Hierarchical Labeling for Virtual Machine Permission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing permissions in a virtualization environment is complex due to the need for scalable systems with thousands of virtual machines, requiring efficient mechanisms to segregate user actions based on various virtual machine characteristics without defining elaborate permission rules.
Innovation Solution
Implementing hierarchical labeling in a virtualization environment, where servers associate virtual machines with labels representing distinct parameters, and users are assigned roles and labels to control actions, allowing permissions to be easily segregated and managed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional permission rules are used to manage virtual machines, then user actions can be controlled, but the complexity of defining and managing permission rules increases significantly with the number of virtual machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments permission management by introducing hierarchical labels that categorize virtual machines based on multiple dimensions (department, location, function, etc.). Instead of managing permissions individually for each virtual machine, the system divides the management space into labeled categories, allowing administrators to manage permissions at the label level rather than the individual VM level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to permission management by introducing hierarchical labeling with multiple levels (parent-child relationships) and multiple categorization dimensions. This transforms the traditional flat permission model into a multi-dimensional hierarchical structure, enabling more efficient permission control through label inheritance and composition.
2Quantity of substance
If a centralized host manages thousands of virtual machines, then resource multiplexing is achieved, but the scalability and management efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hierarchical labels as intermediaries between the centralized host controller and the large number of virtual machines. These labels act as a mediating layer that organizes and categorizes VMs, allowing the host controller to manage thousands of VMs efficiently by working with label groups rather than individual VM identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical labeling system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it categorizes VMs by department, location, function, and other attributes; enables inheritance of permissions across hierarchical levels; provides a unified framework for access control; and supports scalable management as the number of VMs grows. This multi-functional approach improves management efficiency across diverse VM environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A host controller associates each virtual machine with at least one label from a hierarchy of labels, where each label represents a distinct virtual machine parameter. The host controller also associates a user with one or more roles and with one or more labels from the hierarchy of labels, where each role defines at least one action permitted to be performed with respect to virtual machines. The host controller further facilitates control over user actions pertaining to virtual machines based on the roles and the labels associated with the user.