Virtual Infrastructure Snapshot View via Multi-Threaded Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solutions for monitoring and managing complex enterprise virtual infrastructures are cumbersome, requiring multi-step processes, specialized software and hardware, and fail to provide a unified snapshot view of critical virtual machine statistics, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity for system administrators.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates a snapshot view of virtual network resources without requiring specialized software and hardware, using a multi-threaded process to query virtual server management applications and aggregate critical information, producing an HTML-based snapshot view that can be accessed through a web browser, allowing for easy retrieval and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional solutions are used to monitor and manage virtual infrastructure, then detailed information about each virtual machine can be obtained, but the process becomes complex and requires multiple steps including selecting views, templates, and scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring process into distinct functional modules: a snapshot view engine that queries virtualization infrastructure, an HTML generation component that formats data, and a web server that delivers results. This modular segmentation eliminates the need for complex multi-step conventional processes while preserving comprehensive VM information retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an HTML-based snapshot view as an intermediary layer between the virtualization infrastructure and the user. This intermediary consolidates scattered VM information from multiple sources into a unified, easily accessible format, eliminating the need for users to navigate complex conventional monitoring interfaces.
2Loss of information
If conventional solutions drill down to each virtual machine configuration, then comprehensive information is provided, but the information becomes excessive and scattered, requiring manual sifting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scattered information from multiple virtual machine sources into a single consolidated HTML snapshot view. This unified view combines VM statistics, storage utilization, and other critical data into one accessible location, eliminating the need for manual sifting through scattered information while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The HTML-based snapshot view serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays VM statistics, shows storage utilization, provides configuration details, and enables easy navigation. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate conventional tools and processes, improving ease of operation while maintaining information completeness.
3Reliability
If specialized software and hardware resources are deployed for monitoring, then monitoring capabilities are enhanced, but the system becomes bulky and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The snapshot view engine is designed to be self-sufficient, directly querying virtualization infrastructure databases and generating HTML output without requiring specialized monitoring software or hardware. This self-service approach maintains reliable monitoring capabilities while eliminating bulky conventional infrastructure requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex specialized monitoring software with a simple, lightweight HTML generation system. This disposable-like approach uses standard web technologies that are easy to deploy and maintain, eliminating the need for sophisticated backend infrastructure while preserving monitoring reliability.
4Loss of information
If conventional report generation processes are used, then detailed reports can be produced, but the process requires interaction with application UI and multiple configuration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction with graphical user interfaces through command-line or automated API-based HTML generation. This substitution eliminates the need for manual UI navigation and configuration steps while producing detailed reports, significantly improving ease of operation through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the output parameter from conventional formatted reports to HTML format, which can be generated automatically and displayed in web browsers. This parameter change enables detailed reporting without requiring complex configuration steps, as HTML generation can be automated and accessed through simple web interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer may receive a request to generate a snapshot view of a virtual infrastructure. The virtual infrastructure may comprise a plurality of virtual server management applications, each managing a respective set of virtual machines. The computer may implement a multi-threaded process to contemporaneously query one or more databases and retrieve status and other information of the virtual machines from different virtual server management applications. The computer may aggregate the retrieved information to determine the summary counters and statistic information for the virtual machines. The computer may generate a snapshot view file based on the retrieved information. The snapshot view file may be in hypertext markup language (HTML) format. The computer may transmit a selectable link to the snapshot view file to multiple user devices. A user may select the link and the respective user device may display the snapshot view in an application such as a web browser.