Virtual Machine Management Apparatus, and Virtual Machine Management Method and Program

• US 20090210527A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kawato, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/4557 Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45591 Monitoring or debugging support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects

Abstract

A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network generates a new virtual machine on a server device in accordance with a request from a management terminal. At that time, for one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated, the virtual machine management apparatus refers to an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines. The score indicates appropriateness of a condition that each combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device. Thus, the virtual machine management apparatus computes an index value indicative of appropriateness of a condition that the new virtual machine is to be allocated to the server device. Then the virtual machine management apparatus determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network, comprising:

an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device;

a virtual machine allocation determination unit for selecting one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated, for computing an index value in a case where the new virtual machine is allocated to each of the selected server devices with use of the score, for determining an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value, and for selecting a server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present as a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated; and

a virtual machine migration determination unit for migrating an existing virtual machine on one server device to another server device to generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated when the virtual machine transfer determination unit is called by the virtual machine allocation determination unit.

36. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the virtual machine migration determination unit computes, for each of possible migration methods that can generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated, an index value of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score, and determines a transfer method for a virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

37. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the virtual machine allocation determination unit calls the virtual machine migration determination unit when there is no server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present.

38. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 35, comprising a migration unit for computing, for each of possible migration methods of migrating a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and for migrating an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

39. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 38, wherein the migration unit operates at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped.

40. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 35, comprising:

a server monitor unit for collecting, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which the type of virtual machines is allocated; and

an allocation rule generation unit for generating the score from the information collected by the server monitor unit and a predetermined score generation rule to store the score in the allocation rule table.

41. A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network, comprising:

an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device; and

a virtual machine allocation/migration determination unit for selecting possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve no migration of an existing virtual machine and possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve migration of an existing virtual machine, for computing, for each of the selected possible allocation methods, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the allocation method with use of the score, and for determining an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

42. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 41, comprising a migration unit for computing, for each of possible migration methods of transferring a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and for migrating an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

43. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 42, wherein the migration unit operates at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped.

44. The virtual machine management apparatus as recited in claim 41, comprising:

a server monitor unit for collecting, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which that type of virtual machines is allocated; and

an allocation rule generation unit for generating the score from the information collected by the server monitor unit and a predetermined score generation rule to store the score in the allocation rule table.

45. A method of managing virtual machines on a plurality of server devices with a computer connected to the plurality of server devices via a network, comprising:

a first step in which the computer selects one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated;

a second step in which the computer computes, for each of the selected server devices, an index value in a case where the new virtual machine is allocated to the selected server device with reference to a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines from an allocation rule table, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device; and

a third step in which the computer determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value,

wherein the first step comprises selecting a server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present as a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated,

wherein the first step comprises attempting to generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated by migrating an existing virtual machine on one server device to another server device when there is no server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present.

46. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 45, wherein the first step comprises computing, for each of possible migration methods that can generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated, an index value of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score, and determining a migration method for a virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

47. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 45, further comprising a fourth step in which the computer computes, for each of possible migration methods of migrating a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and migrates an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

48. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 47, wherein the fourth step is started at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped.

49. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 45, further comprising:

a fifth step in which the computer collects, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which that type of virtual machines is allocated; and

a sixth step in which the computer generates the score from the collected information and a predetermined score generation rule and stores the score in the allocation rule table.

50. A method of managing virtual machines on a plurality of server devices with a computer connected to the plurality of server devices via a network, comprising:

a first step in which the computer selects possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve no migration of an existing virtual machine and possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve migration of an existing virtual machine;

a second step in which the computer computes, for each of the selected possible allocation methods, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the allocation method with reference to a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines from an allocation rule table, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device; and

a third step in which the computer determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

51. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 50, further comprising a fourth step in which the computer computes, for each of possible migration methods of migrating a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and migrates an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

52. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 51, wherein the fourth step is started at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped.

53. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 50, further comprising:

a fifth step in which the computer collects, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which that type of virtual machines is allocated; and

a sixth step in which the computer generates the score from the collected information and a predetermined score generation rule and stores the score in the allocation rule table.

55. The program as recited in claim 53, wherein the first process comprises computing, for each of possible migration methods that can generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated, an index value of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score, and determining a migration method for a virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

54. A program for allowing a computer connected to a plurality of server devices via a network to perform:

a first process of selecting one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated;

a second process of computing, for each of the selected server devices, an index value in a case where the new virtual machine is allocated to the selected server device with reference to a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines from an allocation rule table, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device; and

a third process of determining an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value,

wherein the first process comprises selecting a server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present as a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated,

wherein the first process comprises attempting to generate a server device to which the new virtual machine can be allocated by migrating an existing virtual machine on one server device to another server device when there is no server device that can ensure a resource required for the new virtual machine at present.

56. The program as recited in claim 54, allows the computer to further perform a fourth process of computing, for each of possible migration methods of migrating a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and of migrating an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

57. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fourth process is started at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped

58. The program as recited in claim 54, allows the computer to further perform:

a fifth process of collecting, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which that type of virtual machines is allocated; and

a sixth process of generating the score from the collected information and a predetermined score generation rule and stores the score in the allocation rule table.

59. A program for allowing a computer connected to a plurality of server devices via a network to perform:

a first process of selecting possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve no migration of an existing virtual machine and possible allocation methods for a new virtual machine that involve transfer of an existing virtual machine;

a second process of computing, for each of the selected possible allocation methods, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the allocation method with reference to a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines from an allocation rule table, the score indicating appropriateness of a condition that the combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device; and

a third process of determining an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

60. The program as recited in claim 59, allows the computer to further perform a fourth process of computing, for each of possible migration methods of migrating a virtual machine on one server device to another server device, an index value indicative of appropriateness of the migration method with reference to the score independently of the allocation of the new virtual machine, and of migrating an existing virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.

61. The virtual machine management method as recited in claim 60, wherein the fourth process is started at predetermined intervals, or each time a resource of a server device or a virtual machine reaches a predetermined condition, or each time a virtual machine is stopped.

62. The program as recited in claim 59, allows the computer to further perform:

a fifth process of collecting, for each type of virtual machines, status of usage of a resource in the virtual machine and status of communication of the virtual machine with other virtual machines from a server device to which that type of virtual machines is allocated; and

a sixth process of generating the score from the collected information and a predetermined score generation rule and stores the score in the allocation rule table.