Virtual Machine Memory Migration via Network Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine migration techniques result in significant downtime during the migration process, especially for geographically remote hosts, due to the need to suspend and resume virtual machines, which is impractical for continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a pre-synchronize and post-synchronize memory migration phase, where the hypervisor maps virtual machine memory to a storage device, monitors and synchronizes changes during a warm-up phase, and then transfers a minimal execution state to a destination host, allowing for live migration with reduced downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual machine memory is copied during live migration, then memory state can be transferred, but downtime increases especially for geographically remote hosts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by mapping virtual machine memory to a storage device before the actual migration process begins. This pre-mapping allows the memory to be accessible from both source and destination hosts, enabling faster migration and reducing downtime when geographically remote hosts are involved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage device as an intermediary between the source and destination hosts. This storage device acts as a mediator that holds the virtual machine memory mapping, allowing efficient data transfer and reducing the time required for live migration across geographically distributed systems.
2Productivity
If virtual machine is suspended for state copying, then complete migration can be achieved, but operational continuity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by enabling the virtual machine to remain operational throughout the migration process. The memory mapping to storage device allows the VM to continue executing on the source host while its state is being transferred to the destination host, eliminating traditional suspension requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-mapping the virtual machine memory to the storage device before migration, the system prepares the infrastructure in advance so that the VM can be quickly transferred without suspension, maintaining operational continuity while achieving fast migration.
3Manufacturing precision
If memory changes are monitored and copied during migration, then data consistency is maintained, but migration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device serves as an intermediary that efficiently handles memory synchronization. It maintains the memory mapping and facilitates data consistency between source and destination hosts without requiring extensive monitoring and copying operations, thus reducing synchronization time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses efficient copying mechanisms through the storage device memory mapping, which allows rapid replication of memory state changes during migration. This approach maintains data consistency between source and destination while minimizing the time required for synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for virtual machine memory migration by storage are provided. A method includes receiving a request to migrate a virtual machine from a source host to a destination host. The method further includes mapping, by the source host, a memory of the virtual machine to a storage device accessible over a network by the source host and by the destination host. The method further includes caching, by the source host, a portion of a state of the virtual machine. The method further includes issuing a synchronization command to synchronize the portion of the state of the virtual machine with the storage device. Responsive to determining that a time period to complete the synchronization command is below a threshold time period, the method further includes stopping the virtual machine on the source host. The method further includes starting the virtual machine on the destination host.