Asynchronous Virtual Machine Replication Packet Classification

Solution Overview

Problem

Asynchronous Virtual Machine Replication is not suitable for high data-rate applications due to bandwidth reduction and delayed responses caused by buffering data packets, leading to inconsistent client views and reduced network efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a packet classification system that buffers only data packets changing the virtual machine's externally visible state, while transmitting others immediately, using a control module and network switch with a packet classifier to determine packet classes based on protocol and control information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all data packets are buffered in asynchronous replication, then consistency is guaranteed, but bandwidth utilization decreases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconsistencyVSAvoidbandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data packets into two categories: state-changing packets (buffered) and non-state-changing packets (transmitted immediately). This segmentation allows the system to maintain consistency for critical state changes while allowing non-critical traffic to flow freely, thereby resolving the contradiction between consistency and bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality of service is applied to different packet types. State-changing packets receive high reliability treatment through buffering, while non-state-changing packets receive low-latency treatment through immediate transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying consistency guarantees only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If all data packets are buffered in asynchronous replication, then consistency is guaranteed, but response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconsistencyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data packets into two categories: state-changing packets (buffered) and non-state-changing packets (transmitted immediately). This segmentation allows the system to maintain consistency for critical state changes while allowing non-critical traffic to flow freely, thereby resolving the contradiction between consistency and bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality of service is applied to different packet types. State-changing packets receive high reliability treatment through buffering, while non-state-changing packets receive low-latency treatment through immediate transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying consistency guarantees only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If synchronous replication is used, then consistency is guaranteed, but data rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconsistencyVSAvoiddata rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of buffering all packets (excessive action), the patent buffers only state-changing packets (partial action). This partial application of buffering provides sufficient consistency guarantees for replication while avoiding the excessive bandwidth consumption and latency of synchronous replication, thus resolving the contradiction between consistency and data rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9253100B2Asynchronous virtual machine replication

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

Provided is a method and devices for asynchronous virtual machine replication. The method includes determining a class corresponding to a data packet associated with the virtual machine and one of buffering the packet and transmitting the packet based on the determined class.