Integrated network boot operating system installation leveraging hyperconverged storage
AssigneeNutanix, Inc.
InventorSebastiaan Gerhardus Johannes Raayman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computing node is configure to implement an intra-node network boot and installation protocol (protocol) for booting and installing an operating system (OS) on a virtual machine hosted on the computing node without communicating over a physical network. The protocol includes hosting a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server instance and/or a network boot server instance on a controller virtual machine of the computing node to emulate DHCP protocol and network boot server protocol communications. In some examples, the protocol further utilizes one or more virtual extensible local area networks (LANs)(VXLANs) and a virtual switch hosted at a hypervisor running on the computing node.
Claims23
At least one non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing node to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, at a virtual switch hosted on a hypervisor of the computing node, a boot request from a first virtual machine managed by the hypervisor;
- routing the boot request to a boot server instance of a second virtual machine managed by the hypervisor via a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) managed by the hypervisor;
- providing, via the virtual switch, a response to the boot request from the boot server instance to the first virtual machine via the VXLAN based on a predetermined routing rule;
- and
- facilitating transfer of a boot image stored at a storage container locally-accessible to the second virtual machine to the first virtual machine.
A computing node, comprising:
- a user virtual machine (VM) configured to, during a boot operation, provide a boot request directed to a boot server instance, wherein the user VM is configured to initiate transfer of a boot image to the user VM in response to receipt of a boot response and to install the boot image upon receipt;
- a controller VM configured to host the boot server instance, wherein the boot server instance is configured to provide a boot response in response to the boot request, wherein the boot server instance VM is configured to transfer the boot image to the user VM;
- a hypervisor comprising a virtual switch, wherein the hypervisor is configured to manage a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN), the user VM, and the controller VM, wherein the virtual switch is configured to route the boot request, the boot response, and transfer of the boot image over the VXLAN according to a routing rule.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, at a virtual switch hosted on a hypervisor of a computing node, a boot request from a first virtual machine managed by the hypervisor;
- routing the boot request to a boot server instance of a second virtual machine managed by the hypervisor via a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) managed by the hypervisor;
- providing, via the virtual switch, a response to the boot request from the boot server instance to the first virtual machine via the VXLAN based on a predetermined routing rule;
- and
- facilitating transfer of a boot image stored at a storage container locally-accessible to the second virtual machine to the first virtual machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.