Process Discovery Agents for Virtual Machine Application Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized computing systems, administrators face challenges in accurately discovering and managing application components and their dependencies due to the dynamic nature of applications, which can lead to a drift between the administrator's view and the actual state of the applications over time, especially with changes in application-specific code, OS patching, hardware changes, and security requirements.
Innovation Solution
An automated method using application analysis software that executes process discovery agents on virtual machines to collect process metadata, generate signatures, and determine application components, providing an accurate representation of the application topology and dependencies without requiring changes to the software or infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If administrators manually track application components and dependencies, then they can maintain a view of the system, but the view drifts from the actual state over time due to application changes, OS patching, hardware changes, and security requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors application components, processes, and dependencies, then feeds this information back to update the administrator's view in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system prevents view drift by automatically detecting changes through process discovery agents and updating the application state representation without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically discovering and tracking application components without requiring administrator intervention. Process discovery agents autonomously execute on virtual machines, collect metadata about running processes, and update the application state view automatically. This self-service approach ensures the administrator's view remains synchronized with the actual system state.
2Ease of operation
If administrators use virtualization management tools to view applications, then they can manage the virtualized computing system, but they remain unaware of the actual application software executing in the VMs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces process discovery agents as intermediaries between the virtualization management tools and the actual application software executing in VMs. These agents execute within the virtual machines and collect detailed information about running processes, then relay this information to the management system. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between ease of management and complete visibility of application software.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the monitoring function by deploying separate process discovery agents on individual virtual machines rather than relying on a single centralized view. Each agent independently discovers processes on its host VM, and the results are aggregated to provide comprehensive application software visibility while maintaining ease of centralized management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications undergo changes from first deployment including code changes, OS patching, hardware patching, and security requirements, then applications can be updated and improved, but the administrator's view of the applications becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by having process discovery agents continuously and periodically scan for changes in application components, processes, and dependencies. Rather than relying on manual updates, the agents execute at regular intervals to detect code changes, OS patching, hardware changes, and security updates, ensuring the administrator's view remains accurate despite frequent application evolution.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of application identification in a virtualized computing system having a cluster of hosts, the hosts including virtualization layers supporting virtual machines (VMs), is described. The method includes: executing, by application analysis software, process discovery agents for the VMs; receiving, at the application analysis software from the process discovery agents, process metadata describing processes executing on the VMs; generating signatures for the processes based on the process metadata; and determining components of an application based on the signatures.