Virtual Machine Backup for Server Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server systems face service interruptions when primary server devices fail, requiring physical replacement and resulting in downtime, as they lack efficient redundancy mechanisms for maintaining application functionality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual resource-based backup system where a secondary virtual machine synchronizes with a primary machine to take over operations, using virtual images stored in an image repository to rapidly restore the primary state without replacing specialized server devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical server devices are used for application implementation, then hardware reliability is improved, but service downtime increases when failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies (virtual machines) of the application state that can be rapidly deployed to restore service. When the primary server fails, a virtual machine containing the application state is instantiated on a replacement server, enabling service restoration without physical hardware replacement. This copying approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining hardware reliability through virtualization while eliminating downtime through rapid virtual machine deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary backup of application states to an image repository before failures occur. Virtual machine images are pre-created and stored, so when a server fails, the restoration process simply needs to retrieve and deploy the pre-prepared image rather than creating it from scratch. This preliminary action significantly reduces restoration time while maintaining system reliability.
2Productivity
If specialized server devices are used for application implementation, then application performance is improved, but device replacement cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes servers universal by implementing application states through virtual machines that can run on any standard server hardware. The application performance is maintained through virtualization technology, while the underlying hardware becomes interchangeable and non-specialized. This allows any server in the pool to replace another, dramatically simplifying device replacement procedures and reducing costs while preserving application performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies the application state to virtual machine images that can be deployed to any server in the pool. This copying mechanism decouples the application from specialized hardware, allowing standard servers to replace expensive specialized devices. The virtual machine image contains all necessary application state information, enabling seamless migration to generic hardware without sacrificing performance.
3Reliability
If redundant backup servers are deployed to prevent service interruption, then service continuity is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual machine copying to create backup capabilities. Instead of maintaining complex redundant hardware systems, the solution creates virtual copies of application states that can be rapidly deployed. The virtual machine images serve as the backup mechanism, simplifying the system architecture while ensuring service continuity through rapid failover capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image repository as an intermediary between the primary server and backup mechanisms. This centralized repository stores virtual machine images and manages the backup/restoration process, simplifying the overall system architecture. The intermediary handles the complexity of backup management, allowing the primary and backup systems to remain simple while ensuring service continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive a virtual image of a first state of a first virtual machine. Session information of the state of the first virtual machine may be synchronized with a second state of a second virtual machine. The second state of the second virtual machine may become active when the first virtual machine becomes unavailable. The device may identify that the first virtual machine is unavailable; and output, based on the identifying, the virtual image of the first state to a particular third virtual machine, to cause the particular third virtual machine to restore the first state of the first virtual machine. The second state of the second virtual machine may become inactive when the first state is restored to the third virtual machine.