Virtualizing Sockets to Enable the Migration of a System Environment

An apparatus for maintaining connectivity between a remote application stored on a remote device and an application being executed in a system environment, wherein the system environment is migrated from a first device to a second device, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to:
• establish a first connection between the remote application stored on the remote device and the application being executed in the system environment stored on the first device via a first communication over a first negotiation channel, wherein the first negotiation channel connects a first socket layer interface linked to the application being executed in the system environment to a second socket layer interface linked to the remote application;
• disconnect the first connection between the remote application and the application being executed in the system environment for migration of the system environment from the first device to the second device, wherein disconnecting the first connection is coordinated via the first negotiation channel;
• and establish a second connection between the remote application stored on the remote device and an application being executed in the migrated system environment stored on the second device via a second communication over a second negotiation channel, wherein the second negotiation channel connects a third socket layer interface linked to the application being executed in the migrated system environment to the second socket layer interface linked to the remote application.

A system for maintaining connectivity between a remote application stored on a remote device and an application being executed in a system environment, wherein the system environment is migrated from a first device to a second device, the system comprising:

• a first device comprising an application being executed in a system environment;
• a first socket layer interface coupled to the application being executed in the system environment, the first socket layer interface being configured to control one or more first virtual sockets;
• a remote device comprising a remote application;
• a second socket layer interface coupled to the remote application, the second socket layer interface being configured to control one or more second virtual sockets;
• a second device comprising an application being executed in a migrated system environment;
• and
• a third socket layer interface coupled to the application being executed in the migrated system environment, the third socket layer interface being configured to control one or more third virtual sockets;
• wherein the first socket layer interface and the second socket layer interface are configured to communicate over a first negotiation channel to coordinate an enabling and disabling of the one or more first virtual sockets and the one or more second virtual sockets to establish and disconnect a first connection between the remote application and the application being executed in the system environment,
• further wherein the third socket layer interface and the second socket layer interface are configured to communicate over a second negotiation channel to coordinate an enabling of the one or more third virtual sockets and the one or more second virtual sockets to establish a second connection between the remote application and the application being executed in the migrated system environment.

A computer program product for maintaining connectivity between a remote application stored on a remote device and an application being executed in a system environment, wherein the system environment is migrated from a first device to a second device, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• a first program instruction to establish a first connection between the remote application stored on the remote device and the application being executed in the system environment stored on the first device via a first communication over a first negotiation channel, wherein the first negotiation channel connects a first socket layer interface linked to the application being executed in the system environment to a second socket layer interface linked to the remote application;
• a second program instruction to disconnect the first connection between the remote application and the application being executed in the system environment for migration of the system environment from the first device to the second device, wherein disconnecting the first connection is coordinated via the first negotiation channel;
• and
• a third program instruction to establish a second connection between the remote application stored on the remote device and an application being executed in the migrated system environment stored on the second device via a second communication over a second negotiation channel, wherein the second negotiation channel connects a third socket layer interface linked to the application being executed in the migrated system environment to the second socket layer interface linked to the remote application,
• wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable medium.