Virtual Network Routing Manager for Cost-Aware Topology Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing and provisioning physical computing resources in large-scale data centers and computer networks has increased, making it difficult to efficiently and securely allocate and administer resources across diverse user needs, especially with the growth of virtualization technologies.
Innovation Solution
A configurable network service that enables users to specify network topologies for managed computer networks, allowing for the creation of virtual networks overlaid on existing infrastructure without physically implementing all networking devices, using modules like the Network Routing Manager to emulate virtual networking devices and manage communications based on client-provided routing information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtualization technologies are used to share physical computing resources among multiple customers, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the complexity of provisioning and managing physical computing resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of computing resources through virtual machines that simulate physical hardware. Each virtual machine is a software simulation acting as a distinct logical computing system, allowing multiple virtual instances to share underlying physical infrastructure while maintaining independent resource management and allocation policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between physical computing resources and customers. This layer abstracts the complexity of physical resource management by providing a standardized interface for resource provisioning, allocation, and management, isolating customers from the underlying physical infrastructure complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scale and scope of data centers increases to serve more customers, then service capacity is improved, but the task of provisioning and managing physical computing resources becomes increasingly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual machines that can be universally deployed across different physical hardware platforms. The virtualization layer provides multi-functional capabilities including resource virtualization, isolation, migration, and management, allowing the same virtual infrastructure to run on diverse physical hardware while maintaining consistent provisioning and management processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments physical computing resources into discrete virtual machine instances that can be independently provisioned, managed, and allocated. This segmentation allows granular control over resource distribution and enables scalable expansion by adding individual virtual or physical resources without reconfiguring the entire system.
3Reliability
If virtual machines are used to provide application isolation and security among customers, then security is improved, but the need to manage and administer virtualized resources increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates isolated virtual copies of computing environments for each customer, with each virtual machine providing its own isolated application runtime and resource access controls. This virtual copying ensures that applications running in different virtual machines are isolated from each other, providing security boundaries while maintaining centralized management of the underlying infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks that have a configured logical network topology with virtual networking devices, such as by a network-accessible configurable network service, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the virtual networking devices if they were physically present. In some situations, the networking functionality provided for a managed computer network of a client includes receiving routing communications directed to the virtual networking devices and using included routing cost information to update the configuration of the managed computer network, and/or includes determining actual cost information corresponding to use of an underlying substrate network and providing routing cost information to the client that reflects the determined actual cost information, so as to enable the client to modify the configuration of the managed computer network accordingly.