Virtual Machine Image Deployment System for Enterprise Data Centers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software deployment in modern networked systems, particularly in complex distributed networks like data centers and test labs, is time-consuming and inefficient, affecting overall performance and requiring significant customization and support for both physical and virtual machines, with inconsistencies in deployment across multiple geographic facilities.
Innovation Solution
A globally-scalable imaging/reimaging system providing a centrally hosted virtualization environment with extensible managed development platforms and virtualization APIs for rapid deployment, activation, and preparation of virtual and physical machine images, enabling scalable and customizable software distribution across mixed environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional software reimaging methods are used, then software can be deployed to computing devices, but the deployment process takes considerable time and reduces overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a master image once and copies it to multiple target machines simultaneously. The imaging system captures a reference machine's configuration and replicates it across numerous devices, reducing deployment time from hours per machine to minutes for the entire fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by preparing the master image in advance and pre-configuring deployment parameters before actual deployment begins. The reference machine is imaged and validated beforehand, so that when deployment starts, the process executes rapidly without preparation delays.
2Productivity
If manual software deployment methods are used, then individual devices can be updated, but the process is inefficient for large-scale enterprise systems with multiple facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging server provides universal deployment capabilities that work across diverse device types, operating systems, and geographic locations through a single unified platform. It handles everything from reference image creation to distributed deployment to multiple facilities through one system.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging server acts as an intermediary between the reference machine and target machines. It captures the reference image, processes it into a deployable format, manages the distribution network, and coordinates deployment to multiple targets, simplifying the complex multi-facility deployment process.
3Ease of operation
If standardized software images are deployed, then deployment process is simplified, but customization needs of different users cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment system is dynamic and adaptable. While the core deployment process remains standardized and simple, the system allows dynamic customization through configuration files, deployment parameters, and post-deployment scripting that can be applied selectively to different user groups or individual machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by allowing different customization levels for different targets. Standardized images provide uniform baseline deployment, while location-specific or user-specific modifications can be applied to particular machine groups or individuals, achieving both simplicity and adaptability.
4Reliability
If physical hardware is maintained for test labs and build labs, then physical computing resources are available, but hardware costs and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining numerous physical test and build machines, the system creates virtual copies of computing environments through imaging. Multiple virtual machines can run simultaneously on shared physical infrastructure, providing the same functionality as physical hardware without the associated costs and maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple physical hardware requirements into a consolidated virtualized infrastructure. By combining test labs, build labs, and production environments on shared physical hardware with rapid imaging capabilities, the system reduces total hardware quantity while maintaining reliability through virtualization.
Data Source
AI summary
A web page behavior enhancement (WPBE) control element is provided on a rendered web page enabling a user to perform actions on at least a portion of the web page content such as customizing, editing, analyzing, forwarding, and/or annotating the content. The processed content may be presented on the original web page, on a locally stored version of the web page, or archived for subsequent use, where any changes to the original web page content may be tracked and the user notified about the changes. The WPBE control element(s) may be embedded into the web page at the source web application or at the local browser based on factors like web application capabilities, browser capabilities, user preferences, usage pattern, and comparable ones.