Rescue Service for Virtualization Management Server Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtualization management servers failing disrupt features like disaster recovery and high-availability for virtual machines, leading to downtime and inoperability of critical services.
Innovation Solution
A rescue service is deployed to manage virtualization management servers, deploying rescue agents to monitor host inventories and configurations, categorize servers based on resource usage, and execute failover processes to migrate orphaned hosts to active servers, ensuring minimal downtime and continuous service availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single virtualization management server is used to manage hosts and virtual machines, then the system structure is simple and easy to operate, but the system reliability deteriorates because the management service becomes inoperable if the server fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the virtualization management function into multiple independent management servers instead of using a single server. Each server manages a subset of hosts and virtual machines, creating a segmented architecture where failure of one server does not affect the entire system. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity through modular design while improving reliability through distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of server quantity from one to multiple, transforming the system from a single-point-of-failure architecture to a distributed architecture. This parameter change enables the system to maintain management functionality during server failures, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If virtualization management servers are increased to improve reliability, then the management service availability improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each virtualization management server universal by enabling them to perform the same management functions for different subsets of hosts and virtual machines. This multi-functionality allows any server to potentially take over another server's responsibilities, improving reliability through redundancy without requiring specialized complex configurations for each server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copied instances of the virtualization management server, where each server is a duplicate with the same capabilities and functions. This copying approach improves reliability by providing redundant management capacity while keeping individual server configurations simple and uniform, thereby not increasing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If host reassignment is performed manually when a management server fails, then the system complexity remains low, but the loss of time and productivity increase due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors the operational status of virtualization management servers. When a server failure is detected, the system automatically triggers host reassignment processes without requiring manual intervention. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining low operational complexity while dramatically reducing recovery time through automated response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the virtualization management system to perform self-service during failure scenarios. When a management server fails, the remaining servers automatically detect the failure and reassign orphaned hosts without human intervention. This self-service capability reduces recovery time while keeping the system architecture simple and manageable.
4Productivity
If automated failover mechanisms are implemented to reduce recovery time, then the productivity and service continuity improve, but the device complexity and system configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple virtualization management servers with identical capabilities and predefined failover relationships before failures occur. This advance preparation enables automated failover to execute quickly and efficiently when needed, improving service continuity without requiring complex real-time decision-making or configuration during actual failure events.
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, method of managing hosts across a plurality of virtualization management servers, each of the plurality of virtualization management servers managing a plurality of the hosts, each of the hosts configured with virtualization software executing at least one virtual computing instance is disclosed. The method includes deploying, by a rescue service, a rescue agent on each of the plurality of virtualization management servers; obtaining host inventories and configurations at the rescue service for the plurality of virtualization management servers; assigning each of the plurality of virtualization management servers to a category of a plurality of categories based on configuration maximums of the plurality of virtualization management servers; and updating rescue storage managed by the rescue service to monitor resource usage of the plurality of virtualization management servers based on assigned category and the host inventories.