Local Differencing Disk for VDI Write Speed Bottleneck
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Solution Overview
Problem
The implementation of writable volumes in virtual desktops is hindered by performance issues due to slow data transfer speeds, leading to delays in write operations that can cause applications to hang or freeze, especially in cloud-based deployments where local attachment is not possible.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a local differencing virtual disk to route write data, which is then synchronized with the master writable volume in the background, thereby reducing the performance penalty caused by slow write speeds and maintaining data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a master writable volume is mounted from remote storage or file share, then centralized data management and persistence are achieved, but data transfer speed becomes slow causing application hangs and freezes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local differencing disk as an intermediary between the virtual machine and the remote master writable volume. Write operations are first directed to this local disk, which provides fast write speeds, and then asynchronously synchronized to the remote master volume. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the immediate write speed requirement from the centralized persistence requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is segmented into two distinct components: a local differencing disk for rapid write operations and a remote master writable volume for centralized data management. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function - the local disk for speed and the remote volume for persistence and centralized control.
2Speed
If writable volume is mounted locally to hypervisor, then write speed is improved, but centralized management and remote accessibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both local and remote storage by combining a local differencing disk (providing fast write speeds) with a remote master writable volume (providing centralized management). The system integrates both storage locations into a unified write path, allowing the virtual machine to benefit from local speed while the enterprise maintains centralized control through the remote volume.
3Reliability
If background synchronization is implemented, then data integrity is maintained, but additional system complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization process is designed to operate automatically in the background without requiring manual intervention or complex management overhead. The system self-manages the data transfer between the local differencing disk and the remote master volume, maintaining data integrity through automated conflict resolution and consistency checks while minimizing the operational complexity for administrators.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is described for providing more efficient ways to implement attachable writable volumes for capturing write data in virtual desktops. In particular, embodiments described herein leverage a local differencing virtual disk to which write data on a virtual machine is saved, and a background process for syncing the differencing virtual disk with an attachable master writable volume where user data is stored long-term. As a result, in cases where desktop performance would suffer due to limited data transfer speeds between the virtual machine and the master writable volume, the performance penalty caused by write delays is spared by writing the data first to the local differencing virtual disk, and then syncing the master writable volume with the differencing virtual disk in the background.