Virtualization Congestion Control Framework for VM Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine (VM) environments lack effective congestion control mechanisms, leading to resource exhaustion and system crashes due to unmonitored resource allocation, especially during high-demand events, as existing systems are vendor-specific and lack cross-application congestion control, resulting in vulnerability to hacks and mass call events.
Innovation Solution
A virtualization congestion control framework that enables two-way communication between VMs and applications, using an orchestrator to monitor and manage hardware resource usage, allowing for dynamic resource allocation and pushback mechanisms to prevent resource exhaustion, through a distributed congestion control framework that separates application congestion state machines into VM layers and provides buffer utilization feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If applications are allowed to request hardware resources without limitation in a VM environment, then application performance and resource utilization are improved, but system stability and reliability deteriorate due to resource exhaustion and potential system crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the hypervisor continuously monitors hardware resource usage and sends pushback interrupts to applications when resource thresholds are approached. This closed-loop feedback system allows applications to dynamically adjust their resource requests based on actual system state, maintaining high utilization while preventing resource exhaustion and system crashes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where the hypervisor can adjust resource limits for applications in real-time based on current system conditions. Instead of static allocation, the system dynamically modifies resource constraints through pushback interrupts, allowing the system to adapt to changing workload conditions and maintain stability during peak demand while maximizing resource utilization during normal operation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If vendor-specific congestion control mechanisms are implemented at hardware level, then congestion management capability is improved, but system compatibility and cross-application control deteriorate due to lack of standardized interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal congestion control interface through the hypervisor that works across different vendor platforms and application types. The standardized pushback interrupt mechanism allows the same congestion control logic to be applied to diverse applications running in VM environments, eliminating the need for vendor-specific implementations while maintaining effective congestion management across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The hypervisor acts as an intermediary layer between the hardware resources and applications, providing a standardized interface for congestion control. This mediator translates vendor-specific hardware capabilities into a universal control mechanism that can manage congestion across different applications and platforms, enabling cross-application compatibility while preserving congestion control effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If one-way resource allocation control is used from orchestrator to application, then resource distribution simplicity is improved, but control effectiveness deteriorates due to lack of feedback mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the one-way control mechanism into a two-way feedback system. The hypervisor monitors actual resource usage and sends pushback interrupts to applications when congestion is detected, creating a closed-loop control system. This feedback mechanism significantly improves congestion control effectiveness by allowing real-time adjustments based on actual system state, while adding minimal complexity to the overall architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a virtualization congestion control framework. In one aspect, a method might include a hypervisor assigning application resources of a virtual machine (“VM”), which operates on a host computing system, with maximum allowable settings to each software application to be executed on the VM. The hypervisor or an orchestrator might determine a running mode of the host computing system, and might execute the software application(s) using running mode attributes of the determined running mode. The hypervisor or the orchestrator might monitor application resource utilization, and, based on a determination that application resource utilization has changed, might modify allocation of application resources to each of the software application(s). In some cases, the hypervisor or the orchestrator might monitor for mass congestion indicators, and, based on a determination that a mass congestion indicator is present, might modify the running mode of the host computing system.