Dynamic core pool management
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- detecting, by a virtual machine manager of a computing device, that a number of instructions executed by a plurality of virtual machines in a unit of time is less than a threshold;
limiting, by the virtual machine manager, execution of instructions of the plurality of virtual machines from the first number of cores to a second number of cores in response to the detecting that the number of instructions executed is below the threshold, wherein the second number is less than the first number, wherein the limiting execution of instructions from the first number of cores to the second number of cores comprises the virtual machine manager changing mapping of a virtual processor unit of the first number of cores; and
switching, by the virtual machine manager, a core of the first number of cores from a first power state to a second power state, wherein power consumption of the second power site is less than power consumption of the first power state.
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Abstract
Mechanisms for dynamically managing core pools are provided. The mechanisms measure the amount of a computational load on a computing device. One way of measuring the load may consist of executing a number of instructions, in a unit of time, with numerous cores of the computing device. The mechanisms compare the number of instructions executed with specific thresholds. Depending on whether the number of instructions is higher or lower than the thresholds, the computing devices may respond by activating and deactivating cores of the computing devices. By limiting execution of instructions of the computing device to a smaller number of cores and switching one or more cores to a lower power state, the devices may conserve power.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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detecting, by a virtual machine manager of a computing device, that a number of instructions executed by a plurality of virtual machines in a unit of time is less than a threshold; limiting, by the virtual machine manager, execution of instructions of the plurality of virtual machines from the first number of cores to a second number of cores in response to the detecting that the number of instructions executed is below the threshold, wherein the second number is less than the first number, wherein the limiting execution of instructions from the first number of cores to the second number of cores comprises the virtual machine manager changing mapping of a virtual processor unit of the first number of cores; and switching, by the virtual machine manager, a core of the first number of cores from a first power state to a second power state, wherein power consumption of the second power site is less than power consumption of the first power state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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a pool of cores; a demand determiner in a virtual a machine manager in a computing device to determine a demand of a first number of cores within the pool of cores of the computing device, wherein the demand comprises execution of a number of instructions by a plurality of virtual machines in a unit of time by the first number of cores; a core switcher in the virtual machine manager to switch power states of one or more cores of the first number of cores; a power controller in the virtual machine manager to limit execution of instructions of the plurality of virtual machines from the first number of cores to a second number of cores in response to the detecting that the number of instructions executed is below the threshold, wherein the second number is less than the first number and to cause the core switcher to switch a core of the first number of cores from a first power state to a second power state in response to the demand determiner determining the demand is less than a threshold; and a virtual processing unit controller in the virtual machine manager to change a number of virtual processing units allocated to the pool of cores, wherein the virtual processing unit controller is arranged to change the number in response the determined demand. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product comprising
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor: -
detect, by a virtual machine manager of a computing device, that a number of instructions executed by a plurality of Virtual machines in a unit of time is less than a threshold; limit, by the virtual machine manager, execution of instructions of the plurality of virtual machines from the first number of cores to a second number of cores in response to the detecting that the number of instructions executed is below the threshold, wherein the second number is less than the first number, wherein the limiting execution of instructions from the first number of cores to the second number of cores comprises the virtual machine manager changing mapping of a virtual processor unit of the first number of cores; and change, by the virtual machine manager, a power state of a core in the first plurality of cores from a first power state to a second power state, wherein the change is in response to the detection of the number being less than the threshold, wherein power consumption of the second power state is lower than power consumption of the first power state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification