Offline Virtual Machine Tool Installation via Preliminary Action
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud, datacenter, or virtual desktop environments, installing and configuring virtual machine tools is a time-consuming process that requires VMs to be powered on, leading to delays and potential reboots, especially when software updates and upgrades are necessary.
Innovation Solution
A method that provisions virtual machines before powering them on, collects tool information, determines if new tools need to be installed, retrieves tool images, and installs or upgrades tools on the virtual disk file using the VM tools manager, which can perform these operations offline, reducing wait times and eliminating the need for reboots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software tools are installed on VMs after powering on the VM, then the installation can be performed with the VM running, but the process requires multiple minutes to complete and often requires a reboot, increasing wait time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing and configuring tools on the virtual machine before the VM is powered on. The system provisions the VM, collects tool information, determines which tools need installation, retrieves tool images, and installs the tools on the virtual disk file while the VM is still off. This allows the VM to be ready for immediate use upon power-on without requiring post-power-on installation waits or reboots.
2Reliability
If software updates and upgrades are performed on running VMs, then the VMs can be updated with new software versions, but the process increases wait time and requires reboots that interrupt VM usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables software updates and upgrades to be performed as preliminary actions before the VM is powered on. The system collects information about existing tools, determines which updates are needed, retrieves updated tool images, and installs them on the virtual disk file while the VM remains off. This ensures the VM is updated with current software versions while maintaining continuous availability, as no reboot is required after power-on.
3Productivity
If tool installation is performed after VM provisioning, then the VM can be provisioned quickly, but the tool installation process adds delays before the VM can be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the VM provisioning process with the tool installation process by performing both operations in sequence while the VM is off. Instead of provisioning the VM and then separately installing tools (which would require the VM to be powered on and later rebooted), the system combines these steps by installing tools on the virtual disk file during the provisioning phase. This integration eliminates the tool installation delay from the VM readiness timeline.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing tools on a virtual machine includes provisioning a virtual machine. The method also includes, before powering on the virtual machine, collecting a list of one or more tools on the virtual machine, and a version associated with each of the one or more tools. The method also includes determining if one or more new tools should be installed on the virtual machine. Responsive to determining if one or more new tools should be installed, the method includes retrieving a tool image for each new tool to be installed. The method further includes installing the one or more new tools on a virtual disk file of the provisioned virtual machine using the tool images.