Virtual Disk Descriptor Merging for MIaaS Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Migrating virtual machines to Managed-Infrastructure-as-a-Service (MIaaS) clouds is challenging due to the need for standardization and compatibility with cloud infrastructure standards, as existing methods like P2V conversion and direct copying do not meet MIaaS management criteria, and existing migration techniques are costly and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A method for rapid migration of virtual machines into MIaaS clouds involves transferring instances as images, adjusting them to cloud standards, and registering them into cloud management systems, allowing for import of foreign instances without reinstalling, thereby simplifying the migration process and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing virtual machines are migrated to MIaaS clouds using traditional methods (P2V conversion or direct copying), then migration can be achieved, but the process is costly and time-consuming while failing to meet MIaaS management criteria

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with cloud infrastructure standardsVSAvoidmigration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by merging virtual disk descriptors before the actual migration process. The system combines source virtual disk descriptors with target virtual disk descriptors in advance, ensuring compatibility with MIaaS standards before the migration executes. This pre-processing step prevents migration failures and reduces the time needed during the actual migration execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses virtual disk descriptors as an intermediary element between the source virtual machine and the target MIaaS environment. By merging these descriptors, the system creates a compatibility layer that translates between different virtualization formats, enabling seamless migration without requiring complete P2V conversion or direct copying that fails to meet MIaaS criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If existing virtual machines are migrated to MIaaS clouds using traditional methods (P2V conversion or direct copying), then migration can be achieved, but the process is costly and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with cloud infrastructure standardsVSAvoidmigration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary merging of virtual disk descriptors to ensure compatibility before migration, avoiding costly failed migration attempts and the need for multiple retry operations. This pre-validation approach reduces overall migration costs by preventing resource waste on incompatible migrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses descriptor copying and merging rather than complete P2V conversion. By copying and combining virtual disk descriptor information, the system achieves migration with significantly lower computational costs compared to full physical-to-virtual conversion, while still meeting MIaaS management criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If virtual disk descriptors are merged to ensure compatibility with target virtualized environment, then compatibility is improved, but the complexity of the migration process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with target virtualized environmentVSAvoidmigration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal virtual disk descriptor format that can represent both source and target virtual disk configurations. By merging descriptors into a unified format that works with both the source virtual machine and the target MIaaS environment, the system achieves broad compatibility without requiring complex environment-specific conversion logic for each migration scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The migration process is segmented into distinct phases: extracting source virtual disk descriptors, merging them with target virtual disk descriptors, and then executing the migration. This segmentation breaks down the complex process into manageable steps, making the overall process more controllable and easier to implement despite the increased complexity of descriptor merging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9292330B2Replacing virtual machine disks

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

At least one target virtual disk descriptor that describes at least one virtual disk associated with an existing target virtual machine in a target virtualized environment is merged with at least one source virtual disk descriptor that describes at least one virtual disk associated with a source. The merging is carried out to obtain at least one merged virtual disk descriptor compatible with the target virtualized environment. The at least one virtual disk associated with the existing target virtual machine in the target virtualized environment is replaced with the at least one virtual disk associated with the source, in accordance with the at least one merged virtual disk descriptor.