VM Data Access via Distributed Storage Proxy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual machine (VM) technologies face limitations in security and reliability due to the state of local physical computers, affecting data access and storage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves mapping virtual storage of a virtual disk to physical storage in a distributed storage system, establishing a data transmission channel between the VM and the distributed storage system, using an access request process module and a data transfer proxy module to manage data access requests, and employing caching mechanisms to enhance data access efficiency and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VM data is stored in local physical disk, then data access is simple and fast, but reliability and security deteriorate when local computer is shut down or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the VM and the physical storage system. The storage manager handles data mapping, access requests, and coordination with the hypervisor, enabling reliable data access without direct VM knowledge of physical storage details. This resolves the contradiction by adding a manageable intermediary layer that improves reliability while keeping the overall system architecture coherent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage access function into separate components: the storage manager handles data mapping and access coordination, while the hypervisor manages virtualization overhead. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving reliability through separation of concerns while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
2Reliability
If VM data is accessed through hypervisor virtualization layer, then data access is secure and isolated, but access speed and efficiency deteriorate due to additional overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions through pre-established mapping relationships between virtual storage addresses and physical storage locations. The storage manager maintains this mapping information in advance, allowing data access requests to be processed through direct translation rather than complex real-time virtualization overhead. This preliminary preparation maintains security through the hypervisor layer while significantly improving access speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the storage mapping structure that allows the VM to access data through virtual addresses while the storage manager translates these to physical addresses. This copying approach maintains the security isolation provided by virtualization while enabling efficient data access through cached mapping information and direct physical access paths when needed.
3Reliability
If data access requires mapping virtual storage to physical storage, then reliability and security improve, but access complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage manager implements self-service mechanisms by maintaining its own mapping tables and cache structures that enable it to process data access requests independently. The system uses self-generated mapping information and cached data to reduce the need for complex real-time translation operations, thereby maintaining consistency while reducing processing time through autonomous mapping management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing mapping relationships and caching frequently accessed data in advance. The storage manager maintains mapping tables that translate virtual addresses to physical addresses before data access is needed, reducing the processing time during actual data retrieval while ensuring consistent and reliable access through predetermined mapping rules.
Data Source
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AI summary
A methods and device for accessing virtual machine (VM) data are described. A computing device for accessing virtual machine comprises an access request process module, a data transfer proxy module and a virtual disk. The access request process module receives a data access request sent by a VM and adds the data access request to a request array. The data transfer proxy module obtains the data access request from the request array, maps the obtained data access request to a corresponding virtual storage unit, and maps the virtual storage unit to a corresponding physical storage unit of a distributed storage system. A corresponding data access operation may be performed based on a type of the data access request.