Portable Virtualization Environment Boot Image
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable virtualization solutions face challenges such as driver compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, and the risk of leaving a system footprint on host machines, which compromises security and data isolation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for creating a portable virtualization environment using an adapted OS image derived from the host machine's OS, allowing the computing device to boot from this image without modifying the host, ensuring security and data isolation by storing the virtualization environment entirely on an external media device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If portable virtualization solutions are implemented, then computing portability and flexibility are improved, but driver compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a portable boot image that is a copy of the host OS environment, containing all necessary drivers and system configurations. This copied environment is stored on external media and can be loaded on different host machines, eliminating driver compatibility issues by bringing the complete driver set with the portable image rather than relying on the destination host's drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the OS environment into a portable boot image that can be separated from the host system. This segmentation allows the virtualization environment to be independently packaged with its own drivers and configurations, making it self-contained and compatible across different host machines without relying on the host's driver stack.
2Reliability
If portable virtualization environments are created, then data isolation and security are improved, but system footprint remains on host machines compromising security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the entire OS environment and virtualization stack from the host machine and places it on external portable media. By taking out the complete system image, the patent eliminates the system footprint problem - the portable environment can be loaded temporarily for use and then removed, leaving no persistent traces on the host machine that could compromise security or data isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a disposable portable boot image that can be loaded, used, and then discarded or removed from the host system. This short-living approach ensures that the virtualization environment exists only when needed and leaves no permanent footprint on the host, enhancing security by eliminating persistent backdoors or traces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machines are migrated between physical hosts, then computing flexibility is improved, but application and driver compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal portable boot image that can boot on multiple different physical host machines with varying hardware configurations. The image contains a standardized driver set and virtualization stack that works across different hosts, providing multi-functionality and universality that eliminates application and driver compatibility issues during migration between physical machines.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for creating a secure virtualization environment on a host device, without modifying the host device, the secure virtualization environment bootable from an external media device. A host computing device loads and boots a common operating system image stored on an external media device. A client agent stored on the external media device and executing in the common operating system image creates an adapted operating system image by copying the operating system of the host computing device, eliminating all unnecessary files and data and storing the adapted operating system image to the external media device. The host computing device provides a secure virtualized environment by booting the adapted operating system image.