Virtual Machine Template Creation via Copy-on-Write Snapshots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Creating virtual machine templates in existing virtualization environments often requires significant downtime, disrupting normal operations, as administrators must install, configure, and stop virtual machines to create disk images for template creation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves creating a virtual machine template based on a snapshot rather than a stopped virtual machine's disk images, using a copy-on-write volume chain structure that allows for snapshot creation and template generation without disrupting the virtual machine's operation, enabling the creation of a self-contained image that can be used to create new virtual machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional template creation method is used (stopping virtual machine to create disk image), then template can be created, but virtual machine operation is disrupted and downtime occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine operation continuityVSAvoidtemplate creation downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a snapshot of the virtual machine's disk image at a specific point in time before template creation begins. This preliminary action captures the current state of the virtual machine, allowing template creation to proceed independently without requiring the virtual machine to be stopped, thus eliminating downtime while ensuring the template reflects the correct state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating a template from a stopped virtual machine, the system creates a copy (snapshot) of the running virtual machine's disk image. This copy is then used to generate the template, allowing the original virtual machine to continue operating without disruption while the template is being created from the copied state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If virtual machine is stopped to create template, then template creation is simplified, but productivity is reduced due to operation disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemplate creation process simplicityVSAvoidvirtual machine operational productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary snapshot of the virtual machine's disk image before template creation. This preliminary action simplifies the template creation process by providing a ready-made copy to work with, while simultaneously allowing the virtual machine to remain operational and maintain productivity throughout the template creation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If snapshot-based template creation is used, then virtual machine can operate continuously, but additional complexity is introduced in the template creation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine operational continuityVSAvoidtemplate creation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a snapshot as an intermediary between the running virtual machine and the template creation process. This intermediary captures the virtual machine's state without requiring it to stop, and provides a stable source for template creation. The snapshot mechanism abstracts the complexity, allowing template creation to proceed from the snapshot while the virtual machine continues to operate normally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10203975B2Virtual machine template management

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 RED HAT ISRAEL

AI summary

Systems and methods for managing virtual machine templates. An example method may comprise: identifying, by a computer system, a virtual machine snapshot represented by a volume chain comprising one or more copy-on-write (COW) volumes; and creating, based on the virtual machine snapshot, a virtual machine template represented by a new COW volume, wherein the new COW volume comprises data from the COW volumes of the volume chain.