Pseudo-Image Booting for Storage-Limited OS Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying operating system images on devices with limited storage requires conversion to compressed formats, wasting resources and causing costly delays.
Innovation Solution
A pseudo-image is stored on the target device, enabling seamless access to a remote operating system image via a network, caching recently retrieved portions to reduce network access frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If operating system images are stored locally on devices with limited storage, then installation speed is improved, but storage capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from local storage (one-dimensional constraint) to network-based remote storage (adding a network dimension). The pseudo-image stored locally acts as a gateway to the remote image over the network, effectively moving the storage problem from local device constraints to network-based solutions, allowing fast local access simulation while utilizing remote storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pseudo-image serves as an intermediary between the local device and the remote operating system image. It provides local boot capability and caches frequently accessed data, mediating between the need for fast local access and the reality of remote storage, thereby resolving the contradiction between installation speed and storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If operating system images are compressed to fit limited storage, then storage capacity is utilized, but conversion resources are wasted and delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conversion/compression step from the deployment process. By storing the remote image in its original uncompressed format and using a pseudo-image for local access, the system eliminates the resource-intensive conversion process entirely, maintaining both storage efficiency and deployment productivity.
3Reliability
If full operating system images are downloaded to devices, then installation completeness is ensured, but network bandwidth is consumed and deployment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial downloading through the pseudo-image mechanism. Instead of downloading the complete operating system image, only essential boot components are stored locally, with the pseudo-image providing on-demand access to additional parts of the image during installation, significantly reducing initial network bandwidth consumption and deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The pseudo-image is prepared in advance with critical boot components and cache structures, enabling the system to boot and begin installation processes without having downloaded the complete operating system image. This preliminary action ensures installation completeness can be achieved progressively without requiring full initial download.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for optimized operating system image deployment are described. One example method includes installing a pseudo-image on a partition of the memory, wherein the pseudo-image is configured to enable the computer system to be booted from the partition, and wherein the pseudo-image is associated with an OS data image stored on a remote server communicatively coupled to the computer system by a network; booting the computer system using the partition of the memory that includes the pseudo-image; executing an OS install program associated with the pseudo-image, including: identifying a request by the OS install program for particular data from the pseudo-image; determining that the requested particular data is not stored in the pseudo-image; and in response to determining that the requested particular data is not stored in the pseudo-image, retrieving the requested particular data over the network from the OS data image on the remote server.