Virtual Machine Prefetch Data Defragmentation on Physical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional prefetch technologies fail to reduce startup delays in virtual machines due to arbitrary distribution of virtual disk files on physical storage, leading to suboptimal reorganization and increased startup times.
Innovation Solution
A defragmenting module is used to obtain prefetch information and reorganize virtual machine prefetch data on physical storage by placing it contiguously and in fast-access locations, aligning with access sequences, thereby optimizing storage organization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If prefetch data is reorganized on virtual disk to optimize access, then prefetch data organization is improved, but physical storage distribution remains arbitrary causing startup delays to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs defragmentation of prefetch data on the physical storage device before the virtual machine startup process begins. By pre-positioning prefetch data in optimal physical locations on the host's physical storage device, the system eliminates the problem of arbitrary distribution and ensures that when the virtual machine starts, the data is already in the most accessible locations, thereby reducing startup delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a defragmentation module as an intermediary between the virtual disk file system and the physical storage device. This module translates the virtual disk's arbitrary distribution into an optimized physical layout by reading prefetch data requirements from the virtual disk and rewriting them to contiguous locations on the physical storage device, thereby bridging the gap between virtual optimization and physical reality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual disk file is distributed arbitrarily on physical storage, then storage flexibility is improved, but prefetch data access efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the prefetch data identification process by separately analyzing the virtual disk file system to identify which specific portions of the virtual disk contain prefetch data. Rather than treating the entire virtual disk uniformly, the system identifies and isolates only the prefetch data segments, then applies defragmentation specifically to these segments on the physical storage device, maintaining storage flexibility while improving access speed for critical data.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for defragmenting virtual machine prefetch data. The method may include obtaining prefetch information associated with prefetch data of a virtual machine. The method may also include defragmenting, based on the prefetch information, the prefetch data on physical storage. The prefetch information may include a starting location and length of the prefetch data on a virtual disk. The prefetch information may include a geometry specification of the virtual disk. Defragmenting on physical storage may include placing the prefetch data contiguously on physical storage, placing the prefetch data in a fast-access segment of physical storage, and/or ordering the prefetch data according to the order in which it is accessed at system or application startup.