Virtual Machine Placement via Samepage Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In IT architectures, efficiently managing virtual machines across multiple virtual machine managers to optimize resource utilization, particularly memory, is challenging due to the high cost and limited availability of RAM, which restricts the number of virtual machines that can be run on a single manager.

Innovation Solution

A method where system management software creates memory profiles for all virtual machines, evaluates probabilities for samepage mapping, and selects the most appropriate virtual machine manager for placement based on these profiles to maximize memory re-utilization and efficiency, allowing for the migration of virtual machines for maintenance or efficiency improvements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If more virtual machines are run on a single virtual machine manager, then resource utilization improves, but memory availability becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidmemory availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges memory resources from multiple virtual machine managers by enabling samepage mapping across them. The system identifies and maps identical memory pages from different virtual machines hosted on different managers to a shared memory space, effectively combining available memory resources and allowing more virtual machines to run without additional physical RAM.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the memory management parameter by transitioning from isolated memory management per virtual machine manager to a unified cross-manager memory management approach. By analyzing memory profiles and identifying samepages, the system dynamically adjusts memory allocation and sharing parameters to optimize overall memory utilization across the virtualization infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If memory is increased to run more virtual machines, then virtual machine capacity improves, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory capacityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of physically copying or duplicating memory resources, the patent creates virtual copies of identical memory pages through samepage mapping. When the same application or operating system is running on multiple virtual machines, their identical memory pages are mapped to a single physical memory location, eliminating redundant storage and reducing the need for additional RAM capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers wasted memory resources by identifying and consolidating duplicate memory pages that would otherwise occupy separate physical memory spaces. By discarding redundant memory allocations and recovering those resources through shared mapping, the system increases effective memory capacity without requiring additional hardware investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If virtual machines are migrated for maintenance or efficiency, then system reliability improves, but placement optimization becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidplacement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system management software continuously monitors memory profiles, samepage mapping opportunities, and resource utilization across virtual machine managers. This feedback enables automated, data-driven placement decisions that optimize for both reliability (through migration for maintenance) and efficiency (through samepage mapping), reducing the complexity of manual placement optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of memory profiles and identifies potential samepage mapping opportunities before virtual machine placement or migration decisions are made. By pre-evaluating compatibility and optimization potential, the system can make informed placement decisions that simultaneously achieve maintenance goals and maximize memory efficiency, simplifying the overall placement optimization process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9201678B2Placing a virtual machine on a target hypervisor

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

A method is provided for placing a virtual machine on a target virtual machine manager out of multiple virtual machine managers. System management software is connected to the virtual machine managers and selects the target virtual machine manager for placing the virtual machine. The method includes: the system management software creating a memory profile for all virtual machines hosted on the multiple virtual machine managers, the system management software evaluating probabilities for samepage mapping of the virtual machine to be placed on the multiple virtual machine managers based on the memory profiles of the virtual machines, the system management software selecting under consideration of the probabilities for samepage mapping a most appropriate virtual machine manager as the target virtual machine manager, and the system management software placing the virtual machine on the target virtual machine manager.