Unified Virtualization Management via Virtual Connect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual machine management systems lack a unified approach to manage both virtual and physical resources, leading to separate and inefficient management of virtual machines and physical servers, with limitations in migration and failover processes.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system that integrates virtualization platforms with virtual connect devices, enabling the use of common commands for managing virtual and physical migration and failover, and utilizing non-volatile state storage for persistent configuration management across boot states, allowing seamless management of virtual machines and physical servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate management systems are used for virtual machines and physical servers, then each system can be managed independently, but management efficiency decreases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges virtual machine management and physical server management into a single unified management system. The configuration manager integrates both virtual and physical resource management functions, allowing administrators to manage both types of resources through a single interface rather than requiring separate management infrastructures.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system is designed with universal capabilities to handle both virtual machine and physical server operations. The configuration manager provides multi-functional support for migration, failover, and configuration tasks across both virtual and physical domains, eliminating the need for specialized separate systems.
2Reliability
If traditional virtual machine management is used without integration, then virtual machines can run independently, but migration and failover processes become complex and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines virtual machine management with physical server management in an integrated configuration manager. This unified approach coordinates migration and failover operations across both virtual and physical layers, improving reliability by ensuring consistent state management and reducing the complexity of coordinating separate management systems.
3Productivity
If configuration changes require system boot, then configuration can be applied, but downtime increases and operational flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary configuration actions that can be applied to virtual machines regardless of their boot state. The configuration manager allows administrators to prepare and apply configuration changes even when systems are unbooted, eliminating the requirement for system reboot and reducing operational downtime.
4Ease of operation
If separate commands are used for virtual and physical management, then each can be controlled precisely, but operational complexity and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration manager implements a universal command set that handles both virtual machine and physical server operations. The same commands and interfaces are used for managing both types of resources, simplifying the operational model and reducing the learning curve for administrators while maintaining precise control over both domains.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing system enables configuration of a virtual connect functioning in combination with a virtualization platform. The illustrative data processing system is used with a virtualization platform which is configured to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on one or more physical servers and a virtual connect device which is communicatively coupled to the virtualization platform. The virtual connect device virtualizes connections between the physical server or servers and a network infrastructure. The data processing system comprises a configuration manager that integrates migration and failover of virtual machines operating under the virtualization platform with migration and failover of physical servers operative under the virtual connect device for management of virtual and physical migration and failover using common commands.