Autonomic Virtual Machine Session Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual machine session lingering poses challenges in managing resource utilization efficiently, as inactive sessions consume resources, leading to potential overutilization and delays in fulfilling subsequent requests due to the difficulty in determining the optimal duration for hosting these sessions.

Innovation Solution

An autonomic method for virtual machine session lingering, where the virtualization computing platform continuously hosts inactive sessions until resource utilization exceeds a threshold, allowing for quick reactivation of sessions without the need for new instantiation, based on historical usage patterns and resource allocation strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If virtual machine sessions are continued to be hosted after user disconnection (session lingering), then startup time for subsequent requests is reduced, but resource utilization increases and may lead to overutilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestartup timeVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the lingering duration of virtual machine sessions based on real-time resource utilization conditions. When resources are abundant, sessions linger longer to reduce startup time. When resources become constrained, the system shortens or terminates lingering to prevent overutilization, creating a dynamic balance between performance and resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of session lifetime from a fixed value to a variable value that adapts based on system state. The lingering duration is modified according to resource availability, user activity patterns, and system load, allowing optimal performance under varying conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If virtual machine sessions are initialized prior to user request (pre-initialization), then startup time is reduced, but devices without continuous network connectivity cannot request initialization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestartup timeVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically initializing and maintaining virtual machine sessions in a lingering state before users actually need them. This eliminates the need for users to manually request pre-initialization, making the system work proactively rather than reactively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The virtualization platform serves itself by automatically managing session creation, maintenance, and termination without requiring user intervention or device-initiated requests. The system autonomously determines when to create and maintain lingering sessions based on usage patterns and resource conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If virtual machine sessions are hosted for extended periods to reduce startup time, then user experience is improved, but resources are overutilized and subsequent requests from other users may go unfilled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidrequest fulfillment rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor resource utilization, session activity patterns, and system load. This feedback informs dynamic adjustments to session lingering duration, ensuring that user experience is optimized without compromising the system's ability to fulfill new requests from other users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3028150B1Autonomic virtual machine session lingering
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC
  • EP3028150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3028150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3028150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Virtual machine sessions may be hosted by a virtualization computing platform. A portion of the virtual machine sessions that are inactive may be identified. The virtualization computing platform may continue to host the virtual machine sessions that are inactive. A determination may be made that utilization of one or more resources associated with the virtualization computing platform exceeds a threshold. Responsive to determining that utilization of the one or more resources associated with the virtualization computing platform exceeds the threshold, the virtualization computing platform may cease to host one or more of the portion of virtual machine sessions that are inactive.