Pre-provisioning Virtual Machines via Input Receptacle Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing service providers face challenges in achieving predictable and consistent provisioning times for virtual machines (VMs), with provisioning speeds varying significantly due to differences in infrastructure and cloud management platform architectures.
Innovation Solution
A method for pre-provisioning virtual machines by initiating provisioning based on selected operating systems and software programs, with the completion of all remaining tasks triggered by transferring the VM to an electronic procurement system, allowing for faster and more consistent deployment of cloud computing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional on-demand provisioning is used, then infrastructure flexibility is maintained, but provisioning time becomes unpredictable and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-provisioning virtual machines before they are actually needed. The system creates a pool of pre-configured VMs with operating systems and software programs installed in advance, so that when provisioning requests arrive, the VMs are already ready or near-ready for immediate deployment, significantly reducing and stabilizing provisioning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the provisioning process into distinct phases: pre-provisioning (OS installation), partial provisioning (VM creation with basic config), and completion provisioning (software installation triggered by transfer to input receptacle). This segmentation allows different stages to be optimized independently and processed in parallel, improving overall provisioning consistency.
2Productivity
If pre-provisioning is implemented, then provisioning speed increases, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning actions by creating VMs with operating systems installed before actual provisioning requests. This pre-work significantly accelerates the provisioning speed when requests come in, while the complexity is managed through automated orchestration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the input receptacle and task queue system - that mediates between pre-provisioned VMs and the electronic procurement system. When a VM is transferred to the input receptacle, it triggers the completion of remaining provisioning tasks, automatically coordinating the complex sequence of operations without manual intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If all provisioning tasks are completed in sequence, then provisioning accuracy is maintained, but total provisioning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning process is segmented into multiple independent task queues that can be processed in parallel. Different provisioning tasks (OS installation, VM configuration, software deployment) are divided into separate queues that can be executed concurrently, maintaining task completion accuracy while reducing total provisioning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by keeping pre-provisioned VMs in a ready state with operating systems already installed. While software program installation is deferred until the VM is transferred to the input receptacle, the VM remains in a useful partial-provisioned state, ensuring continuous readiness without idle time.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for pre-provisioning cloud computing resources such as virtual machines (VMs) in order to achieve faster and more consistent provisioning times. Embodiments of the present invention describe an approach to generate a pre-provisioned pool of virtual machines that are utilized when one or more consumers start to initiate a large volume of requests (e.g., instantiate/populate multiple e-commerce ‘shopping carts’). In a typical embodiment, a selection of an operating system to be associated with a VM is received in a computer data structure. A provisioning of the VM will then be initiated based on the selection of the operating system. Thereafter, at least one selection of at least one software program to be associated with the VM will be received in the computer data structure. The provisioning of the VM can then be completed based on the at least one selection of the at least one software program in response to a provisioning request received in the computer data structure.