Pre-boot Management of Mainframe Virtual Machines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management tools are unable to integrate mainframe-based virtual machines into a pre-boot execution environment, as they are primarily configured for personal-computer class machines and lack the capability to manage machines without individual network adapters or BIOS code.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods that enable mainframe-based virtual machines to communicate with a network management platform, using a PXE-based or PXE-compatible platform, which allows for pre-boot management of mainframe resources by generating pseudo-MAC addresses and using pre-boot translation engines to manage virtual machines without hardware identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PXE-based network management tools are used to manage personal-computer class machines, then network management capability is provided for machines with network adapters and BIOS code, but the ability to manage mainframe-based virtual machines without individual network adapters or BIOS code is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation engine as an intermediary component that converts mainframe-based virtual machine identifiers into PXE-compatible formats. This mediator enables communication between the network management platform and virtual machines without traditional network adapters or BIOS code, resolving the contradiction by adding capability without requiring changes to the existing PXE infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the PXE-based network management platform to handle multiple machine types universally. By implementing a translation engine that can process various virtual machine formats and generate appropriate PXE boot images, the system achieves multi-functionality, allowing it to manage both traditional personal-computer class machines and mainframe-based virtual machines through a single unified platform.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mainframe-based virtual machines are integrated into PXE environment, then pre-boot management capability is extended to virtual machines without hardware identifiers, but the complexity of the network management platform increases
Solution Approach 1:
The translation engine serves as a dedicated intermediary layer that handles the complexity of converting between different identifier systems. By isolating the complexity transformation logic in this separate component, the rest of the network management platform remains relatively simple while still achieving integration capability for virtual machines without hardware identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by creating PXE boot images in advance that are pre-configured for virtual machine booting. The translation engine prepares and stores these boot images before the actual boot process, so that when virtual machines need to boot, the complex translation and configuration work has already been performed, simplifying the real-time management process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pseudo-MAC addresses are generated for mainframe virtual machines, then communication with network management platform is enabled, but the reliability of machine identification is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network management platform receives responses from virtual machines during the boot process and uses these responses to verify and validate the pseudo-MAC addresses. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain reliability in machine identification despite the absence of traditional hardware identifiers, as the system can cross-check and verify the identity information provided by the virtual machines.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the management of mainframe resources in a pre-boot environment. According to embodiments, a network management platform, for instance a platform equipped or compatible with pre-boot discovery and management tools such as the known pre-boot execution environment (PXE), can integrate a set of mainframe-based virtual machines using a pre-boot management engine. The pre-boot management engine can reside in or communicate with the mainframe operating system, and present a set of resources to the network management platform to allow the platform to include time-sliced or other virtual machines or resources, into the pre-boot protocol. According to embodiments, for instance, the set of virtual machines can be assigned temporary or pseudo media access control (MAC) or other hardware identifiers, so that the network management platform can view individual mainframe-based virtual machines as having a network connection and thereby receive similar boot commands to hardware-based client machines.