System and method for resilient software upgrades in a virtual datacenter

A method for resilient software upgrades in a virtual datacenter, the method comprising:

• periodically obtaining network flow data between a plurality of application virtual machines (APPVMs) and/or containers in the virtual datacenter;
• periodically obtaining deep packet inspection information from firewalls associated with the periodically obtained network flow data in the virtual datacenter;
• determining dependency relationships between the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers based on the periodically obtained network flow data, the periodically obtained deep packet inspection information, and a network flow criteria;
• determining whether an upgrade is going to happen to a software residing in one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers;
• determining one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers affected by the software upgrade based on the determined dependency relationships;
• obtaining snapshots of the affected one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers;
• and
• initiating the software upgrade upon obtaining the snapshots of the affected one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions for controlling the processor to be operable to:
• periodically obtain network flow data between a plurality of application virtual machines (APPVMs) and/or containers in a virtual datacenter;
• periodically obtain deep packet inspection information from firewalls associated with the periodically obtained network flow data in the virtual datacenter;
• determine dependency relationships between the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers based on the periodically obtained network flow data, the periodically obtained deep packet inspection information, and a network flow criteria;
• determine whether an upgrade is going to happen to a software residing in one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers;
• determine one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers affected by the software upgrade based on the determined dependency relationships;
• obtain snapshots of the affected one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers;
• and
• initiate the software upgrade upon obtaining the snapshots of the affected one or more of the plurality of APPVMs and/or containers.