System, method and program to migrate a virtual machine

• US 20050268298A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shultz, Steven, Hunt, Jennifer A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/4557 Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• 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: 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

Abstract

A system, method and program product for migrating a first virtual machine from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer. Before migration, the first virtual machine comprises an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to the first virtual machine. A communication queue of the first virtual machine resides in a shared memory shared by the first and second computers or the first and second LPARs. The operating system and application are copied from the first private memory to the shared memory. The operating system and application are copied from the shared memory to a second private memory private to the first virtual machine in the second computer or second LPAR. Then, the first virtual machine is resumed in the second computer or second LPAR.

Claims

1. A method for migrating a first virtual machine and a communication queue from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, before migration, said communication queue residing in a first shared memory shared by said first virtual machine and a second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR, said method comprising the steps of:

stopping said first virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR;

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating said operating system and application to said second computer or said second LPAR, and said second computer or said second LPAR writing said operating system and application into a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR;

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating said communication queue to said second computer or second LPAR, and said second computer or said second LPAR writing said communication queue into a second shared memory shared by said second and third and fourth virtual machines in said second computer or said second LPAR; and

resuming said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching said communication queue from said second shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR to said second computer or said second LPAR, and said second computer or said second LPAR writing said address into said second private memory such that said first virtual machine when resumed in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said second shared memory.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating a program status word of said application or said operating system to said second computer or said second LPAR such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped their execution in said first computer or said first LPAR.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

said second virtual machine supplying a work item to said communication queue before the step of said first computer or said first LPAR communicating said communication queue to said second computer or said second LPAR;

stopping said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR;

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating an operating system and an application of said second virtual machine to said second computer or said second LPAR, and then writing said operating system and application of said second virtual machine into a third private memory private to said second virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR;

said first computer or said first LPAR communicating a communication queue of said second virtual machine to said second computer or said second LPAR, and then writing said communication queue of said second virtual machine into said second shared memory; and

resuming said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and said second virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR supplying another work item to said communication queue of said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR using a same address that said second virtual machine used when supplying the first said work item to said communication queue of said first virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR.

6. A computer program product for migrating a first virtual machine and a communication queue from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, before migration, said communication queue residing in a first shared memory shared by said first virtual machine and a second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to stop said first virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR;

second program instructions in said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate said operating system and application to said second computer or said second LPAR, and third program instructions in said second computer or said second LPAR to write said operating system and application into a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR;

fourth program instructions in said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate said communication queue to said second computer or second LPAR, and fifth program instructions in said second computer or said second LPAR to write said communication queue into a second shared memory shared by said second and third and fourth virtual machines in said second computer or said second LPAR; and

sixth program instructions to resume said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

wherein

said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

7. A computer program product as set forth in claim 6 further comprising seventh program instructions to attach said communication queue from said second shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR;

and wherein said seventh program instructions are recorded on said medium.

8. A computer program product as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

seventh program instructions in said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR to said second computer or said second LPAR, and eighth program instructions in said second computer or said second LPAR to write said address into said second private memory such that said first virtual machine when resumed in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said second shared memory; and

wherein

said seventh and eighth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

9. A computer program product as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

seventh program instructions in said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate a program status word of said application or said operating system to said second computer or said second LPAR such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped their execution in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

wherein said seventh program instructions are recorded on said medium.

10. A computer program product as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second virtual machine supplies a work item to said communication queue before said fourth program instructions communicate said communication queue to said second computer or said second LPAR;

and further comprising;

seventh program instructions to stop said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR;

eighth program instructions within said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate an operating system and an application of said second virtual machine to said second computer or said second LPAR, and ninth program instructions to write said operating system and application of said second virtual machine into a third private memory private to said second virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR;

tenth program instructions within said first computer or said first LPAR to communicate a communication queue of said second virtual machine to said second computer or said second LPAR, and eleventh program instructions to write said communication queue of said second virtual machine into said second shared memory; and

twelfth program instructions to resume said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and wherein said second virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR supplies another work item to said communication queue of said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR using a same address that said second virtual machine used when supplying the first said work item to said communication queue of said first virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

said seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

11. A method for migrating a first virtual machine and a communication queue from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, before migration, said communication queue residing in a first shared memory shared by said first virtual machine and a second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR, said method comprising the steps of:

copying said operating system and application from said first private memory to a shared storage shared by said first and second computers or said first and second LPARs;

copying said communication queue from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

copying said operating system and application from said shared storage to a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resuming said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

copying said communication queue from said shared storage to a second shared memory shared by said first, third and fourth virtual machines in said second computer or second LPAR.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of attaching said communication queue from said second shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

copying an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR from said first private memory to said shared storage and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said second shared memory.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

stopping execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after the step of copying said application and said operating system to said shared storage; and

copying a program status word of said application or said operating system from said first private memory to said shared storage and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped execution of said application or said operating system in said first computer or said first LPAR.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

said second virtual machine supplying a work item to said communication queue before the step of copying said communication queue from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

copying an operating system and an application of said second virtual machine from said first private memory to said shared storage;

copying a communication queue of said second virtual machine from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

copying said operating system and application of said second virtual machine from said shared storage to a third private memory private to said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resuming said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

copying said communication queue of said second virtual machine from said shared storage to said second shared memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR can acquire said work item supplied by said second virtual machine when in said first real computer or said first LPAR, and said second virtual machine when in said second computer or said second LPAR can supply another work item to said communication queue using a same address that said second virtual machine used when in said first computer or said first LPAR to supply the first said work item to said communication queue.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of notifying said second real computer or said second LPAR of said operating system, application and communication queue in said shared storage;

