Automated Virtual Machine Migration Across Cloud Providers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual migration of virtual machines between cloud computing providers is costly, time-consuming, and error-prone due to incompatibilities in proprietary protocols and storage standards, lacking a seamless solution.
Innovation Solution
An automated migration platform uses secure shell access with key-based encryption to stream block-level copies of virtual machines, compresses data, determines resource requirements, creates a new volume, and spawns a new virtual machine at the target provider, enabling fast, automatic, and accurate migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual migration process is used to move virtual machine between cloud providers, then migration can be completed with basic tools, but the process becomes costly, time-consuming and error prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated migration platform as an intermediary system that mediates between the source and destination cloud providers. This platform uses SSH keys to securely access the source virtual machine, automatically extracts disk images, transfers them to the destination provider, and orchestrates the entire migration process without manual intervention, thereby reducing both time and errors
Solution Approach 2:
The migration system enables self-service by allowing the virtual machine to assist in its own migration process. The source virtual machine's SSH access is automatically configured with key-based authentication, and the system uses the virtual machine's own resources and access permissions to facilitate the migration, reducing the need for external manual intervention
2Ease of manufacture
If manual migration process is used to move virtual machine between cloud providers, then basic tools can be used, but the process becomes costly and error prone
Solution Approach 1:
The automated migration platform acts as a reliable intermediary that systematically manages the migration process. It implements error handling, validates data integrity during transfer, and ensures proper configuration at the destination, thereby significantly improving migration accuracy and reducing errors compared to manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an exact copy of the source virtual machine's disk image and configuration files, then validates the copy integrity using checksums and verification protocols. This automated copying process ensures data accuracy and completeness, eliminating the errors that occur in manual copying operations
3Productivity
If automated migration platform is used to stream block level copies, then migration speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated migration platform consolidates multiple complex operations into a single intermediary system. It manages SSH key generation, disk image streaming, data compression, transfer orchestration, and destination configuration automatically. While the platform itself is complex, it hides this complexity from users and enables fast automated migration without requiring users to manage the underlying complexity
4Reliability
If SSH key-based access is used to access cloud provider data center, then security is improved, but access setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating SSH key pairs and configuring key-based authentication before the migration process begins. The public key is pre-installed on the source virtual machine, and private keys are securely managed by the migration platform, eliminating the need for manual SSH configuration and enhancing security while reducing setup complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The migration system uses self-service by automatically configuring SSH access using the source virtual machine's existing credentials and permissions. The system generates and manages its own SSH keys, and uses the virtual machine's own authentication mechanisms to facilitate access, thereby improving security while minimizing the need for complex external configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A first cloud computing provider may execute a virtual machine, and an automated migration platform may access the first provider data center using a secure shell with key-based access by providing a public encryption key. The automated migration platform may use a data duplicator command to stream block level copies of the virtual machine (and the stream of block level copies may be compressed before being stored at a storage location). Resource requirements, including a volume size, of the virtual machine may be automatically determined and used to create a new empty volume at a second cloud computing provider. The compressed stream of block level copies from the storage location may be extracted into the new empty volume. A new virtual machine may then be spawned at the second cloud computing provider having the new volume as a root volume. The new virtual machine may then be started.