Virtual machine system and virtual machine control method

• US 20020173863A1
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Harima, Yoshihiro, Shimojo, Takashi, Imada, Toyohisa, Shinohara, Makiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors

Abstract

A user interface function for a virtual machine system based on a server or a PC is provided only by applying software without using SVP or the like. A control virtual machine is provided for controlling a virtual machine control screen which is displayed for defining virtual machines and instructing operations to the virtual machines. A virtual machine control program exclusively displays either a screen for each virtual machine or the virtual machine control screen in response to a screen switching instruction from an input device.

Claims

1. A virtual machine system implemented on a physical machine having a display device, wherein a plurality of virtual machines are controlled by a virtual machine control program, said virtual machine system comprising:

a control virtual machine for use by a user to control said virtual machines; and

at least one of user defined virtual machines controlled by the user through said control virtual machine.

2. A virtual machine system according to claim 1, wherein said control virtual machine displays a control screen for the user to control said user defined virtual machines on said display device.

3. A virtual machine system according to claim 2, wherein said control screen includes a display area for displaying configuration information of said user defined virtual machines, and an input area for defining and operating each of said user defined virtual machines.

4. A virtual machine system according to claim 1, wherein said control virtual machine is generated by said virtual machine control program upon launching said system.

5. A virtual machine system according to claim 1, wherein each said user defined virtual machine provides a platform on which an operating system runs.

6. A virtual machine system according to claim 1, wherein said physical machine comprises a plurality of processors.

7. A virtual machine system according to claim 2, wherein said display device exclusively displays a screen corresponding to each of said user defined virtual machines, or said control screen.

8. A virtual machine control method for controlling a virtual machine system wherein at least one virtual machines are controlled by a virtual machine control program, said method executed by said virtual machine control program comprising the steps of:

recognizing a screen switching instruction from an input device; and

exclusively displaying either a screen corresponding to each virtual machine or a control screen for controlling each virtual machine on the same display device in accordance with contents of said instruction.

9. A virtual machine control method for a virtual machine system according to claim 8, wherein said screen switching instruction from the input device is entered from a keyboard through a key input manipulation.

10. A program for controlling at least one virtual machines running on a physical machine, said program causing said physical machine to execute the steps of:

recognizing a screen switching instruction from an input device; and

exclusively displaying a screen corresponding to each virtual machine or a control screen for controlling each virtual machine on the same display device in accordance with contents of said instruction.

11. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for controlling at least one virtual machines running on a physical machine, said program causing said physical machine to execute the steps of:

recognizing a screen switching instruction from an input device; and

exclusively displaying a screen corresponding to each virtual machine or a control screen for controlling each virtual machine on the same display device in accordance with contents of said instruction.