Modular Virtual Hard Disk Topology for Isolated Logical Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtualization technologies face challenges in managing and upgrading software systems due to the co-mingling of resources and functionalities within a single virtual hard disk, leading to instability and difficulty in maintaining separation between logical functionalities and data sets.

Innovation Solution

A modularized virtualization topology using virtual hard disks, where each virtual hard disk encapsulates a single logical functionality or data set, allowing for easy mounting and dis-mounting of virtual hard disks to manage and upgrade the system, and enforcing life cycle rules to ensure proper functionality and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple logical functionalities and data sets are co-mingled within a single virtual hard disk, then resource sharing and virtualization efficiency are improved, but system stability and security deteriorate due to difficulty in maintaining separation between functionalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtualization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a virtual hard disk into multiple isolated partitions, where each partition stores resources for a specific logical functionality. This segmentation maintains the resource sharing benefits of virtualization while preventing co-mingling issues that compromise system stability and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If resources are shared among virtual machines using pooled physical resources, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but ease of management and upgrading deteriorates due to co-mingling of resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidease of management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the virtual hard disk into isolated partitions for different logical functionalities, the patent enables independent management and upgrading of each partition without affecting other functionalities, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining resource sharing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and isolates specific logical functionalities into separate partitions within the virtual hard disk structure, allowing these functionalities to be managed, upgraded, or removed independently from the shared resource pool, thereby improving manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a single virtual hard disk is used to store multiple functionalities, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates due to inability to isolate specific functionalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtualization structure complexityVSAvoidease of maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements segmentation by creating isolated partitions within the virtual hard disk for different logical functionalities. This maintains relatively simple device structure while enabling targeted maintenance and repair of specific partitions without affecting the entire virtual hard disk or other functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9804789B2Methods and apparatus to apply a modularized virtualization topology using virtual hard disks

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 VMWARE INC

AI summary

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed to apply a modularized virtualization topology using virtual hard disks. An example modularized virtualized computing environment includes a processor, a hypervisor, a virtual machine deployed by the hypervisor, and a plurality of virtual hard drives, each virtual hard drive encapsulating one respective logical functionality or one logical data set, the virtual hard drives cooperating to implement an overall functionality or service.