Virtual Appliance Operational Mode Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In virtualized computing environments, the deployment of virtual appliances often results in the creation of unnecessary virtual machines, leading to inefficient resource utilization and increased costs due to the provision of complete functionalities not required by users.

Innovation Solution

The deployment of virtual appliances can be customized by configuring an operational mode for virtual machines, allowing for the activation, deactivation, or substitution of virtual machines based on user requirements, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complete functionalities are provided in virtual appliances, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but resource utilization deteriorates due to creation of unnecessary virtual machines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the virtual appliance deployment process by introducing operational modes (starter, production, reference) that divide the functionality into necessary and optional components. This allows the system to provide complete functionalities when needed while avoiding unnecessary resource allocation by selectively activating only required virtual machines based on the operational mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic configuration of virtual appliances through operational modes that can be changed after deployment. The system transitions from static provisioning of all functionalities to dynamic activation/deactivation of virtual machines based on operational requirements, enabling resource optimization without sacrificing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If all virtual machines are created during deployment, then functionality completeness is improved, but deployment complexity and resource allocation inefficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality completenessVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring operational modes and associated virtual machine activation states during appliance creation, but delaying the actual creation of individual virtual machines until deployment time based on the selected mode. This allows functionality completeness to be prepared in advance while avoiding unnecessary deployment complexity and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the deployment parameters by introducing operational mode as a configuration variable that controls virtual machine creation behavior. By modifying this parameter, the system can switch between creating all virtual machines (complete functionality) and creating only necessary ones (reduced complexity), resolving the contradiction between reliability and deployment complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If virtual appliances provide complete functionalities, then adaptability is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by creating a single virtual appliance template that can function in multiple operational modes (starter, production, reference), each with different virtual machine activation states. This universal appliance can adapt to different functional requirements without requiring separate deployments, maintaining adaptability while improving resource allocation efficiency through selective activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes (operational mode selection) to control resource allocation efficiency while maintaining functional completeness when needed. By changing the operational mode parameter, the system can optimize resource allocation for specific scenarios without sacrificing the ability to provide complete functionalities when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10203976B2Virtual appliance management in a virtualized computing environment based on operational modes associated with virtual appliance

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 VMWARE INC

AI summary

An example method to manage a virtual appliance in a virtualized computing environment may comprise obtaining, by a computing system, data relating to the virtual appliance that specifies a virtual machine implementing a software application. The method may also comprise configuring, by the computing system, an operational mode for the virtual machine to customize the virtual appliance for deployment. The method may further comprise deploying, by the computing system, the virtual appliance with the virtual machine operating in the operational mode.