Virtual Appliance Instantiation in Storage Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
As information storage systems grow larger and more complex, adding or removing physical appliances for services becomes increasingly difficult, costly, and resource-intensive, leading to issues like increased power consumption and reduced physical space.
Innovation Solution
The deployment and management of virtual appliances within storage systems, utilizing standard virtualization techniques and templates like Open Virtual Format (OVF), which allows for the creation and provisioning of virtual appliances on storage array blades, reducing the need for physical hardware and enabling dynamic instantiation and decommissioning of services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical appliances are added to provide services in storage systems, then service functionality is improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical appliances that can be instantiated and deployed within the storage system. These virtual appliances replicate the functionality of physical appliances but exist as software entities that can be quickly provisioned and managed without physical hardware manipulation, thereby maintaining service functionality while reducing hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal virtual appliance platform that can host multiple different service functions within the same storage system infrastructure. A single physical storage system can dynamically instantiate various types of virtual appliances (backup, replication, tiering, etc.) based on service requirements, eliminating the need for dedicated physical hardware for each service type
2Productivity
If physical appliances are added to storage systems, then service capacity is improved, but power consumption and physical space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple virtual appliances and their computational workloads onto shared physical infrastructure within the storage system. Instead of requiring separate physical appliances for each service, the system merges multiple service functions into a unified virtualized environment that shares underlying hardware resources, thereby increasing service capacity without proportionally increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a physical dimension of appliance deployment to a virtual dimension, where services are instantiated as software entities. This dimensional shift allows service capacity to scale independently of physical hardware constraints, enabling increased productivity without the linear increase in power consumption that would result from adding physical appliances
3Adaptability or versatility
If physical appliances are added to storage systems, then service functionality is improved, but installation and management time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures virtual appliance templates with all necessary software, configurations, and dependencies before deployment. When a service is needed, the pre-prepared virtual appliance can be instantly instantiated and deployed without requiring on-site installation, configuration, or setup time, thereby enabling rapid service provisioning while maintaining full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically installing, configuring, and integrating appliances with an automated software-based deployment mechanism. Virtual appliances can be provisioned, configured, and integrated through software commands and automation scripts, eliminating the manual, time-consuming physical installation process while delivering the same service functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for efficiently processing information. In some embodiments, this includes selecting a service to add to a storage array, determining a virtual appliance associated with the service, and instantiating the virtual appliance. In some embodiments, instantiating the virtual appliance includes instantiating an image of the virtual appliance.