VM Image Library Migration to Reduce Network Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual machine migration systems utilize excessive network resources, leading to network bottlenecks and performance issues when multiple virtual machines are migrated across a network.
Innovation Solution
Implement a library-based approach where each host in a cluster stores a common library of virtual machine images, allowing for the retrieval of matching image portions from the local library instead of network copying during migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If virtual machine migration copies all virtual machine contents over the network from source to destination, then the migration can be completed with simple implementation, but excessive network resources are consumed leading to network bottlenecks and performance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual machine image into multiple parts: common portions stored in the library and unique portions transferred over the network. This segmentation allows the system to avoid transferring redundant data while maintaining migration functionality, thus reducing network resource consumption without significantly complicating the implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-storing common virtual machine image portions in a library before migration occurs. When migration is needed, the system can quickly identify and retrieve these pre-stored portions, avoiding the need to transfer them over the network. This preliminary preparation reduces network resource consumption during the actual migration process.
2Ease of operation
If virtual machine migration copies all virtual machine contents over the network, then the migration process is straightforward, but network bottlenecks occur when multiple virtual machines are migrated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the migration process into library lookup, common portion identification, and unique portion transfer, the system can handle multiple migrations concurrently without overwhelming the network. Each migration can independently utilize the library, allowing parallel processing and improved throughput while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a library as an intermediary between source and destination hosts. This intermediary stores common virtual machine image portions, allowing hosts to retrieve data locally rather than through the network. This intermediary mechanism enables multiple migrations to occur simultaneously without creating network bottlenecks, thereby improving migration throughput.
3Reliability
If all virtual machine data is transferred over the network during migration, then the destination host receives complete virtual machine images, but network latency increases and migration time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts common portions from virtual machine images and stores them in the library before migration. During migration, only the unique portions that differ from the library versions are transferred over the network. This extraction approach ensures the destination receives complete virtual machine images while minimizing network transfer time and reducing migration duration.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-storing common virtual machine image portions in the library before migration, the system prepares data in advance so that during migration, only minimal unique portions need to be transferred. This preliminary preparation ensures image completeness is maintained while significantly reducing the time required for network transfer and overall migration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining to migrate a guest VM from a source host to a destination host and, in response to determining to migrate the guest VM, determining that a page of the guest VM matches a page of a VM image of a plurality of VM images in a VM library associated with the source host. The method further includes forwarding an identifier of the page of the VM image to the destination host, the destination host to retrieve, in view of the identifier, the page of the VM image from a second VM library associated with the destination host to instantiate the guest VM at the destination host.