Graphically representing load balance in a computing cluster

• US 9,384,116 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Critchlow, Matthew, Rider, Eric Marshall, Cannon, Thomas C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatia, Ajay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Haimei
• Application Number:
  US13/108,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine
• 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 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/4557 Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5088 involving task migration

Abstract

Embodiments provide a graphical representation of load distribution or “balance” in a computing cluster. Load metrics representing the resource utilization of individual host computing devices are collected, and a load imbalance metric representing the variability of the host load metrics is calculated. A graphical balance indicator including a balance position and a boundary is created. An imbalance icon is positioned relative to the balance position and the boundary based on the calculated load imbalance metric. Attributes of the graphical balance indicator, such as the position of the boundary and/or the size of the imbalance icon, may be determined based on an acceptable imbalance threshold value.

Claims

1. A system for presenting a load balance in a computing cluster that includes a plurality of hosts executing one or more virtual machines (VMs), the system comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of host load metrics, wherein each host load metric corresponds to a host of the plurality of hosts and represents a computing resource utilization of VMs executed by the corresponding host; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to;

calculate a load imbalance metric based on the plurality of host load metrics, wherein the load imbalance metric represents variability of the host load metrics;

create a graphical balance indicator bar comprising a center, a first acceptable imbalance boundary that is positioned on a first side of the center, and a second acceptable imbalance boundary that is positioned on a second side of the center opposite the first side, wherein the first and second acceptable imbalance boundaries are offset from the center by a boundary offset distance that is based on an acceptable imbalance threshold value;

position, based on the calculated load imbalance metric, an imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar relative to the center and one or more of the following;

the first acceptable imbalance boundary and the second acceptable imbalance boundary;

generate a load balance recommendation when the imbalance icon exceeds the boundary offset distance such that a center of the imbalance icon is not within the first acceptable imbalance boundary or the second acceptable imbalance boundary, the load balance recommendation comprising adding a defined number of hosts to the computing cluster;

apply the load balancing recommendation when the load balancing recommendation is selected by the user; and

re-position, based on applying the load balancing recommendation, the imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to calculate the load imbalance metric by calculating a standard deviation of the host load metrics.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the center of the graphical balance indicator bar represents a standard deviation of zero, the boundary offset distance represents an acceptable standard deviation, and the processor is programmed to position the imbalance icon at a distance from the center that represents the calculated standard deviation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to position in the graphical balance indicator bar a first nominal imbalance boundary between the center and the first acceptable imbalance boundary and a second nominal imbalance boundary between the center and the second acceptable imbalance boundary, wherein the first and second nominal imbalance boundaries are positioned at a distance from the center that represents a nominal imbalance threshold value.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to position an imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar by positioning a bubble icon in the graphical balance indicator bar.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive the acceptable imbalance threshold value from a user, wherein the processor is programmed to position the first acceptable imbalance boundary and the second acceptable imbalance boundary based on the received acceptable imbalance threshold value.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a presentation device coupled to the processor and configured to present the graphical balance indicator bar, wherein the input interface is configured to receive the acceptable imbalance threshold value by receiving an adjustment to the position of one or more of the following:

the first acceptable imbalance boundary and the second acceptable imbalance boundary.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the load balance recommendation further comprises the option of migrating a defined number of virtual machines from a first host to a second host.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of host load metrics, wherein each host load metric corresponds to a host of the plurality of hosts and represents a computing resource utilization of the corresponding host;

calculating, by the computing device, a load imbalance metric representing a variability of the host load metrics;

creating, by the computing device, a graphical balance indicator bar comprising a balance position and an acceptable imbalance boundary that is offset from the balance position by a boundary offset distance that is based on an acceptable imbalance threshold value;

positioning, by the computing device, an imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar relative to the balance position and the acceptable imbalance boundary based on the calculated load imbalance metric;

presenting a load balancing recommendation when the calculated load imbalance metric exceeds the acceptable imbalance threshold value, wherein the load balancing recommendation comprising adding a defined number of hosts to the plurality of hosts;

applying the load balancing recommendation when the load balancing recommendation is selected by the user; and

re-positioning, based on applying the load balancing recommendation, the imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the host load metrics comprises receiving host load metrics that represent a memory utilization of a corresponding host and a processor utilization of the corresponding host.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the host load metrics comprises receiving host load metrics that represent a network utilization of a corresponding host and a storage utilization of the corresponding host.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein calculating the load imbalance metric comprises calculating a standard deviation of the host load metrics, and the balance position of the graphical balance indicator bar represents a standard deviation of zero, the method further comprising determining the boundary offset distance based on an acceptable standard deviation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the balance position of the graphical balance indicator bar represents an imbalance metric of zero, and positioning the imbalance icon comprises positioning the imbalance icon at a distance from the balance position that is directly proportional to the calculated load imbalance metric.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising positioning in the graphical balance indicator bar a nominal imbalance boundary between the balance position and the acceptable imbalance boundary, wherein the nominal imbalance boundary is positioned at a distance from the balance position that represents a nominal imbalance threshold value.

14. One or more non-transitory computer storage media having computer-executable components comprising:

an imbalance calculation component that when executed causes at least one processor to calculate a load imbalance metric based on a plurality of host load metrics, wherein each host load metric corresponds to a host of a plurality of hosts and represents a computing resource utilization of the corresponding host; and

a graphical representation component that when executed causes at least one processor to;

create a graphical balance indicator bar comprising a balance position and an acceptable imbalance boundary that is offset from the balance position, wherein the balance position represents a load imbalance metric of zero;

position an imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar relative to the balance position and the acceptable imbalance boundary based on the calculated load imbalance metric, wherein the position of the imbalance icon represents a proximity of the calculated load imbalance metric to an acceptable imbalance threshold value;

provide the graphical balance indicator bar for presentation to a user

present a load balancing recommendation when the calculated load imbalance metric exceeds the acceptable imbalance threshold value, wherein the load balancing comprises adding a defined number of hosts to the plurality of hosts;

apply the load balancing recommendation when the load balancing recommendation is selected by the user; and

re-position, based on applying the load balancing recommendation, the imbalance icon in the graphical balance indicator bar.

15. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 14, wherein the graphical representation component further causes the processor to position the acceptable imbalance boundary at a boundary offset distance from the balance position, wherein the boundary offset distance represents the acceptable imbalance threshold value.

16. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 14, wherein the graphical representation component causes the processor to determine the position of the imbalance icon based on a ratio of the calculated load imbalance metric to the acceptable imbalance threshold value.

17. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 14, further comprising a recommendation component that when executed causes at least one processor to:

determine a load balancing recommendation when the calculated load imbalance metric exceeds the acceptable imbalance threshold value, wherein the load balancing recommendation indicates a migration of a virtual machine from a first host associated with a first host load metric to one of the added defined number of hosts;

provide the load balancing recommendation to a user; and

apply the load balancing recommendation when the load balancing recommendation is selected by the user.

18. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 17, wherein the graphical balance indicator bar is provided for presentation at a first time before the load balancing recommendation is applied, and the graphical representation component further causes the processor to adjust the position of the imbalance icon based on a load imbalance metric calculated by the imbalance calculation component at a second time after the load balancing recommendation is applied.

19. The non-transitory computer storage media of claim 15, wherein the graphical representation component further causes the processor to graphically distinguish an acceptable imbalance area between the balance position and the acceptable imbalance boundary from an excessive imbalance area between the acceptable imbalance boundary and an periphery of the graphical balance indicator bar.