Virtual Machine Image Server Segment Deduplication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently storing and managing large virtual machine image files, particularly in organizations where multiple users maintain their own image libraries, leading to significant storage space requirements and difficulties in maintaining and updating these files efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A virtual machine image server system that compiles and manages a repository of virtual machine image files by segmenting them, comparing signatures to identify unique segments, and transmitting only the differing segments for updates, allowing for efficient storage, retrieval, and propagation of updates across clients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users maintain their own image libraries independently, then each user can access their required virtual machine images, but storage space requirements increase significantly due to duplicate images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser access to virtual machine imagesVSAvoidstorage space requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual user image libraries into a single centralized repository on the image server. Multiple users share the same storage space, eliminating duplicate images across different user libraries. The server presents a unified view of available images to all users, reducing overall storage requirements while maintaining individual user access capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized image repository serves multiple users simultaneously with a single copy of each virtual machine image. The system provides universal access to all users through the shared repository, allowing any user to access any image without requiring separate local copies, thereby reducing total storage needs across the organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If virtual machine image files are transferred to clients for updates, then clients can access updated images, but network bandwidth is consumed by transmitting entire large files

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage updates propagationVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides virtual machine image files into smaller segments or chunks. When updates are required, the system identifies which segments need to be transmitted to clients rather than transferring the entire image file. This segmentation approach reduces network bandwidth consumption during updates while ensuring reliable propagation of changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the necessary updated portions (segments) of the virtual machine image files for transmission to clients. Instead of transferring complete large files, the patent extracts and transmits only the differential changes, significantly reducing network bandwidth requirements while maintaining update reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If entire virtual machine image files are downloaded to clients, then clients can execute virtual machines, but download time increases for large files

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine execution capabilityVSAvoiddownload time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments virtual machine image files into smaller portions that can be downloaded in parallel or in stages. Clients can begin executing virtual machines from partially downloaded segments, reducing the effective download time while maintaining full functionality. The segmentation allows for more efficient utilization of network resources and faster access to required image portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7849462B2Image server

Publication Date: 2010.12.07 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Virtual machine image files are stored in a virtual machine storage by a virtual machine image file server. Users at virtual machine clients connect to the virtual machine image file server and are presented with a list of the available virtual machine image files in a virtual machine image store. Users of the virtual machine clients are able to select the desired virtual machine image, and begin executing in the selected virtual machine environment as soon as the selected virtual machine image file begins downloading to the client computer. When a virtual machine image file is selected for storage it is divided into several segments. Each segment is compared with segments of previously stored virtual machine image files already in storage. For example, only non-duplicate segments are stored.