Virtual Computing Instance Upgrade via Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for upgrading applications in software-defined data centers often result in downtime, which contradicts increasing user expectations of 24/7 availability, and can be costly and inefficient, especially when they require significant architecture support or inefficiently manage database changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a near-zero downtime application upgrade method, where a target virtual computing instance is synchronized with a source instance, allowing the application to be upgraded on the target instance while the source remains active, and then switched to, thereby minimizing or eliminating perceived downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional application upgrade methods are used, then the application can be updated, but downtime occurs and user availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a target VCI and performs the application upgrade in advance before the source VCI needs to be updated. The target VCI is prepared with the upgraded application while the source VCI continues to serve users, ensuring no downtime occurs during the actual switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the source VCI as a target VCI. This copy contains the same initial application version but is used to install and test the upgraded application before switching, allowing the original source VCI to remain operational throughout the upgrade process.
2Ease of manufacture
If application upgrade is performed on the running source VCI, then no additional infrastructure is needed, but architecture support complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the source VCI in place, the patent creates a separate target VCI as a copy. This approach simplifies the upgrade process by isolating changes to a separate instance, avoiding complex architecture modifications to the running system while maintaining ease of implementation through standard virtualization capabilities.
3Reliability
If data synchronization is performed between source and target VCI, then data consistency is maintained, but network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The data synchronization is performed in advance during the target VCI preparation phase, before the source VCI is deactivated. This preliminary data transfer ensures data consistency is established before the switch, and the actual operational switch occurs without requiring additional data synchronization, thus minimizing ongoing network bandwidth consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for upgrading an application running on a virtual computing instance (VCI) can include a processing resource, a memory resource, and a VCI manager. The VCI manager can be executed by the processing resource and the memory resource and can be configured to cause a first VCI that is running the application to be copied as a second VCI, cause an updated version of the application to be installed on the second VCI, and cause a private network to be generated between the first VCI and the second VCI. The VCI manager can be further configured to cause data to be synchronized between the first VCI to the second VCI via the private network and cause the application running on the first VCI to be deactivated and cause the updated version of the application to be activated on the second VCI.