Storage-Drive VM Migration Throttling for Queue Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual machine migration technologies face challenges in optimizing resource utilization and preventing sudden stoppages during migration, particularly in managing load fluctuations and migration frequency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing systems and methods for throttling virtual machines during migration by monitoring processing rates and buffer occupancy, using rate limit logic to manage migration queues and prevent sudden stoppages, and providing accurate independent rate limiting by storage drives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If VM migration is performed without rate limiting, then migration speed is improved, but sudden stoppages occur during migration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemigration speedVSAvoidmigration stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the migration rate based on real-time buffer occupancy levels. When the buffer occupancy exceeds a threshold, the migration rate is automatically reduced to prevent sudden stoppages. This dynamic control mechanism allows the migration process to adapt to changing conditions, maintaining both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the migration controller continuously monitors buffer occupancy and adjusts the migration rate accordingly. When the buffer becomes full, feedback signals trigger rate reduction to prevent stoppages. This closed-loop control ensures stable migration by constantly responding to system state changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If host side throttling is used to control migration rate, then migration stability is improved, but protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemigration stabilityVSAvoidhost protocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rate limiting functionality is extracted from the host system and implemented directly in the storage device firmware. This removes the need for complex host-side protocol modifications while achieving the same stability benefits. The storage device independently manages its own migration rate based on buffer occupancy, simplifying the host protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device performs self-service rate limiting by autonomously monitoring its own buffer occupancy and adjusting the migration rate without external host intervention. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for complex host-side control protocols while maintaining migration stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If migration queue buffer is increased to prevent stoppages, then migration stability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemigration stabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a large static buffer, the system employs dynamic rate adjustment based on real-time buffer occupancy. When the buffer approaches capacity, the migration rate is automatically reduced to prevent overflow. This dynamic approach maintains stability with a smaller buffer, preserving resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic monitoring of buffer occupancy levels and applies rate limiting only when necessary. This periodic control mechanism prevents continuous throttling, allowing the migration to proceed at full speed when the buffer has capacity, thus maintaining high resource utilization efficiency while ensuring stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4636589B1Device side throttling of a virtual machine under migration
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4636589B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4636589B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4636589B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are systems, methods, and apparatuses for throttling a virtual machine (305) under migration. In one or more examples, the systems, devices, and methods include monitoring (505), by the storage device (120), a migration queue (330) associated with a migration process of a virtual machine (305) that is associated with the storage device (120); determining (510), by the storage device (120), a rate of migration based on the monitoring; and applying (515), by the storage device (120) and based on the rate of migration, a migration rate limit on a controller (315) of the storage device (120).