi-functional foundation that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple full virtual machines are created for different applications, then application-specific configuration is improved, but resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating multiple full virtual machine copies, the patent uses linked clones that are lightweight copies sharing the base VM's system files. Each clone copies only the necessary application-specific data and configuration files, not the entire VM image. This copying approach enables application-specific configurations while dramatically reducing resource consumption compared to full VM copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the common system files, drivers, and base applications into a single base VM that is shared by all linked clones. This consolidation eliminates redundant data storage across multiple VMs, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining the ability to provide application-specific configurations through individual clone settings.
3Manufacturing precision
If virtual machine configuration is manually adjusted for each application, then resource allocation precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base virtual machine is pre-configured with common applications, system files, and default resource allocations before the linked clones are created. This preliminary setup eliminates the need to manually configure these elements for each individual application, saving time while maintaining precise resource allocation through the inherited base configuration and clone-specific adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system to perform the method are disclosed, the method includes receiving, by a virtualization server communicatively coupled with a client device, a request to provide a virtual machine (VM) to a client device, accessing a profile associated with the client device, instantiating a VM on the virtualization server, wherein the VM is a linked clone VM of a base VM, wherein the linked clone VM has (1) a read-only access to a shared range of a persistent memory associated with the base VM, wherein the shared range of the persistent memory is determined in view of the profile associated with the client device and stores at least one application installed on the virtualization server, (2) a write access to a private range of the persistent memory, wherein the private range is associated with the VM, and providing the VM to the client device.