Virtual Union Mount via Helper VM for Host Folder Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating systems like MAC OS lack a union mount facility, leading to inefficient folder duplication and redundant storage usage when combining folders for container images.
Innovation Solution
A virtual machine (VM) with a union mount-capable operating system, such as Linux, is used to provide a union mount facility to a host operating system that does not support it, by sharing folders through file-sharing servers, allowing I/O operations to be reflected across systems without copying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If folders are combined using traditional copying mechanisms on operating systems without union mount facility, then folder combining is achieved, but storage space is wasted due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual machine as an intermediary system between the host operating system and the folder combining operation. The virtual machine runs a guest operating system that supports union mount, enabling folder combination without direct duplication on the host system. This mediator approach allows the host to benefit from union mount capabilities without requiring native support.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying folder contents to combine them, the patent uses union mount technology in the guest operating system that allows multiple folders to be mounted together in a unified namespace without physical duplication. The virtual machine shares folders from the host and presents a combined view, eliminating redundant storage.
2Quantity of substance
If a virtual machine is used to provide union mount capability, then storage efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine is configured to provide multiple functions: it acts as a container for the guest operating system, serves as a file sharing client to access host folders, implements union mount operations, and functions as a file sharing server to present the combined folder to the host. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements bidirectional file sharing mechanisms where the virtual machine receives folder shares from the host, performs union mount operations, and returns the combined folder share to the host. This feedback loop enables seamless integration despite the added virtualization layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are a system and method for combining folders in a host operating system lacking a facility for performing the combining. A helper virtual machine (VM) is formed and runs a guest operating system with a facility for combining folders such as a union mount facility. The host operating system also runs a host/guest file-sharing server to share folders instead of copying them. The file-sharing server allows the VM to access host folders, perform the combination using the union mount facility, and then allows the host operating system to access the results as a shared union mount folder in the host. Any changes to the shared union mount folder in the host are automatically processed by the union mount facility in the VM and then reflected to a folder in the host operating system.