Virtual computer system with dynamic resource reallocation

• US 7,290,259 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tsuyoshi, Hamanaka, Naoki, Tarui, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): BULLOCK JR, LEWIS ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/942,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 712/10, 712/11, 712/13, 718100-104, 718/1
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3433 for load management allocation of a server based on load conditions G06F9/505; load rebalancing G06F9/5083; redistributing the load in a network by a load balancer H04L67/1029
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual middleware or OS functionality using virtual machines to implement generic software techniques for error detection or fault masking G06F11/1484
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system

Abstract

A virtual computer system including a reallocation means, in which a plurality of LPAR are operated by logically dividing physical resources composing a physical computer exclusively or in time dividing manner so as to dynamically change reallocation of physical resources among each of LPARs. Based on load conditions measured by an application or an OS of each LPAR, physical resource allocation to each LPAR is determined, thereby conducting reallocation of LPAR.

Claims

1. A virtual computer system, comprising:

a plurality of virtual computers operating on a physical computer having one or more CPUs and a main memory device;

a hypervisor;

a storing section for storing contents of a plurality of actions for changing physical resources allocated to virtual computers judged as having high loads by a load monitor which monitors load conditions of said virtual computers; and

means for implementing said plurality of actions sequentially and for conducting physical resource allocation according to contents of said actions that are deemed most effective in lowering loads of said virtual computers,

wherein said hypervisor comprises;

said load monitor for monitoring load conditions of said virtual computers based on load conditions of said main memory device

a reallocation section for providing an output for dynamically changing allocation of physical resources to said virtual computers based on said load conditions monitored by said load monitor and

a controller for controlling physical resource allocation to said virtual computers based on load conditions monitored by said load monitor, and for demanding reallocation in response to said output from said reallocation section, and

wherein a result of implementing said actions is fed back to said means for implementing to permit selection of actions that are most effective.

2. A virtual computer system according to claim 1, wherein said load monitor collects load data corresponding to load conditions of at least one of said virtual computers with a fixed interval, and detects periodic regular changes of the collected load data, and

wherein said controller demands said physical resource allocation based on said periodic changes of the collected load data, and demands periodical allocation of physical resources to said reallocation section.

3. A virtual computer system according to claim 1, wherein said controller decides a priority order of allocation of physical resources to each virtual computer in response to the output from said reallocation section according to information of customers using said virtual computers and agreement conditions with the customers.

4. A virtual computer system according to claim 3, wherein said controller uses a reference value to judge an overload condition for each virtual computer, said reference value indicating according to the customers and agreement conditions an amount of load permitted for the virtual computer.

5. A virtual computer system, comprising:

a plurality of virtual computers operating on a physical computer having one or more CPUs, each of said plurality of virtual computers having an OS for controlling execution of an application program;

a hypervisor;

a storing section for storing contents of a plurality of actions for changing physical resources allocated to virtual computers judged as having high loads by a load monitor which monitors load conditions of said virtual computers; and

means for implementing said plurality of actions sequentially and for conducting physical resource reallocation according to contents of said actions that are selected as effective in lowering loads of said virtual computer having effectiveness for lowering the load,

wherein said hypervisor comprises;

said load monitor for monitoring load conditions of said virtual computers based on a response time of a process of said application program in each of said virtual computers,

a reallocation section for providing an output for dynamically changing allocation of physical resources to said virtual computers based on said load conditions monitored by said load monitor, and

a controller for controlling physical resource allocation to said virtual computers based on load conditions monitored by said load monitor, and for demanding reallocation in response to said output from said reallocation section,

wherein a result of imolementina said actions is fed back to said means for implementing to permit selection of actions that are deemed effective.

6. A virtual computer system according to claim 5, wherein said load monitor collects load data corresponding to load conditions of at least one of said virtual computers with a fixed interval, and detects periodic regular changes of the collected load data;

and

wherein said controller demands said physical resource allocation based on said periodic changes of the collected load data, and demands periodical allocation of physical resources to said reallocation section.

7. A virtual computer system according to claim 5, wherein said controller decides a priority order of allocation of physical resources to each virtual computer in response to the output from said reallocation section according to information of customers using said virtual computers and agreement conditions with the customers.

8. A virtual computer system according to claim 7, wherein said controller uses has a reference value to judge an overload condition for each value computer, said reference value indicating according to the customers and agreement conditions an amount of load permitted for the virtual computer.