Virtual Desktop Image Composition via Block Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual desktop management systems face inefficiencies due to the need for frequent updates of delta disks when the master image is updated, and large delta disks become cumbersome to manage, especially when many applications and settings are incorporated.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a desktop image by receiving application selections, determining application container references, modifying metadata to indicate application data storage, and creating a mapping between file system blocks and application containers, allowing access by the hypervisor without copying data, enabling independent updates and reducing disk size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the master image is updated with patches, then the system security and functionality are improved, but the delta disks must be recreated for each VM, increasing management complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the desktop image into two independent parts: the read-only master image and the writable delta disk. This segmentation allows the master image to be updated independently without affecting existing delta disks, eliminating the need to recreate them. The delta disks can continue to function by mounting the updated master image, thus reducing management time while maintaining security updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the delta disks with the necessary structure and metadata to mount multiple master images. The delta disks are prepared in advance to be compatible with future master image updates, so when updates occur, no recreation is needed. This preliminary setup enables seamless updates without time-consuming recreation processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many applications and settings are incorporated into the delta disks, then the user customization and functionality are improved, but the size of the delta disks becomes large, making them cumbersome to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the master image universal by creating a single read-only image that can be mounted by multiple delta disks simultaneously. This universal master image contains shared applications and settings that can be accessed by numerous virtual machines, eliminating the need to duplicate these resources in each delta disk. This reduces disk size while maintaining full customization capabilities through the combination of the universal master image and individual delta disks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the master image and delta disk into a layered filesystem structure where the read-only master image and writable delta disk work together as a unified system. This merging allows delta disks to reference shared data from the master image rather than storing duplicate copies, significantly reducing the total data volume while maintaining full functionality and customization options.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the delta disks are made read-only with applications and settings, then the system stability and consistency are improved, but the user cannot install additional software or make permanent changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filesystem into read-only master image and writable delta disk layers. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stability from the read-only master image while providing adaptability through the writable delta disk layer. Users can install additional software and make permanent changes in the writable delta disk portion, which persists across sessions, while the core system remains stable and consistent from the read-only master image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic layered filesystem where the writable delta disk can grow and change over time as users install software and make modifications, while the read-only master image remains static and stable. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt to user needs through the writable layer while maintaining system consistency through the read-only layer, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for composing a virtual desktop associated with one or more applications in a virtualized computing environment. The technique includes generating file system level metadata in the desktop image for applications that create a perception that data blocks in the desktop image have been allocated to applications, but not actually copying any of the application data into the allocated blocks. Instead, the technique builds a mapping table between disk block numbers and the application data, which can be stored in a separate application store. The disclosed techniques provide a more efficient way to compose a virtual desktop, compared to current virtual desktop adoption techniques.