Virtual Machine Usage Tracking via DNS Lookup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software vendors face challenges in accurately tracking the usage of distributed software for virtual machines, including unauthorized copying and obtaining data on software usage to improve product quality and marketing efforts, due to the complexity of monitoring virtual servers across diverse hardware configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for tracking virtual machine usage involves a client machine generating a unique identifier for each virtual machine instance and performing a DNS lookup with a tracker server, which records usage statistics, enabling efficient monitoring and data collection across multiple virtual machine instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software vendors distribute software to virtual machines across diverse hardware configurations, then the reach and usability of their software increases, but the complexity of tracking and monitoring usage accurately increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tracker server as an intermediary component that mediates between the virtual machine software and the vendor's monitoring system. The tracker server receives usage data from virtual machines and forwards it to the vendor, simplifying the monitoring architecture while maintaining comprehensive tracking capabilities across diverse hardware configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed with universal tracking capabilities that can handle multiple hardware configurations through a standardized interface. The tracker server implements a unified method for collecting and reporting usage data that works across different virtual machine environments, eliminating the need for configuration-specific monitoring solutions
2Loss of information
If software vendors implement comprehensive usage tracking, then they can obtain valuable data on software usage to improve product quality and marketing efforts, but the cost and difficulty of obtaining accurate data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine software automatically generates and transmits usage data to the tracker server without requiring manual intervention or complex data collection infrastructure. The system performs self-service tracking by embedding the reporting functionality directly in the virtual machine software, reducing the burden on vendors to implement and maintain complex monitoring systems
Solution Approach 2:
The tracker server implements a feedback mechanism that collects usage data from virtual machines and provides it back to the vendor for analysis. This continuous feedback loop enables vendors to obtain accurate usage information for product improvement and marketing decisions while maintaining a relatively simple system architecture
3Measurement precision
If software vendors deploy monitoring systems across multiple virtual server instances, then they can track usage accurately, but the complexity of managing identification and monitoring across instances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function into independent tracker server instances, each capable of handling specific virtual machine instances. This segmentation allows the system to scale across multiple virtual servers while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture, where each segment operates independently but contributes to the overall tracking accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for tracking virtual machine usage includes deploying, by a client machine with a client Internet Protocol (IP) address, an instance of a virtual machine. The client machine generates an identification for the instance of the virtual machine and requests a domain name system (DNS) lookup for a domain name string from a tracker server specified by a tracker IP address, where the domain name string comprises the identification. The tracker server receives the DNS lookup from the client machine and records the identification and the client IP address.