Port Profiles for Virtual Machine Interface Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual machine environments, configuring a large number of virtual interfaces is complex and requires both network and system administrators to use a common interface tool, leading to increased complexity and the need for both to access a management station, which can be inefficient and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize port profiles to define configuration policies for virtual machine interfaces, allowing network administrators to configure virtual switches and connectivity constraints, which can then be applied to multiple interfaces, and system administrators to manage virtual machine interfaces using a virtual machine management device, thereby separating roles and simplifying the configuration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large number of virtual interfaces are configured manually through a common interface tool, then network connectivity can be established, but the configuration complexity increases and management becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interface configuration process into two distinct roles: network administrators define port profiles containing configuration parameters, while system administrators map virtual machine interfaces to these port profiles. This segmentation separates the complex configuration definition from the simpler interface mapping, reducing overall configuration complexity and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring network administrators to pre-define port profiles with all necessary configuration parameters before system administrators perform interface mapping. This preliminary configuration of reusable port profiles eliminates the need for system administrators to manually configure each interface individually, significantly reducing configuration complexity and improving operational efficiency.
2Productivity
If both network administrators and system administrators access a common management station for interface configuration, then comprehensive control is achieved, but the management process becomes inefficient and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments administrative access into two distinct pathways: network administrators access the network device to define port profiles, while system administrators access the virtual machine management device to map interfaces to port profiles. This segmentation eliminates the need for both administrators to access a single common management station, improving productivity by allowing parallel work and simplifying management through role-based access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces port profiles as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the work of network administrators and system administrators. Network administrators create port profiles that serve as templates, and system administrators map virtual machine interfaces to these profiles without needing to understand the underlying configuration details. This intermediary approach improves productivity by enabling independent parallel work while maintaining comprehensive control.
3Loss of time
If port profiles are created and applied to multiple interfaces, then configuration time is reduced, but the need for role separation and mapping processes increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating port profiles that can be applied to multiple virtual machine interfaces across different virtual machines. A single port profile definition serves as a reusable template that can be mapped to numerous interfaces, dramatically reducing configuration time. The added management structure is minimal, consisting only of the mapping relationship between interfaces and profiles, which is straightforward to maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by allowing system administrators to map virtual machine interfaces to pre-defined port profiles, effectively copying the configuration parameters from the profile template to multiple interfaces simultaneously. This copying mechanism eliminates the need to manually configure each interface individually, reducing configuration time significantly while the management complexity remains low because it only involves establishing simple mapping relationships rather than creating unique configurations for each interface.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a port profile manager for receiving a port configuration policy and creating a port profile for the port configuration policy. The apparatus further includes a management interface for transmitting the port profile to a management station operable to receive input mapping the port profile to one or more interfaces associated with virtual machines. The port profile manager receives and stores the mapping input at the management station, for use in configuring the interfaces according to the port configuration policy. A method for policy based configuration of interfaces in a virtual machine environment is also disclosed.