Virtual Distributed Switch Migration with Ephemeral Binding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Migrating virtual machine and host networks from virtual standard switches to virtual distributed switches in a vSAN cluster poses challenges such as network connectivity loss and data consistency issues, particularly with infrastructure VMs like management servers, which create a causality dilemma during the migration process.

Innovation Solution

A primary network migrator generates a migration plan and configures a virtual distributed switch with ephemeral binding, while a secondary network migrator ensures atomic migration of infrastructure VMs and physical network interface cards, using a heartbeat mechanism to monitor connectivity and a rollback mechanism to prevent permanent network loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual standard switches are migrated to virtual distributed switches in a vSAN cluster, then network management and resource allocation are improved, but network connectivity loss and data consistency issues occur during migration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork management flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork connectivity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by creating a migration plan before execution, validating pre-flight conditions, and preparing the virtual distributed switch configuration in advance. This ensures that all necessary components are ready before the actual migration occurs, preventing connectivity loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components including a migration orchestrator that coordinates between primary and secondary network migrators, and uses a virtual distributed switch as an intermediary layer during the transition from virtual standard switches. This intermediary structure maintains network connectivity throughout the migration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If infrastructure VMs are migrated during the switch migration process, then complete network modernization is achieved, but causality dilemmas and data consistency issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration efficiencyVSAvoiddata consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The migration process is segmented into distinct phases: primary network migrator handles the virtual distributed switch creation and host migration, while the secondary network migrator specifically handles infrastructure VM migration. This segmentation allows each component to be migrated independently with proper coordination, preventing data consistency issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms through pre-flight validation that checks data consistency before migration, and uses heartbeat monitoring during migration to detect and respond to connectivity issues. This feedback loop ensures data consistency is maintained throughout the migration process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a seamless migration process is implemented, then network availability is maintained, but system complexity increases due to coordinated migration mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidmigration system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the migration orchestration functionality into the existing vCenter Server environment, and combines the primary and secondary network migrators into a coordinated system that shares state and configuration. This merging reduces the overall system complexity compared to having completely separate migration systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11669360B2Seamless virtual standard switch to virtual distributed switch migration for hyper-converged infrastructure

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 VMWARE INC

AI summary

A method to migrate a cluster's hosts and virtual machines from virtual standard switches to a virtual distributed switch includes creating distributed port groups on the virtual distributed switch, where properties of the distributed port groups are automatically replicated to host proxy switches on the hosts. The method further includes configuring the distributed port group with ephemeral binding so port binding of the distributed port group is configurable through a host in the cluster even when an infrastructure virtual machine that manages the cluster is down, determining (or receiving user input indicating) the infrastructure virtual machine is on the host, and issuing a call to the host to migrate (1) the infrastructure virtual machine to the distributed port group and (2) one or more physical network interface cards of the host to the virtual distributed switch.