Virtual Desktop Migration via User Data Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desktop virtualization solutions are costly, time-consuming, and laborious due to the need to copy and move entire personal computer hard drive contents to a centralized data repository, including irrelevant data, which is inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for migrating physical desktop machines to a virtual desktop infrastructure by discovering machines on a network, capturing user-specific data, creating virtual disk image files, and configuring virtual machines with attached user data disks, allowing users to access their virtual machines remotely without converting the entire physical machine into a virtual machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire personal computer hard drive content is copied and moved to a centralized data repository, then a complete virtual machine can be created, but the process becomes costly, time-consuming, and laborious due to the large volume of data including irrelevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential user data from the physical computer, separating it from the operating system and irrelevant data. This is achieved by identifying and capturing user profile information, application data, and document files while leaving the operating system on the physical machine, thereby reducing migration time and data volume while maintaining virtual machine functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the computer data into distinct components: operating system data (remaining on physical machine), user profile data (migrated to virtual machine), application data (migrated to virtual machine), and document files (migrated to virtual machine). This segmentation allows selective migration of only necessary user data, reducing overall migration time and storage requirements
2Reliability
If the entire personal computer hard drive content is copied to a centralized data center, then all user data is preserved, but storage space and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only user-specific data from the physical computer, excluding the operating system and system files. This extraction process captures essential user information such as profile settings, application data, and documents, reducing storage volume by approximately 90% compared to full hard drive cloning while preserving all necessary user data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments data into migratable user data and non-migratable system data. User data including profiles, applications, and documents are separated and stored in the virtual machine environment, while the operating system remains on the physical machine, significantly reducing centralized storage requirements
3Reliability
If the entire personal computer hard drive content is copied and moved, then complete virtual machine functionality is achieved, but the process becomes complex and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts user data using automated tools that identify and capture necessary files and registry information without requiring manual intervention. This extraction process simplifies the migration by automatically handling data collection, validation, and transfer, reducing process complexity while ensuring complete virtual machine functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of user data in the form of a virtual disk image file that can be attached to the virtual machine. This copying approach allows the virtual machine to access user data without requiring a complete physical hard drive clone, simplifying the migration process while maintaining data integrity and functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for migrating a plurality of physical desktop machines to a virtual desktop infrastructure is described. Physical machines are discovered on a computer network using at least one network search criteria using a tool module. User data is then gathered from the discovered physical machines. A virtual disk image file is created for each user of the discovered physical machines. The virtual disk image file contains user specific data collected from the discovered physical machines. A destination pool of virtual machines is selected and a virtual machine in the destination pool is configured for each of the users of the discovered physical machines. The configured virtual machines include an attached user data disk (UDD) backed by a corresponding virtual disk image file. A user can then remotely access their assigned configured virtual machines.