Real-Time Mapper for Virtual Disk Format Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtualization environments face inefficiencies when migrating virtual machines between servers using different virtual disk formats, as current methods require powering down the virtual machine for time-consuming format conversions, leading to storage overhead and downtime.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a real-time mapper that compares and maps between different virtual disk formats, allowing virtual machines to operate without format conversion, using mapping metadata to translate I/O requests and enabling lazy or asynchronous conversion of underlying data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual machines are migrated between servers using different virtual disk formats, then resource utilization and flexibility are improved, but conversion time and storage overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine migration flexibilityVSAvoidconversion time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a format translator as an intermediary component between the virtual machine and the storage system. This translator handles the format conversion transparently, allowing VMs to access storage in different formats without requiring format conversion during migration. The translator acts as a mediator that resolves format differences, enabling seamless migration while eliminating the time-consuming conversion process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs format translation in advance by pre-configuring translation rules and metadata before migration occurs. The format translator is pre-installed and configured on the destination server, so when migration happens, the translation is already ready to execute immediately, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-the-fly conversion during the migration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If virtual machines are powered down for format conversion, then data can be converted between formats, but system downtime and operational disruption occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformat compatibilityVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The format translator enables continuous operation during migration by handling format translation transparently in the background. The virtual machine can remain powered on and continue executing operations while the translator manages the format differences between the VM's expected format and the storage's actual format. This eliminates the need to power down the VM for conversion, maintaining system availability throughout the migration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The format translator serves as an intermediary layer that allows format conversion to occur without disrupting the virtual machine's operation. Instead of converting formats by powering down the VM, the translator mediates between the VM's format expectations and the storage's format, enabling conversion to happen transparently while the VM remains running and accessible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If format conversion is performed on virtual disks, then data can be accessed across different formats, but storage overhead and conversion resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-format data accessVSAvoidstorage overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The format translator acts as a thin intermediary layer that handles format translation without requiring extensive storage overhead. Instead of creating large converted copies of the virtual disk, the translator uses metadata and translation rules to map between formats. This approach enables cross-format access while minimizing the quantity of storage resources consumed during conversion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of format translation from a bulk data conversion approach to a metadata-driven translation approach. By storing translation rules and format information as parameters rather than converting entire datasets, the system achieves cross-format compatibility with minimal storage overhead. The translator modifies data presentation parameters rather than physically converting large volumes of storage data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9952782B1Method and system for accessing data between different virtual disk formats in a virtualization environment

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 NUTANIX INC

AI summary

An architecture for accessing data between different virtual disk formats. A virtual machine may be migrated or cloned from a first server that uses a first virtual disk format to a second server using a second virtual disk format. In response to an I/O request from the virtual machine, a real-time mapper compares the virtual disk format used by the virtual machine with the virtual disk format of the virtual disk that the request is directed to. If the formats are different, a set of mapping metadata is used to map between data of the different virtual disk formats. Due to the mapping being performed in real time, the virtual machine is able to operate upon the virtual disk without the need to perform a potentially costly format conversion of the virtual disk or the underlying data.