METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWAPPING VIRTUAL MACHINE MEMORY

• US 20100306770A1
• Filed: 05/31/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat Israel Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat Israel Ltd. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Frank, Shahar
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45579 I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects

Abstract

A method and system for swapping memory of a virtual machine are described. In one embodiment, virtual machines are hosted by a server and accessed by remote clients over a network. The server assigns first storage and second storage to each virtual machine, where the first storage is designated for swap memory of a respective virtual machine and the second storage is designated for persistent data of a respective virtual machine. The server monitors events pertaining to the virtual machines. Upon detecting a predefined event pertaining to one of the virtual machines, the server causes the contents of the first storage to be wiped out.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying, by a virtual machine, a disk access request;

determining, by the virtual machine, whether the disk access request pertains to swap memory; and

if the disk access request pertains to swap memory, causing the disk access request to be performed with respect to a first disk, the first disk being designated for swap memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the disk designated for swap memory is periodically wiped out by a server hosting the virtual machine.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the disk access request does not pertain to swap memory, causing the disk access request to be performed on a second disk, the second disk being designated for persistent data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first disk and the second disk are of different storage types.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the disk access request is any one of a read operation, a write operation and a delete operation.

6. A computer-implemented method for a server hosting a plurality of virtual machines, the method comprising:

assigning, by the server, a first storage and a second storage to each virtual machine, the first storage being designated for swap memory of a respective virtual machine and the second storage being designated for persistent data of a respective virtual machine;

monitoring, by the server, events pertaining to the plurality of virtual machines;

detecting, by the server, a predefined event pertaining to one of the plurality of virtual machines; and

causing the contents of the first storage of the one of the plurality of virtual machines to be wiped out.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first storage and the second storage are of different storage types.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein causing contents of the first storage to be wiped out comprises:

deleting a disk image of the first storage; and

creating a new disk image for the first storage.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined event is any one of restarting a virtual machine and shutting down a virtual machine.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

performing at least one of a backup, archive and remote mirroring operation for a virtual machine, each of the backup, archive and remote mirroring operation refraining from copying the first storage of the virtual machine.

11. A system comprising:

data storage to have a plurality of first disks designated for swap memory and a plurality of second disks designated for persistent data; and

a host coupled to the data storage to run a plurality of virtual machines, wherein the host further comprises a swap memory manager operable to

assign at least one first disk and at least one second disk to each virtual machine,

monitor events pertaining to the plurality of virtual machines,

detect a predefined event pertaining to one of the plurality of virtual machines, and

cause contents of the first disk of the one of the plurality of virtual machines to be wiped out.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first storage and the second storage are of different storage types.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the swap memory manager is to cause contents of the first storage to be wiped by:

deleting a disk image of the first storage; and

creating a new disk image for the first storage.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the predefined event is any one of restarting a virtual machine and shutting down a virtual machine.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the swap memory manager is further operable to:

perform at least one of a backup, archive and remote mirroring operation for a virtual machine, each of the backup, archive and remote mirroring operation refraining from copying the first storage of the virtual machine.

16. A computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a method comprising:

assigning, by the server, a first storage and a second storage to each virtual machine, the first storage being designated for swap memory of a respective virtual machine and the second storage being designated for persistent data of a respective virtual machine;

monitoring, by the server, events pertaining to the plurality of virtual machines;

detecting, by the server, a predefined event pertaining to one of the plurality of virtual machines; and

causing the contents of the first storage of the one of the plurality of virtual machines to be wiped out.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first storage and the second storage are of different storage types.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein causing contents of the first storage to be wiped out comprises:

deleting a disk image of the first storage; and

creating a new disk image for the first storage.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the predefined event is any one of restarting a virtual machine and shutting down a virtual machine.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

performing at least one of a backup, archive and remote mirroring operation for a virtual machine, each of the backup, archive and remote mirroring operation refraining from copying the first storage of the virtual machine.