Virtual Machine Configuration via Master-Minion Application Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual configuration and compliance management of virtual machines (VMs) in cloud services is resource-intensive, time-consuming, error-prone, and difficult to scale, posing risks to security and compliance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for efficiently configuring and managing VMs by scanning and monitoring VMs to determine the presence and compliance of master and minion applications, and automatically configuring or updating these applications to ensure proper operation and compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration and compliance management of virtual machines is performed, then configuration accuracy and compliance can be ensured, but resource consumption increases, time required increases, and scalability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidscalability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service configuration of virtual machines through master-minion application architecture. The master application automatically discovers, configures, and manages minion applications across multiple VMs without human intervention, achieving both configuration accuracy and scalable automation simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The master application performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-defining configuration templates and policies before VM deployment. This allows automated enforcement of compliance rules and configuration standards across all VMs, ensuring accuracy while enabling rapid scaling through template-based replication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration and compliance management of virtual machines is performed, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The master-minion application architecture establishes continuous automated configuration and compliance monitoring actions. The master application continuously discovers VMs, applies configurations, and monitors compliance without interruption, maintaining high accuracy while dramatically reducing time consumption through parallel processing across multiple VMs simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If automated configuration of virtual machines is implemented, then productivity and scalability are improved, but configuration precision may deteriorate due to automation errors

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidconfiguration precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The master application implements continuous feedback mechanisms by monitoring VM configuration status and compliance levels. When deviations or errors are detected, the system automatically triggers corrective actions, ensuring configuration precision is maintained even as scalability increases through automated operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs preliminary validation and verification steps before applying configurations. Configuration templates are pre-tested, and compliance rules are pre-defined to prevent errors before they occur, cushioning against potential automation mistakes while maintaining high scalability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250123874A1Methods and apparatus to configure virtual machines
Publication Date: 2025.04.17 VMWARE INC
  • US20250123874A1 patent drawing
  • US20250123874A1 patent drawing
  • US20250123874A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and apparatus to configure virtual machines (VMs) are disclosed. Am example system to manage a plurality of virtual machines of a shared computing resource, the system includes interface circuitry, programmable circuitry, and machine readable instructions to cause the programmable circuitry to at least one of scan or monitor the plurality of virtual machines, determine whether a master application corresponding to the virtual machines has accepted a minion application corresponding to a first one of the virtual machines, and in response to the determination that the master application has not accepted the minion application, cause the master application to accept the minion application.