Virtual Application Disaster Recovery Based on Resource Consumption

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large-scale virtualization environments, existing disaster recovery solutions lack an efficient method to assess and prioritize virtual applications for protection based on resource consumption history and the potential cost of downtime, leading to suboptimal disaster recovery planning.

Innovation Solution

A method that assesses virtual applications by analyzing resource consumption history, including CPU, memory, storage, network, and power usage metrics, to determine the cost of downtime and designate candidates for disaster recovery protection, activating protection automatically and expiring after a set period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If disaster recovery protection is provided for all virtual applications, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisaster recovery protectionVSAvoidprotection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing disaster recovery protection selectively to specific virtual applications based on their individual characteristics. Instead of uniform protection across all applications, the system assesses each application's resource consumption patterns, criticality, and risk factors to determine the appropriate level of protection, thereby optimizing reliability while reducing unnecessary complexity and cost for non-critical applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of protection level by dynamically adjusting disaster recovery coverage based on assessed parameters such as resource consumption history, application criticality, and risk factors. This allows the protection mechanism to adapt its intensity and scope, providing enhanced protection where needed while reducing it where unnecessary, thus resolving the contradiction between comprehensive protection and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If resource consumption history is analyzed for each VM, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource consumption assessmentVSAvoidassessment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by continuously collecting and storing resource consumption history data for virtual machines in the background during normal operation. This historical data is prepared in advance and organized for quick retrieval, so when disaster recovery assessment is needed, the system can immediately access pre-collected information without requiring time-consuming data gathering, thus achieving both precise measurement and rapid assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual or on-demand resource consumption analysis with automated continuous monitoring and historical data retrieval mechanisms. By substituting the mechanical process of real-time data collection with automated logging and pre-computed historical records, the system achieves high measurement precision while minimizing the time required for assessment during critical decision-making moments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If disaster recovery protection is activated automatically, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection activation speedVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the disaster recovery protection system to automatically assess virtual applications, determine protection needs based on predefined criteria and historical data, and activate protection without manual intervention. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions about which applications require protection and configuring appropriate recovery mechanisms, thereby improving productivity through rapid automated activation while managing complexity through rule-based decision-making frameworks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automated assessment of resource consumption patterns and application performance continuously informs protection activation decisions. The system monitors current system state, compares it against historical data and predefined thresholds, and automatically adjusts protection levels accordingly. This feedback loop enables intelligent automated decision-making that improves productivity while keeping complexity manageable through data-driven rather than purely rule-based approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9971664B2Disaster recovery protection based on resource consumption patterns

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 VMWARE INC

AI summary

Assessing the need for disaster recovery (DR) protection for a virtual application may include accessing resource consumption history for constituent VMs that support the virtual application. The resource consumption history may include usage metrics corresponding to resources used by each VM. A change in a cost of downtime of the given virtual application may be produced and used to assess criteria or rules. The given virtual application may be designated for DR protection based on an assessment of the criteria. DR protection may be activated for the designated virtual applications. The DR protection may automatically expire after a period of time.