Modular Virtual Machine Server for Scalable IT Infrastructure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small businesses often lack the skills and resources to manage complex IT infrastructures and face challenges in expanding their IT capabilities due to space constraints and limited technical expertise.
Innovation Solution
A modular virtual machine server architecture with a general-purpose virtualized x86 platform, utilizing virtual appliance USB keys to deliver pre-packaged software solutions, allowing for easy customization and expansion without requiring new hardware or software, using embedded server virtualization to host business applications as self-contained virtual appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional server infrastructure is used, then IT functionality can be provided, but device complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IT infrastructure into modular virtual appliances that can be independently deployed and managed. Each virtual appliance encapsulates specific functionality (e.g., web server, database, email) as a self-contained unit, allowing businesses to deploy only the components they need without managing complex integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical hardware and the application layer. This virtualization platform abstracts the underlying complexity of hardware management, allowing users to interact with simplified virtual appliances rather than directly managing complex server infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IT infrastructure is expanded to meet growing business needs, then functionality increases, but space requirements and hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtualized platform that can host multiple different virtual appliances on the same physical hardware. A single server can dynamically accommodate various business applications (email, web hosting, database, file sharing) by deploying different virtual appliances, eliminating the need for separate dedicated servers for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested virtualization where multiple virtual machines are contained within a single physical server infrastructure. Virtual appliances are further nested within these virtual machines, creating a hierarchical structure that maximizes space utilization and allows multiple functionalities to coexist in limited physical space.
3Ease of manufacture
If pre-packaged software solutions are deployed, then ease of installation improves, but flexibility and customization options decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic virtual appliances that can be easily created, modified, and deployed. Virtual appliances are not static pre-packaged solutions but dynamic entities that can be customized through templates, configured at deployment time, and updated without disrupting the underlying infrastructure, combining ease of deployment with flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A simple to customize IT infrastructure architecture. The IT infrastructure architecture includes a general-purpose virtualized architecture platform. The IT infrastructure architecture is well suited for delivering simple pre-packaged software solutions to the small business segment as plug and play type appliances. In certain preferred embodiments, the IT infrastructure architecture includes a virtual appliance memory device such as a virtual appliance universal serial bus (USB) key. The IT infrastructure architecture uses embedded server virtualization technology to host business applications as a virtual appliance.