Live Migration of Virtual Instances via Mobility Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VM migration processes in hybrid cloud systems result in significant downtime as they require creating a new VM in the public cloud and transferring data from a powered-off source VM in the on-premise datacenter, which is inefficient and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for migrating virtualized computing instances between data centers using mobility agents that simulate host environments in both the source and destination systems, allowing for seamless transfer of VMs while maintaining network and infrastructure configurations, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing migration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new VM is created in the public cloud and data is transferred from a powered-off source VM, then the migration can be completed, but significant downtime occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a destination VM template in advance in the public cloud before migration is needed. This template is prepared with the appropriate configuration and infrastructure dependencies pre-configured, so that when migration is initiated, the actual data transfer can begin immediately without delays associated with creating the destination VM during the migration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud gateway as an intermediary component that facilitates the migration process. The cloud gateway acts as a mediator between the on-premise datacenter and the public cloud, managing the data transfer process and coordinating the migration workflows. This intermediary enables seamless live migration by handling the complexity of cross-environment communication and data synchronization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If VM migration is implemented between on-premise datacenter and public cloud, then hybrid cloud flexibility is improved, but infrastructure-dependent configuration translation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality through the cloud gateway, which is designed to handle multiple functions including configuration translation, data transfer management, and migration coordination. The gateway can translate between different infrastructure configurations (on-premise vs. cloud) and supports various migration scenarios, making the system adaptable to different hybrid cloud architectures without requiring separate solutions for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud gateway serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of infrastructure-dependent configurations. It automatically translates and adapts configuration parameters between the source and destination environments, handling the complexity of cross-platform compatibility issues without requiring manual intervention or complex translation processes.
3Productivity
If live migration is implemented, then operational continuity is improved, but network data transfer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud gateway acts as an intermediary that simplifies network data transfer during live migration. It manages the complex tasks of data compression, encryption, and efficient transmission over the network, while maintaining synchronization between the source and destination VMs. This intermediary handles the network complexity transparently, allowing live migration to proceed without disrupting operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous useful action by implementing live migration that allows the VM to remain operational throughout the migration process. The system continuously transfers data blocks from the source to the destination VM while the VM continues to run, minimizing downtime and maintaining operational continuity. The migration process is designed to be incremental and continuous rather than batch-based.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of migrating a virtualized computing instance between source and destination virtualized computing systems includes executing a first migration workflow in the source virtualized computing system between a source host computer and a first mobility agent simulating a destination host, executing a second migration workflow in the destination virtualized computing system between a second mobility agent simulating a source host and a destination host computer, sending, as part of the first migration workflow, a configuration of the migrated virtualized computing instance to the destination virtualized computing system, translating, as part of the second migration workflow, infrastructure-dependent information in the configuration of the migrated virtualized computing instance, and transferring, during execution of the first and second migration workflows, migration data including the virtualized computing instance between the source host and the destination host over a network.