Service Impact Analysis in Virtualized Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Impact Analysis and Service Assurance engines fail in dynamic data center environments due to the rapid change in service dependencies, requiring detailed knowledge of the entire dependency tree to determine service state, which is impractical and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical approach that uses implied and absolute states of infrastructure elements, allowing policies to define element states based on immediate dependencies, eliminating the need for a detailed understanding of the entire dependency tree, and enabling dynamic updates as the dependency graph changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional Impact Analysis engines use detailed knowledge of the entire dependency tree to determine service state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of information increase due to dynamic changes in virtualized environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex dependency tree analysis into localized policy evaluations at each infrastructure element node. Instead of analyzing the entire dependency tree globally, each element independently evaluates its own state based on local policies and immediate child element states, dividing the complex problem into manageable local decisions that collectively determine service state
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces policies as intermediary rules that mediate between infrastructure element states and service state determination. These policies act as local decision-making intermediaries at each element node, translating child element states into parent element states without requiring direct knowledge of the entire dependency tree, thus simplifying the analysis while maintaining accuracy
2Reliability
If traditional systems define event patterns based on fixed infrastructure dependencies, then reliability is improved for static environments, but adaptability deteriorates in dynamic virtualized environments where dependencies change rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic policy evaluation where each infrastructure element continuously evaluates its state based on current child element states and applicable policies. This dynamic approach allows the system to automatically adapt to changing dependencies in virtualized environments while maintaining reliable service state determination through consistent policy-based evaluation rules
Solution Approach 2:
Each infrastructure element autonomously evaluates its own state and determines its parent element's state based on local policies, without requiring centralized control or knowledge of the entire dependency tree. This self-service mechanism enables automatic adaptation to dependency changes while maintaining system-wide reliability through distributed consistent evaluation
3Measurement precision
If the system requires detailed knowledge of the entire dependency tree to determine service state, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to rapid changes that cannot be tracked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dependency analysis into localized evaluations at each infrastructure element, where each element only needs to know its immediate child elements and applicable policies. This segmentation eliminates the need to track entire dependency tree changes, preventing information loss while maintaining accurate service state determination through localized state roll-up
4Ease of operation
If traditional engines use static mapping of infrastructure components to services, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates in dynamic virtualized environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static mapping with dynamic policy-based state evaluation where infrastructure elements automatically determine their state based on current child element states and policies. This dynamic approach maintains operational simplicity through consistent evaluation rules while adapting automatically to changing virtualized environments without requiring manual remapping
Data Source
AI summary
A computer processor device provides a dependency tree representing (i) relationships among all the infrastructure elements in a computer system that are related to delivery of a service by a computer system, and (ii) how the infrastructure elements interact with each other in a delivery of said service, wherein a state of an infrastructure element is impacted only by states among its immediately dependent infrastructure elements of the dependency tree. The computer processor device determines the state of the service by checking current states of infrastructure elements in the dependency tree that immediately depend from the service.