Virtual Serial Port Concentrator for Automated VM Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud computing systems lack automated, robust, and secure access to virtual machine serial ports, especially for self-service cloud applications with multiple VMs, leading to bottlenecks, security issues, and the need for substantial human effort in configuration and management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual serial port concentrator (VSPC) module within cloud application templates, which allows for automated connection of VM serial ports to a VSPC, enabling remote access through a coordination agent that allocates local ports and maps identifiers, providing private and isolated access without relying on external serial port concentrators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external serial port concentrators are used to access VM serial ports, then access capability is provided, but security risks increase and human intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual serial port concentrator (VSPC) module as an intermediary component deployed within the cloud application template itself. This VSPC acts as a mediator that establishes serial port connections between VMs and external clients without requiring external concentrators. The VSPC allocates local ports, maps identifiers, and manages connections autonomously, eliminating security risks associated with external concentrators while maintaining full access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The VSPC module enables self-service operation by automatically allocating local ports, mapping VM identifiers to port numbers, and managing serial port connections without human intervention. The system autonomously handles connection establishment, port allocation, and identifier mapping, eliminating the need for manual configuration and management while providing secure access.
2Reliability
If manual configuration methods are used for serial port access, then security can be maintained, but substantial human effort and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The VSPC module is pre-configured within the cloud application template before deployment. When the cloud application is instantiated, the VSPC is already in place and automatically begins managing serial port connections. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for manual post-deployment configuration, reducing configuration time while maintaining security through automated port allocation and connection management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically allocating local ports, mapping VM identifiers to port numbers, and managing connections without human intervention. The VSPC autonomously handles all configuration tasks that would otherwise require manual effort, significantly reducing configuration time while maintaining security through automated processes.
3Ease of operation
If external serial port concentrators are used, then access is provided, but the system lacks portability and scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the serial port concentration functionality into a modular VSPC component that is embedded within each cloud application template. This segmentation allows each cloud application to have its own independent VSPC instance, making the system portable across different cloud environments and scalable to support multiple applications simultaneously. Each VSPC operates autonomously, enabling the system to adapt to different deployment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The VSPC module provides universal functionality by implementing a standardized interface for serial port access that works across different cloud application templates and deployment environments. The same VSPC architecture can serve multiple VMs and support various cloud applications, enhancing portability and scalability without requiring environment-specific external concentrators.
4Productivity
If automated port allocation is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The VSPC module serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of automated port allocation and connection management internally. By encapsulating these complex operations within the VSPC, the system achieves high automation and productivity while shielding external users from the underlying complexity. The VSPC manages port allocation, identifier mapping, and connection establishment automatically, presenting a simple interface to users.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for providing remote access to virtual machine (VM) serial port interfaces of cloud applications through automated serial port concentration techniques. A coordination agent can be deployed, and a virtual serial port concentrator (VSPC) module can be deployed along with VMs of a cloud application. The coordination agent can determine that the cloud application has entered a running state, determine an IP address of the VSPC module, and cause a serial port interface of each VM to be coupled with the VSPC module. The VSPC module can allocate local ports for the VMs and report the port numbers to the coordination agent to be provided to a client. The client can transmit data for a serial port connection to a particular VM through the VSPC module by sending the traffic to the IP address of the VSPC module at a particular port associated with the particular VM.