VLAN Tagged Provisioning Server for Multi-Subnet OS Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current provisioning systems require multiple servers for each subnetwork, leading to increased costs, complexity, and reduced flexibility in managing and streaming operating systems to virtual machines across different subnetworks.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a single provisioning server or server farm with multiple network interfaces and VLAN tagging, allowing for efficient streaming of operating systems across multiple subnetworks by using a TFTP server and virtual firewalls, which reduces the need for multiple servers and infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a provisioning server is configured with one network interface for both management and streaming, then device complexity is reduced, but network security and performance are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork interface configurationVSAvoidnetwork security and performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network interface is segmented into multiple virtual interfaces using VLAN tagging. Each virtual interface can be assigned to different subnets, allowing the single physical interface to handle multiple network segments securely and efficiently, thus maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single network interface is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting VLAN tagging. The interface can simultaneously handle management traffic, streaming traffic, and support multiple subnets, making the device more versatile while reducing the need for multiple physical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a provisioning server is configured with two network interfaces for management and streaming, then network security and performance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork security and performanceVSAvoidnetwork interface configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring two separate physical network interfaces, the system segments a single interface into multiple virtual interfaces using VLAN tagging. This allows the system to achieve the security and performance benefits of multiple interfaces without the complexity of configuring and managing multiple physical devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If provisioning servers are deployed in each subnetwork, then network security and accessibility are improved, but the quantity of servers and infrastructure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork accessibilityVSAvoidnumber of servers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single provisioning server is designed to serve multiple subnetworks simultaneously by implementing VLAN tagging. The server can stream operating systems to virtual machines across different subnets through a single network interface, eliminating the need to deploy separate servers in each subnetwork while maintaining accessibility and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

VLAN tagging acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables a single provisioning server to communicate with and serve multiple subnetworks. The tagging system allows the server to differentiate and handle traffic from different subnets securely, effectively mediating between the single server and multiple network segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If operating systems are streamed through a firewall or network switch, then security is improved, but streaming performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidstreaming performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network traffic is segmented into different VLANs, allowing streaming traffic to be separated from other network traffic. This segmentation enables the provisioning server to stream operating systems directly to virtual machines within the same VLAN without traffic needing to pass through a firewall or network switch, thus maintaining security through VLAN isolation while improving streaming performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9832136B1Streaming software to multiple virtual machines in different subnets

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO

AI summary

A provisioning server delivers operating systems to more than one virtual machine in different subnetworks. Since one provisioning server can be used for multiple subnetworks, this reduces the need to build, license, and support a provisioning server or a provisioning server farm for each subnetwork. This eliminates additional Infrastructure Software licensing; reduces additional effort to implement and maintain more provisioning servers; increases flexibility to add additional subnetworks; and scales a provisioning server farm to meet demand by adding servers.