Virtual Machine Provisioning with Policy-Based Resource Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional monitoring systems fail to accurately detect the usage of virtual machines, leading to inefficient resource allocation and potential waste, as they cannot distinguish between active and inactive states, and lack mechanisms to enforce policies for optimal resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A virtual machine provisioning method and system that collects data based on predefined policies set by administrators, adjusting the allocation of virtual machines to ensure target usage thresholds are met, involving a monitoring agent to collect data and an enforcement agent to take corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring systems are used to track virtual machine usage, then system resources can be monitored, but the accuracy of detecting virtual machine active states deteriorates due to inability to distinguish between maintenance tasks and primary goal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy administrator as an intermediary component that mediates between the monitoring system and virtual machines. This policy administrator defines policies specifying input data to collect from virtual machines and computing devices, and actions to take when policies are violated. This intermediary layer enables accurate detection of virtual machine states by collecting specific data dictated by policies while filtering out irrelevant maintenance tasks.
2Productivity
If virtual machines are allocated to ensure system goals are met, then resource utilization improves, but system complexity increases due to need for policy definition and enforcement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the policy administrator define policies in advance before virtual machine provisioning occurs. These policies specify the desired state of the system, target usage levels, and threshold values beforehand. This pre-definition enables automated enforcement agents to make provisioning decisions without real-time complex analysis, improving resource utilization while managing system complexity through pre-planned rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the monitoring system continuously collects data from virtual machines and computing devices, compares actual state against policy-defined targets and thresholds, and triggers enforcement actions when violations are detected. This closed-loop feedback system automates the provisioning process, improving resource utilization efficiency while the policy administrator manages complexity by setting high-level parameters rather than micromanaging individual decisions.
3Reliability
If virtual machines are maintained to ensure availability, then system reliability improves, but resource waste increases when virtual machines run without being utilized or perform only maintenance tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making virtual machine provisioning dynamic rather than static. The enforcement agent continuously monitors system state against policy targets and automatically adds or removes virtual machines based on current demand and defined thresholds. This dynamic approach ensures virtual machines are available when needed (maintaining reliability) while eliminating waste by removing unnecessary virtual machines from the system, allowing resource allocation to adapt to changing conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments contemplate a system and method for a provisioning, retirement and configuration of virtual machines. A predefined policy may include a desired target state of the virtual machines, as well as an action to initiate in order to reach the desired state. The action may be initiated if the state varies from the desired level by a predetermined amount or percentage over a predetermined period of time. Data from the virtual machines is analyzed to determine if the desired state of the virtual machines is satisfied. The analysis may be continuous or periodic. If it is determined that the desired state is not satisfied, then predefined actions are performed until the desired state is attained. The predefined actions may be the removal or addition of one or more virtual machines or other actions necessary to reach the desired state.