Virtual Machine Kernel Update Loading Without Full Reboot
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Solution Overview
Problem
The long downtime experienced during the update process of computer programs, particularly kernels, results in reduced customer experience and decreased user productivity due to the need for a full system reboot.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a virtual machine to load an updated version of a computer program onto a physical machine by emulating its components, allowing the update to occur while the initial version is running, with parameters being transferred from the virtual machine to the physical machine upon a trigger condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full system reboot is performed to update the computer program, then the updated version is successfully loaded, but user-space applications become inactive and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by loading the updated computer program version into a virtual machine before the trigger condition is activated. The virtual machine prepares the updated parameters in advance, so that when the trigger condition occurs (such as a scheduled time or specific event), the system can quickly switch to the updated version without performing a full reboot, thereby reducing application downtime while ensuring the updated version is ready to load.
2Reliability
If a full system reboot is performed to update the computer program, then the updated version is successfully loaded, but user productivity decreases due to inaccessibility of data and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary loading of the updated computer program version in a virtual machine during normal operation. This preparation happens in advance before users need to access updated features or security improvements, ensuring that when the update is activated, it occurs seamlessly without interrupting user workflows or making data inaccessible, thus maintaining productivity while achieving reliable updates.
3Speed
If parameters are continuously transferred from virtual machine to physical machine, then the updated version is quickly applied, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a virtual machine as an intermediary layer between the physical machine hardware and the updated computer program version. The virtual machine handles the complex task of parameter extraction, transformation, and transfer to the physical machine only when needed (upon trigger condition). This intermediary approach speeds up update application by pre-processing in the virtual environment while managing system complexity by confining the sophisticated virtualization logic to a dedicated intermediate layer rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of loading an updated version of a computer program onto a computer-implemented machine that is running an initial version of the computer program, the computer-implemented machine comprising a physical memory and one or more processing modules, the method comprising: launching a virtual machine on the computer-implemented machine; loading the updated version of the computer program onto the virtual machine, the loading comprising, for each of a plurality of instructions: receiving an instruction to update a component of the physical machine; reading one or more initial parameters relating to the component; updating the one or more initial parameters using data contained within the instruction to generate one or more updated parameters; writing one or more updated parameters relating to the component of the virtual machine using the read data and the data in the instruction; and storing one or more updated parameters on the virtual machine; wherein the method further comprises, in response to the activation of a trigger condition, writing the one or more updated parameters from the virtual machine to the physical memory of the computer-implemented machine.