Virtual Gateway Redundancy via Shared Memory Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gateway redundancy solutions require multiple physical computers, which are costly and cumbersome, and failover methods are prone to communication failures, leading to potential data loss and operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing synchronized sets of redundant virtual software processes that share state information, allowing seamless failover between primary and backup gateways without physical redundancy, using shared hardware and virtual network interface controllers to maintain continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical gateway computers are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple gateway functions into a single physical computer by running multiple virtual machine instances (first virtual machine and second virtual machine) on the same hardware platform. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate physical gateway computers while maintaining redundancy capabilities, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the gateway function through virtual machine instances. The second virtual machine serves as a standby copy that can take over when the first virtual machine fails. This virtual copying approach provides redundancy without requiring duplicate physical hardware, addressing the contradiction between reliability improvement and complexity reduction.
2Reliability
If state information is shared between gateways for failover, then reliability is improved, but communication failures can cause data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shared memory space as an intermediary between the first and second virtual machines for state information exchange. This shared memory serves as a reliable communication medium that eliminates the need for network-based communication during failover, preventing data loss that could occur with network communication failures. The shared memory provides direct, reliable access to state information for the standby virtual machine.
3Device complexity
If virtualization is used to reduce hardware redundancy, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the second virtual machine with all necessary gateway software, configurations, and state information access capabilities before a failure occurs. The second virtual machine is prepared in advance as a hot standby, capable of immediate takeover without requiring complex hardware redundancy. This pre-preparation ensures reliability is maintained while reducing device complexity through virtualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the single physical computer universal by enabling it to perform multiple gateway functions simultaneously through virtualization. The same physical hardware can host both the primary gateway (first virtual machine) and the standby gateway (second virtual machine), providing redundancy and failover capabilities without requiring dedicated hardware for each function. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between reduced hardware complexity and maintained reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may be used in environments where multiple different virtual sets of program instructions are executed by shared computing resources when different processes are performed in a virtual computing environment. Methods consistent with the present disclosure may be used to provide a form of redundancy that does not require two physically distinct computers. Such methods may use a set of physical hardware components and two or more sets of synchronized virtual gateway software. Architectural features of physical hardware components included in an apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may be abstracted from sets of virtual program code when one virtual software process backs up another virtual software process at the apparatus.