Storage Policy Management in Heterogeneous Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing heterogeneous storage platforms in virtualization systems is challenging due to the lack of consistent terminology and the complexity of ensuring storage policies compliance across multiple virtual machines and datastores over their lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A virtualization system with a configuration manager that defines and enforces storage policies to unify storage capabilities across different storage arrays, allowing for the identification and selection of suitable datastores based on specified characteristics, and a storage monitor that ensures compliance and takes remedial action when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous storage platforms are accumulated in virtualization systems, then storage capacity and versatility are improved, but management complexity and terminology consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage policy as an intermediary layer between the virtualization system and heterogeneous storage platforms. This policy framework provides a unified language and set of rules that abstracts away the differences between various storage platforms, allowing consistent management without requiring administrators to understand the specific terminology of each platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage policy framework provides universal functionality across different storage platforms by defining common capabilities and requirements in a standardized manner. The same policy can be applied to diverse storage systems, enabling a single management approach to work across multiple heterogeneous platforms without requiring platform-specific management procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple datastores are deployed for virtual machines, then storage flexibility and capacity are improved, but policy compliance verification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback mechanisms where the storage monitor constantly evaluates datastore configurations against defined storage policies. This feedback loop automatically detects non-compliance and triggers remedial actions, transforming the complex manual verification process into an automated continuous monitoring system that maintains policy adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of policy compliance through automated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The storage monitor independently assesses each datastore's configuration against the storage policies without requiring manual intervention, enabling the system to self-manage compliance verification and reduce administrative burden.
3Reliability
If storage policies are enforced manually, then policy compliance can be maintained, but administrative time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated policy enforcement mechanisms. The storage monitor continuously evaluates datastore configurations and automatically executes remedial actions when non-compliance is detected, eliminating the need for manual policy verification and enforcement. This automation maintains reliable policy compliance while significantly reducing administrative time and effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated feedback mechanism continuously monitors storage configurations and provides real-time feedback on policy compliance status. When deviations are detected, the system automatically executes corrective actions, creating a closed-loop enforcement system that maintains reliability without requiring continuous manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus in a virtualization system may include using a storage policy that defines a storage characteristic to specify a datastore. The storage policy may be used to identify candidate datastores. A datastore may be selected from the candidates. The datastore can therefore be identified without the user having to identify the datastore directly, but rather indirectly by way of a storage characteristic defined by a storage policy.