Virtual Machine I/O Scheduling with Association Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual machine systems face challenges in managing Input/Output (I/O) Quality of Service (QoS), particularly in identifying and prioritizing I/O operations across virtual disks sharing the same storage device, leading to performance deterioration and potential system breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a virtual machine that detects associations between virtual disks and storage devices, schedules I/O requests based on these associations, and throttles queues to optimize I/O operations, supporting both I/O type and virtual disk queue-based policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If I/O requests are scheduled on a VM-level with larger bandwidth reserved for higher priority VMs, then I/O QoS between different VMs is improved, but I/O QoS management within the virtual machine between different processes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the I/O scheduling system into multiple hierarchical levels: VM-level scheduling by the hypervisor and process-level scheduling within the virtual machine. This segmentation allows each level to independently manage I/O QoS for its respective entities without interfering with the other level's management, thereby resolving the contradiction between inter-VM QoS and intra-VM QoS management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an I/O scheduler as an intermediary component within the virtual machine that acts as a mediator between the hypervisor's VM-level scheduling and the application processes. This intermediary receives I/O requests from different processes, applies process-level scheduling policies, and forwards them to the hypervisor, enabling independent process-level QoS management without affecting the hypervisor's VM-level scheduling
2Productivity
If multiple virtual disks share the same virtual storage device, then storage resource utilization is improved, but I/O performance deteriorates due to lack of association detection and prioritization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects and monitors associations between virtual disks and virtual storage devices. This feedback information about disk-storage associations is then used to dynamically adjust I/O scheduling decisions, allowing the system to prioritize critical operations on shared storage devices and maintain performance while utilizing shared resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection and establishment of associations between virtual disks and virtual storage devices before I/O operations occur. By pre-identifying which virtual disks share which storage devices and determining their priority relationships, the system is prepared to immediately apply appropriate scheduling policies when I/O requests arrive, preventing performance deterioration
3Ease of operation
If I/O requests are processed without association detection between virtual disks and storage devices, then system simplicity is maintained, but application-aware I/O QoS deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically detects associations between virtual disks and storage devices, identifies critical I/O operations, and applies appropriate scheduling priorities without requiring manual configuration or complex user intervention. This automated self-service approach maintains system simplicity while enabling sophisticated application-aware QoS
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for a virtual machine. The method implemented in a virtual machine comprises: receiving I/O requests for I/O operations on virtual disks of the virtual machine; detecting associations between the virtual disks and virtual storage devices of a virtual machine hypervisor for the virtual machine; and scheduling the I/O requests based on the associations. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable an application-aware I/O QoS in a virtual environment in an efficiently way and moving IT solutions of virtual version to different virtual platforms. The method and apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure offer good flexibility and compatibility.