Virtual Data Center Decoupling Server Hardware From Network Identities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Data Center Systems face disruptions and inefficiencies due to changes in server hardware, such as NIC or HBA replacements, which require manual intervention by administrators to reconfigure LAN and SAN identities, leading to potential service interruptions and data loss, and lack dynamic provisioning for peak utilization.
Innovation Solution
A Virtual Data Center system that decouples software environments from hardware, using a layer 2 interconnect fabric, controller, and agent to dynamically configure and allocate server images, manage network connectivity, and provide storage access, enabling automatic detection and substitution of failed servers without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If server hardware (NIC or HBA) is replaced or server function is moved to another server, then hardware flexibility and maintenance are improved, but LAN and SAN identities are lost requiring manual reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtualization to create virtual copies of server identities (MAC addresses, WWNs) that can be dynamically assigned to different physical servers. Instead of manually reconfiguring hardware identities, the system copies and transfers virtual identity representations through the virtualization layer, automatically maintaining LAN and SAN access after hardware changes
Solution Approach 2:
The virtualization layer acts as an intermediary between physical hardware and network/storage identities. It decouples the relationship between physical server components and their network identities, allowing hardware to change while the virtualization layer automatically manages the mapping between physical resources and logical identities, eliminating manual reconfiguration
2Reliability
If data center administrators provision server resources for anticipated peak utilization, then service availability during peak periods is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates during low-periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource provisioning through virtualization, allowing server resources to be dynamically allocated and reassigned based on actual demand rather than static peak utilization planning. Virtual server images can be automatically migrated between physical hosts, enabling the system to adapt resource distribution in real-time to match workload requirements, thus maintaining service availability while optimizing resource utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The virtualization platform creates universal server images that can run on multiple different physical server platforms. A single server image can be instantiated across various physical hosts, allowing the same logical server to serve multiple functions and be deployed anywhere in the infrastructure, thereby improving both availability and resource efficiency
3Reliability
If manual reconfiguration is performed when server hardware changes, then service continuity is maintained, but service interruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring virtual server images with all necessary network and storage identity mappings before hardware changes occur. The virtualization layer maintains ready-to-use virtual identities that can be instantly activated on new hardware, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual reconfiguration and minimizing service interruption
Solution Approach 2:
The virtualization system automatically performs the reconfiguration tasks that would otherwise require manual administrator intervention. When hardware changes occur, the system self-manages the mapping of virtual identities to new physical resources, automatically updating network and storage configurations without human involvement, thus maintaining service continuity while reducing interruption time
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and a method for implementing a virtual data center. In which, the functions to be performed by a computer, and the access the computer equipment is required to have to the storage and network facilities, are decoupled from the hardware, and instantiated dynamically on any suitable computer equipment, without any manual intervention. In a virtual data center, all the physical resources are virtualized and arranged dynamically, to meet the functional requirements of the data center.