Software Appliance Detachment for Hardware Re-deployment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for installing and configuring software appliances on hardware are time-consuming and costly, with limited flexibility for re-deployment of existing hardware, as customers need to request new hardware or return old hardware for reconfiguration, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for detaching a software appliance from one computer system, packaging it with metadata, and deploying it on another system with similar hardware, allowing for flexible re-deployment without the need for new hardware, using a detached software appliance that includes in-memory database software and business applications, and utilizing specialized utility tools for detachment and re-attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If customers request new hardware appliances for configuration changes, then the software appliance can be properly configured, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware appliance configurationVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the software appliance into a detachable component that can be separated from the original hardware appliance. The software appliance is extracted as an independent package containing the application, database, and configuration settings, which can then be transferred to different hardware without requiring complete reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the software appliance from its original hardware environment by providing detachment functionality. This extraction allows the software appliance to be removed as a self-contained unit with all its configurations intact, enabling rapid deployment on new hardware without the time-consuming process of reinstallation and reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If customers return old hardware for reconfiguration, then the hardware can be reused, but the process remains costly and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware re-deployment flexibilityVSAvoidreconfiguration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal software appliance package that can be deployed across multiple different hardware appliances. The detached software appliance is designed to be hardware-agnostic, allowing the same packaged appliance to be installed on various certified hardware platforms without modification, thereby enabling flexible re-deployment and reducing reconfiguration costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables copying of the software appliance configuration by packaging it in a transferable format. The detached software appliance can be copied and transferred to new hardware appliances, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and reducing both time and cost associated with hardware re-deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If software appliances are tightly coupled with hardware, then system stability is maintained, but flexibility for re-deployment is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidre-deployment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a packaging intermediary layer between the software appliance and hardware. This package acts as a mediator that encapsulates the software appliance with all its dependencies and configurations, allowing it to be transferred between different hardware platforms while maintaining system stability through the standardized package interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables parameter changes by allowing the software appliance package to be adapted to different hardware environments. The packaged appliance can be deployed on various certified hardware platforms with different specifications, and the system adjusts parameters automatically during installation while preserving the core software configuration and business logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9426254B2Methods and systems for building a software appliance

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 SAP SE

AI summary

A computer implemented method may include installing a software appliance on a first computer system, the software appliance including database software and a business application. The software appliance may be configured on the first computer system to a predetermined configuration of the business application and the database software. The configured software appliance may be detached from an operating system of the first computing device. The detaching of the software appliance may include collecting metadata associated with the software appliance, the operating system and hardware the first system. The detached software appliance and the metadata may be stored on computer readable medium.