Virtual Identifier Reallocation for Host Resource Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current host removal techniques in cloud computing are time and resource intensive, leading to unwanted interruptions and outages when high-capacity drives fail, as they require data migration rather than efficient resource reallocation.
Innovation Solution
The use of virtual identifiers to abstract host device resources allows for the reallocation of resources from a failing host to a new host, minimizing the overhead of data migration by reallocating storage and compute resources directly, rather than copying data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data migration techniques are used to remove a failing host device, then data availability is maintained, but downtime and resource overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the storage resource by reallocating the virtual identifier to a different physical storage device. Instead of copying actual data, the system copies the virtual identifier mapping, allowing the failing host to be removed while maintaining data access through the virtual layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual identifier acts as an intermediary between the logical data storage location and the physical storage device. By reallocating this virtual identifier to a different physical device, the system enables host removal without direct data migration, reducing downtime while maintaining data availability.
2Reliability
If traditional data migration techniques are used to remove a failing host device, then data availability is maintained, but resource overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies only the virtual identifier metadata rather than copying actual data files. This virtual copy approach maintains data availability through the virtual layer while dramatically reducing the resource overhead and complexity associated with physical data migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual dimension of abstraction between logical storage and physical storage. By operating at the virtual identifier level rather than the physical data level, the system simplifies resource management and reduces overhead while maintaining data availability.
3Quantity of substance
If high-capacity drives are used in host devices, then storage capacity increases, but data migration time increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies the virtual identifier mapping rather than copying actual data. This allows the storage capacity of high-capacity drives to be utilized without incurring proportional increases in migration time, as only the lightweight virtual identifier needs to be reallocated, not the bulk data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the virtual identifier from the physical storage device association and reallocates it to a different physical device. This separation allows the physical storage capacity to remain high while the migration operation remains lightweight, as only the virtual mapping is transferred, not the data itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for reallocating host resources in a virtualized computing environment when certain criteria have been met. In some embodiments, a system identifies a host disabling event. In view of the disabling event, the system identifies a resource for reallocation from a first host to a second host. Based on the identification, the computer system disassociates the identified resource's virtual identifier from the first host device and associates the virtual identifier with the second host device. Thus, the techniques disclosed significantly reduce a system's planned and unplanned downtime.