Computing reusable image components to minimize network bandwidth usage

摘要

Methods and arrangements for facilitating virtual appliance image delivery. Virtual appliance image templates are stored at a caching location, based on a historical request pattern. A request is received for a virtual appliance image and there is provided, to a second location, a virtual appliance image responsive to the received request. A difference is determined between the requested virtual appliance image and stored virtual appliance image templates.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
storing virtual appliance image templates at a caching location, based on a historical request pattern; receiving a request for a virtual appliance image; and providing, to a second location, a return virtual appliance image responsive to the received request; wherein said providing of the return virtual appliance image comprises:
determining a difference between the requested virtual appliance image and one or more of the stored virtual appliance image templates;at the caching location, obtaining a supplement which corresponds to the determined difference between the requested virtual appliance image and the one or more of the stored virtual appliance image templates; anddelivering the one or more of the stored virtual appliance image templates and the supplement to the second location; and applying a cost function for caching at the caching location, wherein the cost function is determined by variables comprising:
a frequency variable indicating a frequency of a request of one or more supplements deriving from a third location;a size variable indicating a size of the one or more supplements deriving from a third location;a caching variable indicating whether the one or more supplements are already cached at the caching location; anda supplement variable indicating whether the virtual appliance image is to be created using the one or more supplements;wherein the cost function comprises at least a product of the frequency variable and the size variable.