Virtual Cloud-Connector Nodes for Cross-Facility Secure Tunneling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtualization technologies face challenges in seamlessly migrating virtual machines and applications across multiple cloud-computing facilities, particularly in creating secure and efficient virtual private networks that allow access to protected resources across public and private clouds.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual cloud-connector server and virtual cloud-connector nodes within a distributed hybrid cloud infrastructure enables the setup, configuration, and management of virtual private networks, allowing secure communication between corporate resources in public clouds and corporate data centers through a secure tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual machines are migrated across multiple cloud-computing facilities, then load balancing and fault tolerance are improved, but network security and resource protection become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual cloud-connector nodes as intermediary components that establish secure tunnel connections between virtual machines across different cloud facilities. These connectors act as mediators that maintain security boundaries while enabling migration and communication, resolving the contradiction between improved fault tolerance and maintained network security.
Solution Approach 2:
The network infrastructure is segmented into multiple virtual cloud-connector nodes distributed across different cloud-computing facilities. Each node manages local virtual machines and establishes secure connections to remote nodes, allowing the system to maintain security at each segment while enabling cross-facility migration for load balancing and fault tolerance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual private networks are established across multiple cloud facilities, then resource accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual cloud-connector nodes are designed as universal components that perform multiple functions: establishing secure tunnels, managing virtual machine migrations, enabling resource access across clouds, and maintaining network security. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating diverse operations into standardized nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual cloud-connector nodes automatically manage their own configuration and establishment of secure connections without requiring complex manual setup. The system enables self-service provisioning of virtual private networks across multiple cloud facilities, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high resource accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The current document discloses methods and systems for extending an internal network within a first cloud-computing facility to a second cloud-computing facility and using the extended internal network as a basis for creating virtual private clouds distributed across multiple cloud-computing facilities. In one implementation, a pool of IP addresses is allocated and distributed to end appliances of the first and second cloud-computing facilities. In this implementation, the internal network is extended via a secure tunnel between end appliances in the first and second cloud-computing facilities and the end appliances of the extended internal network are configured to route messages transmitted by a first member of the virtual private cloud executing on a first cloud-computing facility to a second member of the virtual private cloud executing on a second cloud-computing facility through the secure tunnel.