Virtual Appliance Deployment on Storage Array Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing large and complex information storage systems becomes increasingly difficult due to the challenges of integrating and managing numerous physical appliances, which leads to issues such as high power consumption, reduced physical space, and lengthy, expensive installation processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of virtual appliances, utilizing standard virtualization techniques and Open Virtual Format (OVF) templates, allows for the creation and deployment of virtual appliances on storage array blades, reducing the need for physical hardware and enabling dynamic provisioning and decommissioning of services without the need for additional equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical appliances are added to provide services in information storage systems, then service functionality is improved, but power consumption increases and physical space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies virtualization to create virtual appliances that replicate the functionality of physical appliances. These virtual appliances run as software instances on existing storage array hardware, allowing service functionality to be added without proportionally increasing physical hardware, power consumption, or space requirements. The virtual appliance framework enables multiple service instances to share underlying physical resources efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If physical appliances are added to provide services in information storage systems, then service functionality is improved, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements pre-configured virtual appliance templates that are prepared in advance with all necessary software configurations, dependencies, and settings. When a service is needed, the corresponding virtual appliance template can be instantly deployed to the storage array without manual configuration or physical installation steps. This preliminary preparation of appliance images and configurations enables rapid service provisioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If numerous physical appliances are integrated into the system, then service capability is improved, but system management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice capabilityVSAvoidsystem management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates the management of multiple services and appliances into a unified virtualization framework. Instead of managing separate physical appliances independently, the system provides a centralized interface to provision, monitor, and manage virtual appliances as software instances. This merging of management functions simplifies operations while maintaining the ability to provide diverse services through the virtual appliance platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9424113B2Virtual appliance deployment

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 DELL EMC

AI summary

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for efficiently processing information. In some embodiments, this includes determining a physical appliance to virtualize, creating a virtual appliance based on the physical appliance, and storing the virtual appliance in a storage array. In some embodiments, creating the virtual appliance includes creating the virtual appliance from a template.