VMware has been granted a patent for a method that optimizes file server placement in a stretched cluster environment to enhance performance by reducing cross-site accesses. The algorithm considers host workload, site affinity, and failover support for seamless migration in case of host failure. GlobalData’s report on VMware gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on VMware, Network virtualization was a key innovation area identified from patents. VMware's grant share as of January 2024 was 77%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for site locality support in stretched cluster environments
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11886307B2) outlines a method for providing site locality support in a stretched cluster with hosts at different geographic locations. The method involves determining a site affinity setting of a file server and locating the file server and corresponding data path components at a host based on workload and site affinity settings. In the event of a host failure, a failover process is initiated to migrate the file server to an active host, with a failback process implemented upon host restoration. The failback process may involve migrating components to a third host based on specified guardrails to minimize disruption.
Furthermore, the patent details scenarios where the site affinity setting indicates an affinity to a specific site or no particular site, affecting the allocation of file server components. The method also includes co-locating the file server with the client based on workload considerations and traffic distribution across sites. Additionally, a dynamic domain name system (DDNS)-based technique is employed to facilitate client access to the file server at the active host using a DNS name associated with the server. The patent also covers a non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions for executing the method and an arbitrator host designed to perform the operations outlined in the patent, emphasizing the importance of site locality support in a distributed storage system across multiple geographic locations.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
