Virtual Server Mobility Compatibility Policy Algorithm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual server technologies do not adequately address hardware and software compatibility issues during virtual server mobility, leading to potential catastrophic failures when migrating virtualized process collections across different systems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that uses compatibility profiles and policies to assess and filter potential target systems for virtual server mobility, ensuring compatibility by executing mandatory and optional tests based on defined criteria, thereby reducing the risk of failure during migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtualized process collections are migrated between servers to enable load balancing, then system flexibility and load distribution are improved, but hardware and software compatibility issues may cause catastrophic failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs compatibility assessment tests before migration to identify potential hardware and software compatibility issues. This preliminary action includes comparing processor architecture, operating system version, and installed software between source and target systems, allowing the migration process to proceed only when compatibility requirements are met, thus preventing catastrophic failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a compatibility assessment mechanism as an intermediary between the migration decision and the actual migration execution. This intermediary evaluates multiple compatibility criteria (processor architecture, OS version, software requirements) and provides a compatibility score, acting as a mediator that ensures reliable migration by filtering out incompatible target systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If entire system images are migrated including operating system (VMotion technology), then complete system relocation is achieved, but the migration container becomes heavier with more overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary virtualized process collections from the source system for migration, rather than migrating the entire system image including the operating system. This extraction approach creates a lightweight migration container that includes only the application processes and their dependencies, reducing overhead while maintaining the ability to relocate complete application stacks.
3Weight of moving object
If WPAR technology is used to migrate processes without entire system image, then migration overhead is reduced, but higher level compatibility between source and target systems is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a comprehensive compatibility assessment mechanism as an intermediary that evaluates multiple criteria including processor architecture, operating system version, and application software requirements. This intermediary layer provides a systematic approach to ensuring compatibility between source and target systems when using lightweight WPAR-based migration, reducing the required compatibility level by providing explicit verification of compatibility requirements.
4Reliability
If compatibility tests are performed before migration, then catastrophic failures are prevented, but additional time and complexity are introduced to the migration process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs compatibility assessment tests as a preliminary action before migration to identify potential hardware and software compatibility issues. This includes comparing processor architecture, operating system version, and installed software between source and target systems. By completing these assessments beforehand, the actual migration process becomes simpler and more reliable, as incompatible targets are eliminated in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where compatibility assessment results are used to guide the migration decision-making process. The system provides compatibility scores and identifies specific compatibility issues, allowing administrators to make informed decisions about which target systems are suitable for migration. This feedback loop reduces overall complexity by providing clear guidance on compatible migration targets.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for selecting compatible systems for virtual server mobility. Responsive to determining a current location of a workload partition instance running on a managed server, mandatory compatibility tests specified in a compatibility policy associated with the workload partition instance are executed to compare properties of the managed server with properties of potential target systems. A list of potential target systems is generated that have passed the mandatory compatibility tests specified in a compatibility policy. Optional compatibility tests specified in a compatibility policy associated with the workload partition instance are executed. The potential target systems that have failed any of the optional compatibility tests are removed from the list to form a filtered list, wherein the filtered list comprises a list of potential target systems compatible to support relocation of process collections within the workload partition instance.