17. A computer program product for migrating a first virtual machine and a communication queue from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, before migration, said communication queue residing in a first shared memory shared by said first virtual machine and a second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to copy said operating system and application from said first private memory to a shared storage shared by said first and second computers or said first and second LPARs;

second program instructions to copy said communication queue from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

third program instructions to copy said operating system and application from said shared storage to a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resume said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

fourth program instructions to copy said communication queue from said shared storage to a second shared memory shared by said first virtual machine and third and fourth virtual machines in said second computer or second LPAR; and

wherein

said first, second, third and fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

18. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further comprising fifth program instructions to attach said communication queue from said second shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR;

and wherein said fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

19. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further comprising:

fifth program instructions to copy an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR from said first private memory to said shared storage and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said second shared memory; and

wherein said fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

20. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further comprising:

fifth program instructions to stop execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after said first program instructions copy said application and said operating system to said shared storage; and

sixth program instructions to copy a program status word of said application or said operating system from said first private memory to said shared storage and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped execution of said application or said operating system in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

wherein said fifth and sixth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

21. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second virtual machine supplies a work item to said communication queue before the step of copying said communication queue from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

and further comprising;

fifth program instructions to copy an operating system and an application of said second virtual machine from said first private memory to said shared storage;

sixth program instructions to copy a communication queue of said second virtual machine from said first shared memory to said shared storage;

seventh program instructions to copy said operating system and application of said second virtual machine from said shared storage to a third private memory private to said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resume said second virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

eighth program instructions to copy said communication queue of said second virtual machine from said shared storage to said second shared memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or said second LPAR can acquire said work item supplied by said second virtual machine when in said first real computer or said first LPAR, and said second virtual machine when in said second computer or said second LPAR can supply another work item to said communication queue using a same address that said second virtual machine used when in said first computer or said first LPAR to supply the first said work item to said communication queue; and

wherein

said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

22. A computer program product as set forth in claim 17 further comprising fifth program instructions to notify said second real computer or said second LPAR of said operating system, application and communication queue in said shared storage;

and wherein said fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

23. A method for migrating a first virtual machine from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a communication queue of said first virtual machine in a shared memory shared by said first and second computers or said first and second LPARs;

copying said operating system and application from said first private memory to said shared memory; and

copying said operating system and application from said shared memory to a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resuming said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR.

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the step of attaching said communication queue from said shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR.

25. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

copying an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR from said first private memory to said shared memory and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said shared memory.

26. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

stopping execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after the step of copying said application and said operating system to said shared memory; and

copying a program status word of said application or said operating system from said first private memory to said shared memory and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped execution of said application or said operating system in said first computer or said first LPAR.

27. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

stopping execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after the step of copying said application and said operating system to said shared memory; and

said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR supplying a first work item to said communication queue before the step of stopping execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR supplying a second work item to said communication queue after the step of resuming execution of said application in said second computer or said second LPAR; and

wherein said second virtual machine supplies said first and second work items to said communication queue using a same address for said communication queue.

28. A computer program product for migrating a first virtual machine from a first real computer to a second real computer or from a first LPAR to a second LPAR in a same real computer, before migration, said first virtual machine comprising an operating system and an application in a first private memory private to said first virtual machine, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to store a communication queue of said first virtual machine in a shared memory shared by said first and second computers or said first and second LPARs;

second program instructions to copy said operating system and application from said first private memory to said shared memory; and

third program instructions to copy said operating system and application from said shared memory to a second private memory private to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR, and resume said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR; and

wherein said first, second and third program instructions are recorded on said medium.

29. A computer program product as set forth in claim 28 further comprising fourth program instructions to attach said communication queue from said shared memory to said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR;

and wherein said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

30. A computer program product as set forth in claim 28 further comprising:

fourth program instructions to copy an address of said communication queue used by said first virtual machine in said first computer or first LPAR from said first private memory to said shared memory and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR will use said address to access said communication queue in said shared memory; and

wherein said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

31. A computer program product as set forth in claim 28 further comprising:

fourth program instructions to stop execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after said first program instructions copy said application and said operating system to said shared memory; and

fifth program instructions to copy a program status word of said application or said operating system from said first private memory to said shared memory and then to said second private memory, such that said first virtual machine in said second computer or second LPAR when resumed will use said program status word to resume execution of said application or said operating system where it stopped execution of said application or said operating system in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

wherein said fourth and fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

32. A computer program product as set forth in claim 28 further comprising:

fourth program instructions to stop execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR after said first program instructions copy said application and said operating system to said shared memory; and

wherein

said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR supplies a first work item to said communication queue before said fourth program instructions stop execution of said application in said first computer or said first LPAR; and

said second virtual machine in said first computer or said first LPAR supplies a second work item to said communication queue after said third program instructions resume execution of said application in said second computer or said second LPAR; and

said second virtual machine supplies said first and second work items to said communication queue using a same address for said communication queue; and

said fourth program instructions are recorded on said medium.