Dynamic Virtual Machine Memory Management via Guest Physical Address Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Achieving high workload consolidation ratios in virtualized environments is hindered by per-virtual machine memory usage, necessitating effective management of memory resources.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves obtaining memory status for a guest operating system, adjusting the amount of guest physical addresses reported to a memory manager based on memory status and priority levels, and dynamically managing memory allocation through dynamic memory virtualization service providers to optimize memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If per-virtual machine memory usage is allocated statically, then memory management is simple, but workload consolidation ratios are low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkload consolidation ratioVSAvoidmemory management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic memory allocation where the virtual machine monitor continuously monitors memory usage metrics (available memory, committed memory, peak memory) and adjusts the number of guest physical addresses reported to the memory manager in real-time. This allows memory allocation to adapt to changing workload demands, enabling higher consolidation ratios while maintaining effective memory management through automated dynamic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If memory allocation is increased for each virtual machine, then system performance is improved, but memory efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidmemory efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the virtual machine monitor continuously monitors memory usage metrics from the guest operating system and adjusts memory allocation accordingly. When memory pressure is detected, the monitor reduces the number of guest physical addresses reported to the memory manager, freeing memory for other workloads. This feedback loop ensures memory is allocated based on actual demand, maintaining system performance while improving overall memory efficiency and reducing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If dynamic memory adjustment is implemented, then memory efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual machine monitor as an intermediary layer between the guest operating system and the physical memory management infrastructure. This intermediary automatically performs memory status monitoring, metric calculation, and dynamic adjustment of guest physical addresses without requiring modifications to the guest OS or complex user intervention. The intermediary handles the complexity internally, achieving improved memory efficiency while presenting a simple interface to the guest system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9740517B2Dynamic virtual machine memory management

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Techniques for adjusting memory in virtual machines are disclosed. According to aspects, memory status is obtained for a guest operating system. Based on the obtained memory status, an amount of guest physical addresses is reported to a memory manager of the guest operating system. Moreover, the amount memory assigned to the guest operating system may be adjusted during the runtime operation of the guest operating system.