Virtual Disk Composition via Application Delta Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) techniques face inefficiencies due to the need for new delta disk images when the master image is updated and the management challenges of large delta disk images, which become cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The technique dynamically composes a virtual desktop by storing the operating system in a base disk image and applications in separate application containers within delta disk images, allowing for independent updates and efficient management by linking these images in a disk chain, with metadata modifications to map files to allocated disk space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If delta disk images are created for each VM when the master image is updated, then the master image can be updated with patches, but new delta disk images need to be created for each VM which is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the virtual disk into a read-only master image and writable per-VM delta disk images. When the master image is updated, only the master image needs to be recomposed, and the changes are automatically propagated to all VMs through the delta disk layering mechanism, eliminating the need to recreate delta disk images for each VM.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the master image and delta disk images into a unified compositional system where the virtual disk is dynamically assembled from multiple images. This allows the master image to be updated once and the changes to be automatically reflected across all VMs through the composition mechanism, rather than requiring individual delta disk image recreation for each VM.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many applications and settings are incorporated into the delta disks, then user-specific applications and settings can be installed, but the size of the delta disk images becomes quite large
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments applications and settings into separate delta disk images that are layered on top of the master image. This allows different VMs to have different combinations of applications and settings without increasing the base master image size. Each delta disk image only contains the specific applications and settings needed for that particular VM configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where delta disk images are layered on top of the master image, similar to nested dolls. Each delta disk image contains only the necessary applications and settings for a specific VM, and these layers are composed together to form the complete virtual disk. This nesting approach allows for flexible configuration without requiring large individual image sizes.
3Ease of manufacture
If delta disk images are layered on top of the master image, then modifications to the master image are written to delta disks, but the delta disk images become dependent on the master image
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the virtual disk into a read-only master image and writable per-VM delta disk images. This segmentation allows the master image to be updated independently, and the changes are automatically propagated to all VMs through the delta disk layering mechanism, eliminating the need to recreate delta disk images for each VM.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic composition mechanism where the virtual disk is assembled from multiple images (master image and delta disk images) based on VM-specific requirements. The composition is flexible and can adapt to different VM configurations, allowing modifications to the master image to be automatically reflected across all VMs without rigid dependencies.
Data Source
AI summary
According to a system and method for composing a virtual disk for a virtual desktop, the virtual desktop is booted from a virtual disk comprised of a base disk image and a user delta disk image that receives all disk writes to the virtual disk. Disk space is allocated on the virtual disk for a file associated with a selected application to be provided to a user of the virtual desktop. Then the virtual desktop is recomposed offline by linking the base disk image, an application delta disk image including the file associated with the selected application, and the user delta disk image. The recomposing includes modifying meta data of the application delta disk and the user delta disk so that the file associated with the selected application is mapped to the disk space previously allocated.