Virtual Disk Mapping via PCI Location for VM Logical Partitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in identifying the mapping relationships between logical partitions and virtual disks in virtual machines, particularly when virtual disks of equal size are mounted on a user cloud host, leads to difficulties in data backup operations and increases the risk of data disaster recovery.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a computer terminal that acquires disk location information for logical partitions within virtual machines, matches this information against virtual disk location information stored on physical machines or network equipment, and utilizes the one-to-one correspondence of PCI device location information to determine the subordination relationship between logical partitions and virtual disks, thereby clarifying the mapping relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual disks of equal size are mounted on a user cloud host, then the system can provide standardized storage capacity, but it becomes difficult to identify the mapping relationships between logical partitions and virtual disks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses PCI device location information (bus number, device number, function number) as an intermediary to establish the mapping relationship between logical partitions and virtual disks. This intermediary provides a unique identifier that bridges the gap between the logical partition layer and the virtual disk layer, enabling accurate identification despite the equal sizes of virtual disks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a correspondence table that copies and stores the PCI location information of virtual disks. By maintaining this copied information in a mapping relationship table, the system can quickly identify which virtual disk corresponds to which logical partition without directly querying the physical disk properties
2Ease of operation
If the mapping relationships between logical partitions and virtual disks are not clearly identified, then the system maintains operational flexibility, but data backup operations become error-prone and data disaster recovery is at risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing and storing the mapping relationships between logical partitions and virtual disks before backup operations are needed. The system proactively builds the correspondence table using PCI location information, so that when backup or disaster recovery operations are required, the mapping relationships are already identified and ready, eliminating the need for complex identification during critical operations
Data Source
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AI summary
Acquiring location information is presented, including acquiring disk location information for logical partitions, the logical partitions pertaining to a virtual machine, matching the disk location information corresponding to the logical partitions against location information for at least one virtual disk stored on a physical device, in the event that the disk location information matches the location information for the at least one virtual disk, determining the location information for the at least one virtual disk obtained by the matching to be the disk location information for the logical partitions in the physical device, and outputting the location information for the at least one virtual disk.