Virtual Machine Consolidation Visualization in Data Centers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring systems for virtualized data centers are less effective in visualizing and simulating the consolidation of virtual machines due to the lack of clear correlation between executing applications and underlying load metrics, making it difficult to anticipate and address potential rebalancing needs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for visualizing and simulating server consolidation in a virtualized data center, which involves computing and rendering load metrics for each server computer, selecting source and target servers, and displaying prospective load metrics in a graphical user interface to facilitate virtual machine migration and rebalancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual machines are consolidated in a virtualized data center, then cost of ownership is reduced and server utilization is improved, but the ability to visualize and monitor load metrics for rebalancing decisions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visualization layer that maps virtual machines to their host servers and displays load metrics in a way that restores the lost correlation. The graphical user interface acts as a mediator between the virtualized environment and administrators, showing which applications run on which virtual machines and how those virtual machines impact host server load, thereby enabling informed rebalancing decisions despite the abstraction layer.
2Measurement precision
If monitoring systems monitor load metrics for virtual machines, then performance data is collected, but the ability to readily visualize prospective rebalancing of virtual machines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing administrators to simulate and visualize prospective rebalancing scenarios before actually executing them. The system calculates and displays predicted load metrics for source and target servers based on proposed virtual machine migrations, enabling administrators to evaluate potential outcomes and make informed decisions without having to physically move virtual machines to test the effects.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple virtual servers co-exist in a single server computer, then total cost of ownership is reduced, but the complexity of monitoring and managing load distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring view into distinct components: individual virtual machine performance metrics, host server aggregate metrics, and interactive visualization elements. This segmented approach allows administrators to focus on specific aspects of the virtualized environment without being overwhelmed by the entire system's complexity, while still maintaining a comprehensive understanding of load distribution across consolidated servers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for visualizing and simulating server consolidation of different virtual machines in a virtualized data center can include identifying different server computers in a virtualized data center, computing load metrics for each of the server computers, and rendering a graph of the computed load metrics for the server computers in a graphical user interface (GUI) in a host computer. The method further can include selecting a source one of the server computers and also a target one of the server computers and further selecting a virtual machine for prospective migration from the source one of the server computers to the target one of the server computers. Yet further, the method can include further computing prospective load metrics for the source and the target resulting from the prospective migration of the virtual machine to the target. Finally, the method can include displaying in the GUI respective graphs of the prospective load metrics for each of the source and the target.