Universal Server Migration via Infrastructure-Independent Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server migration solutions are not universally applicable across different compute infrastructures, such as physical, virtual, and cloud environments, as they often require infrastructure-specific processes and formats, making seamless migration challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for universal server migration that captures a server image independent of the source infrastructure, transfers it to a dedupe store, transforms the dedupe stream into a bootable image on any target compute infrastructure, and creates a recovery set of disks to recreate the server, using agents specific to the target infrastructure for bootability and device compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing server migration solutions use infrastructure-specific processes and formats, then migration can be performed within the same infrastructure type, but the solution cannot be universally applied across different compute infrastructures (physical, virtual, cloud)
Solution Approach 1:
The migration system employs a universal migration agent that can operate across multiple compute infrastructure types (physical servers, virtual machines, cloud platforms). The agent captures server images in a standardized format that is independent of the source infrastructure, enabling the same migration tool to handle diverse environments without requiring infrastructure-specific customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate standardized server image format that acts as a mediator between the source compute infrastructure and the target compute infrastructure. This intermediate format decouples the migration process from infrastructure-specific details, allowing the migration agent to translate between different infrastructure types through a common representation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a universal server image format is used, then migration across different infrastructures becomes possible, but ensuring bootability and device compatibility on target infrastructure becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The migration agent dynamically adapts to the target compute infrastructure by detecting the target environment type and applying appropriate transformation rules. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain bootability and device compatibility by adjusting the server image representation based on the specific characteristics of the target infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the server image representation based on the target infrastructure type. Different compute infrastructures have different requirements for disk formats, device names, and boot configurations, and the migration agent modifies these parameters to ensure the migrated server is compatible with the target environment while maintaining the original server's functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for server migration includes the step of, with an agent running inside a server, capturing a server image of the server, wherein the server image is independent of a source-compute infrastructure. The method includes the step of transferring the server image to a dedupe store. The method includes the step of transforming the dedupe stream of the server image into a bootable server image on a target compute infrastructure. The method includes the step of generating a recovery set of disks on the target compute infrastructure. The method includes the step of creating a recover-process server on the target compute infrastructure using a recovery set of disks.