Object-Based Virtual Infrastructure Management for Heterogeneous Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual infrastructure management systems are vendor-specific, making it difficult to manage multiple, heterogeneous virtual environments from different vendors, requiring manual and individual management, which is inefficient and complex, especially for large enterprises.
Innovation Solution
A method for object-based virtual infrastructure management that discovers and models heterogeneous virtual environments as objects, providing a normalized set of management operations to abstract vendor-specific operations, allowing for centralized management and control through a unified interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vendor-specific management tools are used for each virtual environment, then the virtual environment can be managed with dedicated functionality, but the system complexity increases and multiple tools must be learned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization management appliance as an intermediary layer between administrators and multiple vendor-specific virtual environments. This appliance provides a unified management interface that abstracts the underlying vendor-specific complexities, allowing administrators to manage diverse virtual environments through a single tool while maintaining access to vendor-specific functionalities when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The management appliance is designed to be universal, capable of managing multiple types of virtual environments from different vendors through a single platform. It consolidates the functionality of multiple vendor-specific tools into one system that can handle various virtualization technologies, reducing the need for administrators to learn and manage separate tools for each vendor.
2Reliability
If multiple vendor-specific management tools are used, then each virtual environment receives specialized management, but the time required for management and training increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple vendor-specific management tools into a single virtualization management appliance. By consolidating these tools, the system maintains reliable management of each virtual environment while reducing the total time required for administration, as administrators no longer need to switch between multiple tools or undergo separate training programs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual individual management is used for each virtual environment, then vendor-specific requirements are met, but efficiency decreases and centralized control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The management appliance serves as an intermediary that enables centralized management while maintaining vendor-specific compatibility. It provides a unified interface for centralized control and automation across multiple virtual environments, thereby improving productivity, while also preserving the ability to meet vendor-specific requirements through its multi-functional design.
4Productivity
If centralized management is implemented across heterogeneous virtual environments, then efficiency and control improve, but the complexity of integrating different vendors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization management appliance acts as an intermediary that simplifies the integration of heterogeneous virtual environments into a centralized management system. It handles the complexity of interfacing with different vendor-specific platforms, providing a unified management interface that improves productivity without exposing administrators to the underlying integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The management appliance is designed with universal capabilities to work across multiple vendor platforms. This multi-functionality allows it to integrate diverse virtual environments into a single centralized system, improving management efficiency while abstracting the integration complexity from end users.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, a method for virtual infrastructure management includes discovering a plurality of heterogeneous virtual environments, each virtual environment comprising one or more components and being associated with one or more vendor-specific management operations. The method further comprises generating, for each of the plurality of heterogeneous virtual environments, one or more virtual environment objects that model that virtual environment and are operable to abstract the one or more vendor-specific management operations of that virtual environment to a normalized set of management operations. The method further comprises facilitating management of the plurality of heterogeneous virtual environments using the virtual environment objects that model the plurality of heterogeneous virtual environments.