Virtualized Block Device Backing for Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtualization container technologies face inefficiencies in storage and deployment due to the need to copy and manage multiple image layers across host computers, leading to significant time and storage space requirements, especially when containers do not share common image layers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where virtualization containers are linked to remote layered storage volumes, allowing them to access and modify data through a storage service that manages read-only snapshots and creates new snapshots for changes, reducing the need for local storage and deployment of image layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If image layers are copied to each host computer, then virtualization containers can access data locally, but storage space requirements and deployment time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the read-only image layers from the host system and places them in a remote distributed storage system. Only the necessary read-write layers remain local to each container, dramatically reducing local storage requirements while maintaining data accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage service as an intermediary between containers and image layers. This service manages the remote storage layers and provides them to containers on demand, enabling local-like access without actual local copying of all layers.
2Speed
If image layers are copied to each host computer, then data can be accessed quickly, but deployment time increases due to copying overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares image layers in advance in the remote distributed storage system, organizing them into a ready-to-use format. When containers need these layers, they are already positioned and can be accessed immediately without copying delays.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying entire image layers to each host, the patent uses efficient copying mechanisms that only transfer necessary data blocks on-demand, significantly reducing deployment time while maintaining fast access speeds.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple containers share image layers remotely, then storage space is reduced, but system complexity increases due to remote storage management
Solution Approach 1:
The storage service is designed as a universal system that handles multiple functions: storing image layers, managing container access, handling layer creation and deletion, and coordinating with the distributed storage infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the storage service automatically manages layer allocation, caching, and retrieval without requiring manual intervention. Containers can independently access their required layers through standardized interfaces, reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are provided for backing virtualization containers with layered storage volumes stored in remote storage devices. A virtualization container can present a virtual storage volume to a process running in the virtualization container and handle data access requests from the process using a layered storage volume based on one or more read-only snapshots stored in one or more remote storage devices. Changes can be recorded in a read-write layer in one or more of the remote storage devices and associated with the layered storage volume. A new read-only snapshot can be created based on the data in the read-write storage layer and associated with the one or more read-only snapshots on which the layered storage volume is based. A virtualization container can be associated with a new layered storage volume based on the created read-only snapshot and the one or more read-only snapshots on which it is based.