Method and system of virtual machine migration

• US 8,396,986 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kanada, Yasusi, Suzuki, Shinji, Tarui, Toshiaki, Kasugai, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US13/023,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1484 involving virtual machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4856 resumption being on a different machine, e.g. task migration, virtual machine migration G06F9/5088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/76 Routing in software-defined topologies, e.g. routing between virtual machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/557 Error correction, e.g. fault recovery or fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In cooperation between each data center and a WAN, virtual machine migration is carried out without interruption in processing so as to enable effective power-saving implementation, load distribution, or fault countermeasure processing. Each node located at a boundary point between the WAN and another network is provided with a network address translation (NAT) function that can be set dynamically to avoid address duplication due to virtual machine migration. Alternatively, each node included in the WAN is provided with a network virtualization function; and there are implemented a virtual network connected to a data center for including a virtual machine before migration, and a virtual network connected to a data center for including the virtual machine after migration, thereby allowing coexistent provision of identical addresses. Thus, the need for changing network routing information at the time of virtual machine migration can be eliminated, and a setting change for migration accomplished quickly.

Claims

1. A method of virtual machine migration in a network configuration in which a first LAN is connected to a first node located on a first network for routing packets in accordance with routing information, in which a second LAN is connected to a second node located on the first network, and in which a second network is connected to a third node located on the first network, the method of virtual machine migration comprising:

under a condition where communication between a virtual machine running on a first server connected to the first LAN and a client connected to the second network is made through the first node and the third node,

migrating the virtual machine to a second server connected to the second LAN without changing an address thereof on the first network;

performing a setting change in the third node in synchronization with migration of the virtual machine;

changing a route for the communication between the virtual machine and the client so that the communication there between is made through the second node and the third node in accordance with routing information of the first network; and

enabling the client to continue communicating with the virtual machine that has been migrated to the second server,

wherein, before completion of migration of the virtual machine, advertising notification of an address of the virtual machine is provided to the second LAN.

2. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein the first network is an IP network;

wherein each of the first node and the third node is provided with a network address translation function;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a destination address of a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client is subjected to a first translation in which an address of the virtual machine is translated into a second address by using the network address translation function of the third node; and

wherein, at the first node, the destination address of the packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client is subjected to a translation from the second address into a first address, while a setting change in the third node is made so as not to perform the first translation, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for the communication between the virtual machine and the client.

3. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein the first network is an IP network;

wherein each of the second node and the third node is provided with a network address translation function;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a destination address of a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client is transferred without translation through the third node and the first node; and

wherein a setting change in the third node is made so as to perform the first translation in which the address of the virtual machine is translated into a second address, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for the communication between the virtual machine and the client.

4. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein the first network is a virtual network in which there are implemented first and second virtual networks, the first virtual network being connected to the first LAN but not being connected to the second LAN, and the second virtual network being connected to the second LAN but not being connected to the first LAN;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client is transferred to the first virtual network through the third node;

wherein a setting change in the third node is made so that the packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client is transferred to the first virtual network through the third node, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for the communication between the virtual machine and the client.

5. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein an address of the first node in the first LAN is made identical to an address of the second node of the second LAN.

6. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein a manager computer having a setting program is provided on the second LAN;

wherein, at the time of migration of the virtual machine to the second server, the first server generates a packet associated therewith; and

wherein, upon capture of the packet, the setting program carries out a setting change in the third node.

7. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 1,

wherein a manager computer having a setting program is provided on the second LAN;

wherein, at the time of migration of the virtual machine to the second server, the second server generates a packet associated therewith; and

wherein, upon capture of the packet, the setting program carries out a setting change in the third node.

8. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 4,

wherein, as an identifier of each virtual network, there is used a VLAN ID code, MAC address, MPLS label, tunnel additional information, or optical-path wavelength information.

9. The method of virtual machine migration according to claim 4,

wherein a communication line to be used is changed instead of attaching an identifier to each virtual network.

10. A system of virtual machine migration in a network configuration in which a first network includes first, second, and third nodes for routing packets in accordance with routing information, and in which third, fourth, and second networks are connected to the first, second, and third nodes, respectively, the system of virtual machine migration comprising:

a first server connected to the third network;

a second server connected to the fourth network; and

a client terminal connected to the second network;

wherein, under a condition where communication between a virtual machine running on the first server and the client terminal is made through the first node and the third node, the virtual machine is migrated to the second server without changing an address thereof on the first network;

wherein a setting change in the third node is performed in synchronization with migration of the virtual machine to change a route for the communication between the virtual machine and the client terminal so that the communication there between is made through the second node and the third node in accordance with routing information of the first network;

wherein the client terminal is enabled to continue communicating with the virtual machine that has been migrated to the second server; and

wherein, before completion of migration of the virtual machine, advertising notification of an address of the virtual machine is provided to the third network.

11. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein the first network is an IP network;

wherein each of the first node and the third node is provided with a network address translation function;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a destination address of a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client terminal is subjected to a first translation in which an address of the virtual machine is translated into a second address by using the network address translation function of the third node; and

wherein, at the first node, the destination address of the packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client terminal is subjected to a translation from the second address into a first address, while a setting change in the third node is made so as not to perform the first translation, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for the communication between the virtual machine and the client terminal.

12. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein the first network is an IP network;

wherein each of the second node and the third node is provided with a network address translation function;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a destination address of a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client terminal is transferred without translation through the third node and the first node; and

wherein a setting change in the third node is made so as to perform the first translation in which the address of the virtual machine is translated into a second address, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for communication between the virtual machine and the client terminal.

13. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein the first network is an IP network;

wherein each of the first node, the second node, and the third node is provided with a network address translation function; and

wherein, before and after migration of the virtual machine, the communication between the virtual machine and the client terminal is continued by controlling translation operation of the network address translation function.

14. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein the first network is a virtual network in which there are implemented first and second virtual networks, the first virtual network being connected to the third network but not being connected to the fourth network, and the second virtual network being connected to the fourth network but not being connected to the third network;

wherein, before migration of the virtual machine, a packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client terminal is transferred to the first virtual network through the third node; and

wherein a setting change in the third node is made so that the packet destined for the virtual machine in transmission from the client terminal is transferred to the first virtual network through the third node, thereby accomplishing a changeover in routing for the communication between the virtual machine and the client terminal.

15. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein an address of the first node in the third network is made identical to an address of the second node in the fourth network.

16. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein a manager computer having a setting program is provided on the fourth network;

wherein, at the time of migration of the virtual machine to the second server, the first server generates a packet associated therewith; and

wherein, upon capture of the packet, the setting program carries out a setting change in the third node.

17. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 10,

wherein a manager computer having a setting program is provided on the fourth network;

wherein, at the time of migration of the virtual machine to the second server, the second server generates a packet associated therewith; and

wherein, upon capture of the packet, the setting program carries out a setting change in the third node.

18. The system of virtual machine migration according to claim 14,

wherein, as an identifier of each virtual network, there is used a VLAN ID code, MAC address, MPLS label, tunnel additional information, or optical-path wavelength information;

alternatively wherein, a communication line to be used is changed instead of attaching an identifier to each virtual network.