Staged Virtual Machine Upgrade Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual machine system upgrades interrupt service and expose VMs to security risks, as they require shutting down and migrating each VM to a different host, which is not only inconvenient but also vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

Implement a staged upgrade mechanism that involves live migration of VMs to a minimum number of virtual desktop servers, upgrading these servers first, then upgrading the VMs themselves using a compact disc (CD) upgrader agent, and finally load balancing to ensure seamless service and enhanced security through digital signatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If VMs are shut down and migrated to a different host for upgrading, then the upgrading process can be completed, but service interruption occurs and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing live migration of VMs to target hosts before the actual upgrade process begins. This allows the upgrade to proceed on the source host without shutting down running VMs, thereby maintaining service continuity while completing the upgrade. The migration is prepared and executed in advance, ensuring that VMs remain operational throughout the upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a live migration mechanism as a mediator between the source host and target host. Instead of directly shutting down and relocating VMs, the system establishes a transitional migration process that maintains VM operation during the transfer. This intermediary migration process eliminates service interruption and reduces security risks associated with direct shutdown and migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If VMs are shut down for upgrading, then the upgrade can be performed, but user experience deteriorates due to service interruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupgrade feasibilityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing live migration of VMs to target hosts before the actual upgrade process begins. This allows the upgrade to proceed on the source host without shutting down running VMs, thereby maintaining service continuity while completing the upgrade. The migration is prepared and executed in advance, ensuring that VMs remain operational throughout the upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by ensuring that VMs continue to run and provide services throughout the entire upgrade process. The live migration mechanism maintains VM operation during the transfer from source to target host, and the upgrade process occurs without interrupting VM execution. This continuous operation preserves user experience while enabling the upgrade to be completed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If traditional migration methods are used, then VMs can be upgraded, but security vulnerabilities increase due to exposure during migration

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidupgrade process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing live migration of VMs to target hosts before the actual upgrade process begins. This allows the upgrade to proceed on the source host without shutting down running VMs, thereby maintaining service continuity while completing the upgrade. The migration is prepared and executed in advance, ensuring that VMs remain operational throughout the upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a live migration mechanism as a mediator between the source host and target host. Instead of directly shutting down and relocating VMs, the system establishes a transitional migration process that maintains VM operation during the transfer. This intermediary migration process eliminates service interruption and reduces security risks associated with direct shutdown and migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8332848B2Mechanism for staged upgrades of a virtual machine system

Publication Date: 2012.12.11 RED HAT ISRAEL

AI summary

In one embodiment, a mechanism for staged upgrades of a virtual machine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a minimum number of virtual desktop servers (VDSs) necessary to host one or more VMs associated with the VDSs, migrating in a live manner the one or more VMs to the minimum number of VDSs, upgrading the non-upgraded VDSs that are not hosting any VMs, repeating the migrating and upgrading until all of the VDSs are upgraded, load balancing the VMs among the upgraded VDSs, and upgrading each of the VMs upon hosting of the VM by an upgraded VDS.