Virtual Disk Partitioning for Application Delivery Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional virtual application delivery systems face inefficiencies due to time-consuming mounting procedures of virtual disks during boot, resource-intensive remounting processes, and limitations on the number of virtual disks that can be mounted, which increase latency and complexity in managing applications across multiple computing devices.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a single virtual disk file composed of multiple virtual disk files, where each partition maps to another separate virtual disk file storing applications, allowing for efficient application delivery by redirecting I/O operations at the block level and enabling dynamic updates and management without unmounting the entire virtual disk, thus reducing latency and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate virtual disks are mounted for different applications, then application delivery is enabled, but mounting latency increases and login time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate virtual disk files into a single virtual disk file with multiple partitions, where each partition maps to a separate virtual disk file. This merging approach allows the system to mount a single virtual disk instead of multiple separate ones, thereby reducing mounting latency while still enabling delivery of multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the single virtual disk file into multiple partitions, where each partition independently maps to a separate virtual disk file containing applications. This segmentation allows the system to maintain organizational structure and application isolation while presenting a unified mounted view to the computing device.
2Loss of time
If applications are stored on a single virtual disk with one partition, then mounting latency is reduced, but updating any application requires unmounting the entire virtual disk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the virtual disk into multiple partitions, where each partition corresponds to a separate virtual disk file. This segmentation enables independent updating of individual partitions without affecting others, allowing application updates to proceed without unmounting the entire virtual disk, thus maintaining both low latency and high update efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the ability to update individual partitions independently from the monolithic virtual disk structure. By allowing specific partitions to be modified without unmounting the entire virtual disk, the system enables continuous availability while permitting targeted updates.
3Loss of time
If many applications are included on a single virtual disk, then the number of virtual disks to mount is reduced, but the complexity of managing and updating individual applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual disk into multiple partitions, each mapping to a separate virtual disk file. This segmentation provides a hierarchical structure that simplifies management: the top level presents a unified mounted view (reducing mounting operations), while the partition level enables granular control over individual applications (reducing management complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a partition dimension between the virtual disk file structure and the mounted file system view. This additional organizational dimension allows applications to be grouped and managed by partition while maintaining a simplified single-mount interface at the user level.
4Productivity
If separate bundles with updated applications are created, then application updates can be delivered without remounting, but storage requirements increase and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each partition within the virtual disk file independently updatable, allowing the same virtual disk structure to serve both as a unified mounted resource and as a container for individual application updates. This eliminates the need for separate update bundles, reducing storage requirements while maintaining efficient update delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments described herein are related to performing virtual application delivery. In some embodiments, a method includes accessing, at a computing device, a datastore comprising a first virtual disk file mapped to a plurality of virtual disk files separate from the first virtual disk file, wherein each of the plurality of virtual disk files comprises at least one application stored thereon. The method further includes receiving, at the computing device, one or more operations for accessing the first virtual disk file, the one or more operations corresponding to a first application stored on a second virtual disk file of the plurality of virtual disk files. The method further includes redirecting the one or more operations for accessing the first virtual disk file to the second virtual disk file.