Virtual Machine Snapshot Testing for Patch Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In corporate environments, software updates and patches often cause more problems than they solve, and testing these updates on identical hardware is time-consuming and requires separate computers, which is inconvenient and risky.
Innovation Solution
A method for running a virtual machine directly from a physical machine using snapshots of the physical machine, allowing for testing of patches without affecting the physical host machine, and enabling quick restoration of the system state if issues arise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate physical computer is used for testing patches, then the testing environment is identical to production hardware, but setup time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual machine that copies the physical machine's hardware configuration, operating system, and software environment. This virtual copy can be rapidly instantiated and restored using snapshots, providing an identical testing environment without the time cost of physical hardware setup and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine nests within the physical machine's hardware architecture, allowing the physical system to host multiple virtual instances. This nested structure enables the physical machine to serve both as the production system and as the host for testing environments, eliminating the need for separate dedicated testing hardware.
2Loss of time
If a virtual machine is used for testing patches, then setup time is reduced, but the virtual machine may not perfectly replicate physical hardware characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine copies the physical machine's software environment, operating system, and configuration settings with high fidelity. While hardware-level physical characteristics cannot be perfectly replicated, the software and system-level characteristics that affect patch testing are accurately copied, providing sufficient realism for testing purposes.
3Ease of operation
If patches are tested on the physical machine directly, then testing is straightforward, but the physical machine may be affected by problematic patches
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the testing function into a separate virtual machine instance that runs independently from the physical production machine. This segmentation allows patch testing to be performed in an isolated environment where failures or harmful effects are contained within the virtual machine and cannot affect the physical host system.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual machine acts as an intermediary between the patch installation process and the physical production system. Patches are first installed and tested on the virtual machine, which mediates the risk by containing potential harmful effects, and only after successful verification are patches applied to the physical machine.
4Loss of time
If snapshots are taken frequently during testing, then system state restoration is quick, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a baseline snapshot of the virtual machine's initial state before patch testing begins. This preliminary action establishes a known good state that can be quickly restored to if testing fails, eliminating the need to maintain multiple historical snapshots and reducing storage requirements while still enabling rapid restoration.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the running of a virtual machine directly from a physical machine using snapshots of the physical machine. In one example, a computer system performs a method for running a virtual machine directly from a physical machine using snapshots of the physical machine. A snapshot component takes a snapshot of the physical system volume while the physical system volume is in an operational state. The virtual machine initializes using the physical system volume snapshot thereby allowing the physical system volume snapshot to be a virtual system volume snapshot representing an initial state of a virtual system volume. The physical system volume snapshot includes instances of all the files within the physical system volume at the time the snapshot was taken.