Agentless VM Configuration via Executable Package Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine failover procedures require agents with root privileges, which pose security concerns and hinder the replication process, especially when agents are not installed on all systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an agentless package injection technique where a cloud application generates an executable package based on metadata from the source virtual machine, allowing configuration parameters to be installed on a target system during boot, eliminating the need for agents and reducing replication time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If agents with root privileges are used for virtual machine failover, then configuration replication can be performed, but security vulnerabilities increase and system compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration replication functionality from the agent-based approach and implements it through executable packages that are injected into the virtual machine image. This removes the need for agents with root privileges while maintaining the ability to replicate configurations during failover operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an executable package as an intermediary mechanism between the source and target virtual machines. The package contains configuration instructions that are executed during the failover process, serving as a mediator that enables configuration replication without requiring privileged agents on either system.
2Ease of operation
If agents are installed on all systems for failover, then configuration management is enabled, but device complexity increases and deployment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the configuration instructions embedded within the virtual machine image itself in the form of executable packages. This eliminates the need to install separate agent software on each system, as the configuration management capability is copied directly into the image that is being replicated during failover.
Solution Approach 2:
The executable package serves multiple functions: it acts as both the failover mechanism and the configuration management tool. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate agent installations into a single universal package that handles both failover and configuration replication.
3Reliability
If traditional agent-based failover is used, then virtual machine replication can occur, but failover time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-packaging configuration instructions into executable packages that are embedded in the virtual machine image before failover occurs. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming agent installations and configuration processes during the actual failover event, significantly reducing failover time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the traditional time-consuming steps of agent installation and configuration by directly executing the pre-packaged instructions during failover. The executable package allows the system to rush through the configuration replication process in a single step during the failover event, rather than performing multiple sequential operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing a virtual machine environment is described. According to the method, a cloud application that is used for management of a plurality of virtual machines may receive, from a first virtual machine, an indication of one or more configuration parameters associated with the first virtual machine. The cloud application may generate an executable package based on metadata associated with the first virtual machine. The executable package may be configured to be executable by a set of default drivers on a second virtual machine upon bootup of the second virtual machine to configure the second virtual machine in accordance with the one or more configuration parameters. The cloud application may transmit, to the second virtual machine, the executable package for configuring the second virtual machine in accordance with the one or more configuration parameters.