Partition File System for Virtual Machine Memory Deduplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems (IHSs) face inefficiencies in managing shared application information between virtual machine partitions, leading to suboptimal memory resource utilization and increased memory requirements due to the need for maintaining multiple copies of global file system data across partitions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that intercepts write operations to a global file system, generates delta local file systems within each partition, and creates a common delta file system to store shared data, reducing the need for duplicate data across partitions and optimizing memory usage by eliminating redundant information through deduplication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple copies of global file system data are maintained across partitions, then data availability and access speed are improved, but memory resource utilization deteriorates due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges identical data blocks from multiple partition file systems into a single copy in the common file system. When the same data is written to global file systems across different partitions, the system detects the duplication and consolidates it, allowing all partitions to reference the same physical memory location rather than maintaining separate copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The common file system serves multiple partitions simultaneously, providing universal access to shared data. A single data copy in the common file system can be accessed by any number of partitions, making the storage structure multi-functional and eliminating the need for partition-specific duplicates.
2Reliability
If delta local file systems are generated for each partition to track changes, then data integrity and partition independence are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The file system is segmented into distinct functional layers: the common file system for shared data, delta local file systems for partition-specific changes, and the global file systems for individual partition access. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific, simplified function while maintaining overall system reliability through their coordinated interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The delta local file system acts as an intermediary between the common file system and the global file systems. It mediates by tracking which partitions need which data, determining whether to serve data from the common file system or create local copies, and managing the synchronization between shared and partition-specific data.
3Quantity of substance
If a common delta file system is created to store shared data, then memory duplication is reduced, but the complexity of data management and file system operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-organizing data into the common file system and delta local file systems before actual read operations occur. During initialization and write operations, the system proactively identifies and consolidates duplicate data, so that when read operations occur, the optimized structure is already in place, reducing the need for complex real-time management decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual machine of an information handling system (IHS) initializes an operating system to provide partition file system memory management during application execution. The operating system employs multiple partitions that include one or more applications for execution within the virtual machine. A file system tool identifies write operations to a global file system and generates local and common file system information. The file system tool populates the local file systems that include delta local file systems and differential file systems with write operation data. The file system tool may generate stackable common delta file system information to store write operation data common to two or more partitions that employ executing applications. The file system tool may combine or separate stackable common delta file system information to provide improvements in virtual machine memory utilization.