|
| Wednesday, 5 August 2015, 08:22 HKT/SGT | |
| |  | |
Source: Fujitsu Ltd | |
|
|
|
|
| Enabling Linux containers and virtual networks to be set up in under one second to accelerate system usage |
KAWASAKI, Japan, Aug 5, 2015 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. today announced development of the world's first technology for fast and automatic setup of client-segregated virtual networks that are built over multiple Linux containers. These containers offer virtualization for high-speed launches and running.
 | | Fujitsu Develops Innovative Technology for Fast, Automated Setup of Virtual Networks for Linux Containers |
To use containers, which launch in roughly 0.2 seconds, in the cloud like virtual machines, quick setup of client-segregated virtual networks is required. Previously, including the time required to configure physical switches, it took several seconds to set up a network built over multiple containers, which made it impractical for clients to use an environment consisting of multiple containers.
Now, by distributing network information in advance to the physical switches, and automatically creating a network upon the detection of container activation, Fujitsu Laboratories has developed technology that enables client-segregated networks built over multiple containers to be set up within one second. This enables a system on the scale of several hundred containers to be used immediately following their launch. As a result, systems can immediately be scaled out, supporting, for example, web services that temporarily experience sudden spikes in traffic, such as during special events or marketing campaigns.
This technology will be announced at Asia-Pacific Network Operations and Management Symposium (APNOMS) 2015, opening August 19 in Pusan, South Korea.
Background
With special events and online campaigns, in the span of hours, web services can see sudden spikes in traffic. Because highly variable traffic can affect quality of service, cloud-computing technologies that can dynamically allocate resources have come into widespread use in recent years. As a result, the time needed to scale out infrastructure has been slashed from a few days or weeks to just a few minutes.
There are, however, many situations where even a delay of a few minutes is too slow, such as when a new item for a game is being made available for only a limited time or when many commuters are simultaneously searching for an alternative route due to a train delay. There has, therefore, been a need for technology that can instantaneously mitigate spiking server loads. Containers have attracted attention as a virtualization technology that is well suited to such situations. In contrast to virtual machines, which virtualize the entire server, containers are virtualization technology that separates application-execution environments on the host operating system. As there is no need to launch an operating system for each virtual machine, the virtualization overhead is smaller, making for lighter launching and running. By taking advantage of this feature, containers enable infrastructure as a service (IaaS) environments that can respond to load fluctuations instantaneously and with high efficiency.
Technological Issues
From a security standpoint, using containers for IaaS environments requires that network resources be segregated by client, especially so that communications data from one network does not reach another client. Although containers can be launched in roughly 0.2 seconds, compared with several minutes to launch a virtual machine, network setup required several seconds because device settings were configured from the operations-management system via the controller. As such, even with a fast-launching container, network setup lagged considerably behind. For this reason, the challenge has been to set up client-segregated networks spanning multiple containers as quickly as the containers can be launched.
About the Technology
Typically, virtualization-technology infrastructure is built over multiple physical servers, and the containers that get used depend on the status of the physical servers launched. To accommodate this, Fujitsu Laboratories developed a technology that distributes and pools each client's network information, in the form of the interface address (MAC addresses) and the virtual-network (Virtual LAN, or VLAN) information, from the controller to the physical switch beforehand.
Using this technology, the network settings that took time to pass through the controller are already configured before the container launches. Additionally, by integrating with the newly developed functions described below, it becomes possible to rapidly set up networks following the launch of additional containers.
- Based on the previously distributed network information, the physical switch is automatically set immediately after container launch(1).
- Coinciding with container launch, VLAN configured for the virtual switch in the server.
- Container teardowns are continuously monitored, and network resources are automatically released when a container is torn down.
Results
This technology makes it possible for single-client virtual networks that combine virtual switches and physical switches to be set up in roughly 0.2 seconds. Together with container launch time, a system is ready for use in less than one second. This technology delivers a flexible application execution environment on such systems where multiple clients reside, providing services with the agility to adapt to spikes in access that occur with events, campaigns or other activities by swiftly scaling out, thereby avoiding opportunity losses.
Future Plans
Fujitsu Laboratories is looking at ways to integrate this technology as a plug-in into OpenStack, the open-source software for cloud platforms, with the goal of a practical implementation during fiscal 2016.
(1) Physical switch is automatically set
Uses the Automatic Migration of Port Profile function (detects virtual-machine migration and sets required information, such as VLAN, on the appropriate port) in Fujitsu's CFX2000 converged-fabric switch, an expansion device that can be connected to FUJITSU Server PRIMERGY.
Contact:
Fujitsu Limited
Public and Investor Relations
Tel: +81-3-3215-5259
URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/
Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.
ICT Systems Laboratories
Server Technologies Lab
E-mail: Retimer_ISSCC2015@ml.labs.fujitsu.com
Topic: Press release summary
Source: Fujitsu Ltd
Sectors: Cloud & Enterprise, IT Individual
http://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
Copyright © 2024 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fujitsu Ltd |
| May 13, 2024 17:32 HKT/SGT |
|
Supercomputer Fugaku retains first place worldwide in HPCG and Graph500 rankings |
| May 10, 2024 11:20 HKT/SGT |
|
Release of "Fugaku-LLM" - a large language model trained on the supercomputer "Fugaku" |
| May 9, 2024 09:41 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu introduces "explainable AI" for use in genomic medicine and cancer treatment planning |
| May 8, 2024 07:52 HKT/SGT |
|
ServiceNow and Fujitsu announce strategic commitment to launch innovative cross-industry solutions |
| May 7, 2024 16:53 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu launches mainframe modernization automation service for the Japanese market |
| Apr 23, 2024 09:25 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu SX Survey reveals key success factors for sustainability |
| Apr 22, 2024 15:09 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu and METRON collaborate to drive ESG success: slashing energy costs, boosting productivity with new manufacturing industry solutions |
| Apr 19, 2024 09:17 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu develops technology to convert corporate digital identity credentials, enabling participation of non-European companies in European data spaces |
| Apr 18, 2024 10:14 HKT/SGT |
|
Fujitsu and Oracle collaborate to deliver sovereign cloud and AI capabilities in Japan |
| Apr 11, 2024 14:10 HKT/SGT |
|
DOCOMO, NTT, NEC and Fujitsu Develop Top-level Sub-terahertz 6G Device Capable of Ultra-high-speed 100 Gbps Transmission |
| More news >> |
 |
|
|
|
