US 10,379,892 B2Granted

Systems and methods for repurposing virtual machines

AssigneeCommvault Systems, Inc.

InventorSanjay Harakhchand Kripalani

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Software, firmware, and systems repurpose existing virtual machines. After a virtual machine is created, the system stores data associated with the virtual machine to permit its later repurposing. Repurposing data includes data associated with the virtual machine when the virtual machine is in a generic state from which it may be configured for use by two or more users/applications. When the system receives a request to create a new virtual machine, rather than create a brand new virtual machine, the system repurposes an existing virtual machine. The system identifies a virtual machine to repurpose, deletes data associated with the identified virtual machine, and loads a saved copy of repurposing data. The system may then load user data or otherwise customize the database and virtual machine.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method to be performed by a computing system for repurposing a virtual machine, the method comprising:

receiving a request that a virtual machine be created for a user, wherein the request includes a set of configuration parameters for the virtual machine;
identifying one or more existing virtual machines repurposable to the user that include configuration parameters that match the set of configuration parameters for the virtual machine included in the request;
selecting an existing virtual machine for repurposing to the user associated with the request, by:
when there is an idle virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, selecting the idle virtual machine from multiple idle virtual machines for repurposing to the user at least based on a time period that the idle virtual machine has been idle;
and
when there is no idle virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, selecting an archived virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, for repurposing to the user;
and
repurposing the selected virtual machine for the user by loading repurposing data to the selected virtual machine, including switching permissions or ownership of the repurposed machine from a previous user of the repurposed virtual machine to the user associated with the request.

5 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processing device, performs a method comprising:

receiving a request that a virtual machine be created for a user, wherein the request comprises a set of configuration parameters and their associated ranges of values for the virtual machine;
identifying a set of one or more existing virtual machines repurposable to the user that include configuration parameters, wherein each configuration parameter has values within a range of values specified in the received request for that configuration parameter;
selecting an existing virtual machine for repurposing to the user associated with the request, by:
when there is a presently unused virtual machine in the set of one or more existing virtual machines repurposable to the user, selecting the presently unused virtual machine from multiple presently unused virtual machines for repurposing to the user at least based on a time period that the existing virtual machine has not been in use;
and
when there is no presently unused virtual machine in the set of one or more existing virtual machines repurposable to the user, selecting an archived virtual machine for repurposing to the user;
and
repurposing the selected virtual machine for the user by loading repurposing data to the selected virtual machine, including switching permissions or ownership of the repurposed machine from a previous user of the repurposed virtual machine to the user associated with the request.

5 more elements

A system for repurposing a virtual machine, the system comprising:

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions;
at least one processor configured to access at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform a set of acts, the set of acts comprising:
receiving a request that a virtual machine be created for a user, wherein the request includes a set of configuration parameters for the virtual machine;
identifying one or more existing virtual machines repurposable to the user that include configuration parameters that match the set of configuration parameters for the virtual machine included in the request;
selecting an existing virtual machine for repurposing to the user associated with the request, by:
when there is an idle virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, selecting the idle virtual machine from multiple idle virtual machines for repurposing to the user at least based on a time period that the idle virtual machine has been idle;
and
when there is no idle virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, selecting an archived virtual machine that matches the set of configuration parameters identified in the request, for repurposing to the user;
and
repurposing the selected virtual machine for the user by loading repurposing data to the selected virtual machine, including switching permissions or ownership of the repurposed machine from a previous user of the repurposed virtual machine to the user associated with the request.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/193,393Filed 27 Jun 2016 · continuation
Priority: 28 Dec 2012
Published: US 2016/0306651 A120 Oct 2016
Granted: 13 Aug 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G06F 9/45558
Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors: hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
G06F 3/0605
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management: by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
G06F 3/0608
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: saving storage space on storage systems
G06F 3/0632
Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems: by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems

Family

Application61/746,823Us provisional application · filed 28 Dec 2012
Application13/765,389Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Feb 2013
US 2016/0306651 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Oct 2016
US 9,378,035 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2014/0189685 A1Published application
US 10,379,892 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.