Virtual Appliance License Forwarding for Multi-Tier Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-tier provider spaces, existing license management schemes require each tier to implement a user interface to distribute license information, increasing costs and complexity, especially when components and license servers are located in different networks.
Innovation Solution
An activated virtual appliance in a computing system forwards an activation license from a license server on behalf of an unactivated virtual appliance, reducing the need for direct user interfaces and simplifying the license management process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each tier in multi-tier provider space implements a user interface to distribute license information, then license management can be performed across different networks, but the cost and complexity of license management implementation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a license manager as an intermediary component that centralizes license management functionality. Instead of each tier implementing its own user interface for license distribution, the license manager acts as a mediator that handles license requests from multiple tiers, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability across different networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The license manager is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple tiers in the provider space through a single interface. This multi-functional approach allows one license manager to handle license distribution for various tiers without requiring each tier to implement separate license management interfaces, thus reducing complexity while preserving versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each tier implements a user interface for license distribution, then license information can be distributed across the multi-tier provider space, but the cost of implementation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the license manager as a centralized intermediary, the patent eliminates the need for each tier to independently implement license distribution interfaces. This reduces implementation costs by consolidating the functionality into a single component that serves all tiers, while still enabling license distribution across the entire multi-tier provider space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the license distribution functionality from multiple tiers into a single license manager component. This consolidation combines what would otherwise be multiple separate implementations into one unified system, reducing overall implementation costs while maintaining the ability to distribute licenses across all tiers.
3Productivity
If an unactivated virtual appliance directly communicates with the license server, then activation licenses can be obtained, but network access restrictions in multi-tier spaces prevent direct communication
Solution Approach 1:
The activated virtual appliance serves as an intermediary that enables the unactivated virtual appliance to obtain licenses indirectly. When network restrictions prevent direct communication between the unactivated appliance and license server, the activated appliance mediates by requesting licenses on behalf of the unactivated one, thus maintaining activation efficiency while adapting to network access limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The activated virtual appliance automatically performs license requests for paired unactivated appliances without requiring direct user intervention. This self-service mechanism allows the system to overcome network restrictions by having the activated appliance autonomously handle license acquisition for its paired counterpart, maintaining productivity while adapting to network constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
System and computer-implemented method for license management of virtual appliances in a computing system uses an activated virtual appliance in the computing system to forward an activation license from a license server on behalf of an unactivated virtual appliance in the computing system.