Virtualization Software Image Recommendation Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized computing systems, the lifecycle management of virtualization software is cumbersome and error-prone due to interdependencies between software components, making it difficult to make piecemeal changes or determine the current state of the software, leading to compatibility issues and complex upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A recommendation engine that subscribes to changes in the virtual computing environment and automatically generates updated recommendations for compatible virtualization software images, ensuring compatibility between base images, add-on images, and hardware platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new versions or updates of SIBs are released independently, then software update flexibility is improved, but interdependency conflicts and system reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtualization software into Software Image Bundles (SIBs) that can be independently managed, versioned, and updated. Each SIB represents a modular unit that can be released independently while maintaining controlled interdependencies through the desired state model and recommendation engine, which validate compatibility before deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through the recommendation engine that continuously monitors the virtualization environment, detects changes, and generates updated recommendations. The system subscribes to change notifications and validates whether new SIB versions maintain compatibility with existing components, providing feedback loop that prevents unreliable configurations.
2Ease of operation
If piecemeal changes are made to virtualization software, then ease of maintenance is improved, but difficulty in managing interdependencies and determining current state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a desired state model and recommendation engine as intermediaries between the complex SIB ecosystem and the end user. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of interdependencies by providing validated recommendation images that represent complete, compatible software states, allowing users to make piecemeal changes without manually managing complex interdependencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages software complexity by changing the parameter representation from individual SIB versions to complete recommended image states. The system tracks and manages parameters such as SIB versions, compatibility relationships, and desired states, allowing users to work with high-level state parameters rather than low-level individual component parameters.
3Reliability
If multiple bulletins and ISO images are used for releases, then software update completeness is improved, but user understanding and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal recommendation image that serves multiple functions: it encapsulates complete software states, validates compatibility across all components, provides guided updates, and maintains version history. This single universal artifact replaces the need for users to understand and manage multiple separate bulletins and ISO images, while the underlying system maintains complete software update integrity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If enabled solutions are added to virtualization software, then functionality and versatility are improved, but compatibility conflicts and system reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary validation actions through the recommendation engine before solutions are deployed. The system pre-validates compatibility between enabled solutions and the underlying virtualization software, identifies potential conflicts in advance, and provides recommended images that resolve these conflicts before they occur in production environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by detecting and preventing compatibility conflicts before they manifest. The recommendation engine proactively identifies potential incompatibilities between solutions and virtualization software versions, and the desired state model prevents deployment of configurations that would create conflicts, thereby counteracting potential reliability issues before they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of updating a desired state of a virtualization software for a cluster of hosts includes: in response to a notification of a change associated with the cluster, determining versions of a base image of the virtualization software that are compatible with the cluster; for each compatible version of the base image, determining versions of an add-on image of the virtualization software that are compatible with the compatible version of the base image and the cluster; presenting as a recommended image a complete image of the virtualization software, the complete image containing a first version of the base image that is compatible with the cluster and a first version of the add-on image that is compatible with the first version of the base image and the cluster; and upon acceptance of the recommended image, updating a software specification to include the recommended image.