Virtual Machine Version Control via External Metadata Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing large volumes of virtual machine files in data centers is challenging due to the lack of metadata indicating installed applications and update history, making it difficult to track and maintain incremental changes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that continuously monitors the state of virtual machines, captures changes in configurations and applications, and stores metadata in an external file, incrementing the version number upon detection of changes, allowing for efficient tracking and management of updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If virtual machine files are stored without metadata, then storage space is conserved and file structure remains simple, but tracking update history and managing applications becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the VM file system into two separate components: the binary VM file itself and an external XML metadata file. This segmentation allows the VM file to remain simple and compact while the metadata file stores all necessary information about applications, configurations, and update history. The metadata file contains version numbers, application names, installation paths, and timestamps, enabling effective tracking without bloating the VM file.
2Productivity
If incremental updates are applied to VM files, then VM functionality is improved, but without metadata tracking the complexity of managing hundreds or thousands of VM files increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors the VM state by comparing current application installations and configurations against the recorded metadata. When changes are detected, the system automatically updates the metadata file with new version numbers, timestamps, and change descriptions. This feedback loop enables automated tracking of incremental updates across hundreds or thousands of VM files, reducing manual management complexity while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of maintaining update history of a virtual machine (VM) is disclosed. The VM includes a version number. The method includes continuously monitoring a state of the VM. The monitoring of the state including detecting updates in configurations and applications of the VM. The changes in a status of the applications and the configuration are captured and metadata of the VM is updated when a change in the configurations or in the applications is detected. The version number of the VM is then incremented.