Management Brokers Coordinate Virtualized Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized environments, managing hardware and software resources is challenging due to the lack of privileged access for virtual machines, coordination issues among multiple virtual machines, and the inability to handle tasks like inventory management, leading to inefficiencies in hardware-software coordination.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Management Channels (M-channels) and Management Brokers (M-brokers) facilitates bi-directional information exchange and coordination among virtual machines and management hardware, enabling effective communication and policy execution through M-channels and M-brokers, which provide a framework for managing resources and coordinating actions across different management entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machines are made autonomous to run their own management policies, then management flexibility is improved, but coordination problems arise among multiple virtual machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management broker as an intermediary component that mediates between autonomous virtual machines and management hardware. The broker receives management requests from VMs, coordinates with other brokers and hardware, and ensures consistent policy execution across the virtualized environment, thus maintaining both autonomy and coordination reliability
2Object-affected harmful factors
If virtual machines lack privileged access to management hardware, then security is improved, but the ability to carry out management actions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The management broker acts as a privileged intermediary that has secure access to management hardware on behalf of non-privileged virtual machines. This allows VMs to perform management actions without direct hardware access, maintaining security while enabling operational capability through the broker's mediated requests
3Productivity
If virtualization creates virtual resources for isolation and consolidation, then resource efficiency is improved, but inventory management capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The management broker implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and report the state of virtual resources and their mapping to physical hardware. This feedback loop provides inventory visibility to management systems while preserving the virtualization benefits of isolation and consolidation, allowing tracking of resource allocation and usage
Data Source
AI summary
A system for coordinating information between management entities includes management channels, management brokers and management agents. The management channels provide bidirectional communication between management entities. The management brokers implement coordination policies, and the management agents facilitate communication on the management channels.