Virtual Machine Acceleration Capacity Adjustment Without Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), the existing methods for adjusting the acceleration capacity of virtual machines require restarting the virtual machine to allocate or release PCI accelerator devices, leading to service interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for adjusting the acceleration capacity of a virtual machine by reconfiguring allocated virtual accelerator devices based on the machine's requirements, allowing for dynamic changes without restarting, ensuring continuous service by maintaining the quantity of virtual accelerator devices unchanged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PCI accelerator devices are allocated to or released from the virtual machine using conventional methods, then the acceleration capacity is adjusted, but the virtual machine must be restarted causing service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic acceleration capacity adjustment by enabling hot-plug functionality for virtual accelerator devices. The system allows acceleration capacity to be adjusted in real-time without requiring virtual machine restart, making the system adaptable while maintaining service continuity through dynamic resource allocation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a preliminary framework where the virtual accelerator device is pre-configured with hot-plug capabilities and the management system is pre-equipped with mechanisms to handle acceleration capacity adjustments. This preliminary preparation enables seamless capacity changes without service interruption by having the infrastructure ready to accommodate dynamic modifications.
2Productivity
If PCI accelerator devices are allocated using SR-IOV technology, then acceleration performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management system as an intermediary between the virtual machine and the PCI accelerator device. This intermediary handles the complexity of SR-IOV configuration, virtual accelerator device management, and hot-plug operations, thereby maintaining high acceleration performance while reducing the operational complexity exposed to users and simplifying device management.
3Reliability
If virtual accelerator devices are reconfigured dynamically, then service interruption is avoided, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the management system automatically handles virtual accelerator device configuration, capacity adjustment, and hot-plug operations. The system autonomously manages the complex configuration tasks, performs necessary resource allocation, and maintains service continuity without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing operational complexity while ensuring reliable dynamic reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
An acceleration capacity adjustment method for adjusting an acceleration capacity of a virtual machine includes determining a to-be-adjusted virtual machine and an acceleration capacity requirement of the to-be-adjusted virtual machine; and reconfiguring, based on the to-be-adjusted virtual machine and the acceleration capacity requirement, an acceleration capacity of at least one virtual accelerator device that has been allocated to the to-be-adjusted virtual machine.