Virtual Bridge Live Migration Multi-Root I/O Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server architectures face challenges in efficiently managing the migration of virtual machines across multiple information handling systems with shared input/output resources, particularly in maintaining seamless access and preserving the operational state during migration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a virtual bridge and virtualization environment within a multi-root input-output virtualization blade chassis to virtualize access to shared network resources, allowing for live migration of virtual machines by copying their operational state between information handling systems using switches and virtual bridges, thereby maintaining transparent network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machines are migrated between information handling systems with shared I/O resources, then resource utilization and scalability are improved, but maintaining seamless access and preserving operational state during migration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual bridge as an intermediary component that mediates between virtual machines and shared I/O resources during migration. The virtual bridge maintains network connectivity and operational state by acting as a transparent intermediary that allows VMs to access shared resources seamlessly while being migrated between information handling systems, thus reducing migration management complexity while improving resource flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the I/O resource access by creating virtual functions (VFs) that divide physical I/O resources into separate virtual access points. Each VM can be assigned specific VF segments, allowing independent migration of individual VMs without affecting others, thereby simplifying migration management while enhancing resource utilization flexibility
2Area of stationary object
If multiple information handling systems share common I/O resources in a blade chassis, then space efficiency is improved, but managing resource access and migration between systems becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling I/O resources to serve multiple information handling systems simultaneously through virtualization. The same physical I/O resource can be accessed by multiple VMs across different IHSs through virtual functions and virtual bridges, making the shared resource universal and eliminating the need for dedicated I/O resources per system, thus improving space utilization while simplifying access management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying to create virtual representations of I/O resources through virtual functions. Instead of physically duplicating I/O resources for each system, virtual copies are created that provide the same functional access, allowing multiple systems to share physical resources efficiently while maintaining independent access control and simplifying migration operations
Data Source
AI summary
A system including first and second information handling systems may implement: a virtual bridge associated with a network information handling resource, a virtual machine to access the resources of the first information handling system; a virtualization environment to migrate the virtual machine from the first to the second information handling system using the virtual bridge; a first virtual function mapping the network information handling resource and the first information handling system; a second virtual function mapping the network information handling resource and the second information handling system; and a physical function mapping the network information handling resource and a chassis management controller. The physical function may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) I/O Virtualization (IOV) physical function.