Host-Based Power Management for Virtual Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management mechanisms are ineffective in virtualized systems, leading to excessive power consumption and user interference, as they cannot distinguish between active and inactive virtual machines and lack centralized control.
Innovation Solution
A host-based power management system that monitors user activity across multiple virtual machines, identifies inactive VMs, and applies power reduction policies externally, preventing user override and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional power management mechanisms are applied to virtualized systems, then power consumption can be reduced in non-virtualized environments, but these mechanisms become ineffective in VM hosting environments because the host view shows each VM as always working
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power management intermediary layer that operates between the host system and individual VMs. This intermediary monitors VM activity states and coordinates power management actions across the virtualized environment, enabling effective power control despite the host's limited visibility into individual VM states. The intermediary translates host-level power management requests into VM-specific actions while maintaining awareness of each VM's actual activity status.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to control power management mechanisms in VMs, then users can customize power settings for their specific needs, but users can override centralized power management policies by setting unrealistic time limits, nullifying the effects of power management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments power management control into two distinct layers: centralized policy management and local user preferences. The centralized power management system establishes overarching power saving policies that cannot be overridden by individual users, while users can still configure non-critical settings within predefined boundaries. This segmentation ensures that power management effectiveness is maintained at the system level while preserving user adaptability for non-essential customizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary anti-action by preemptively establishing centralized power management policies that prevent user override of critical power saving measures. Before users can set time limits or power management preferences, the system has already defined the boundaries of acceptable user control, ensuring that power management effectiveness cannot be nullified by user actions. This approach anticipates and counteracts potential user overrides before they occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the host machine allocates resources to multiple VMs simultaneously, then centralized hosting can provide both server-based manageability and desktop flexibility, but the host continuously consumes power to maintain VM readiness even when no user activity is occurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing activity monitoring intervals and scheduled power management evaluations for each VM. Instead of continuously maintaining full VM readiness, the system periodically checks for user activity and adjusts power allocation accordingly. When no activity is detected over defined intervals, the system can transition VMs to lower power states while maintaining the capability to quickly restore service when needed, thus reducing host power consumption while preserving hosting flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for managing power in a virtual machine system is disclosed. A method for a host-based power management system may include monitoring a plurality of VMs in a VM system to detect user activity associated with each of the plurality of VMs, identifying a VM of the plurality of VMs that is inactive based on the user activity associated with the VM, and applying a power reduction policy to the VM.