Virtual Machine Snapshot Management for Idle Resource Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual machines continue to occupy computing resources even when idle, leading to resource wastage as they are not shut down due to the need to preserve user sessions for later access, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A virtualization platform uses a machine learning model to determine when a virtual machine is idle by monitoring resource usage and takes a snapshot, releasing resources while allowing users to resume sessions from another machine, thus optimizing resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the virtual machine is continuously hosted to allow user resume access, then the user can seamlessly resume virtual applications from where they left off, but the computing resources are wasted when the virtual machine is not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a snapshot copy of the virtual machine's state (including memory, disk, and configuration) when the user disconnects. This snapshot preserves all user data and application states without requiring the full virtual machine to remain running. When the user returns, the system loads the snapshot into a new virtual machine instance, allowing seamless resume access while the original VM can be terminated and resources released.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing the snapshot at the moment of user disconnection. This preliminary state preservation ensures that when the user returns, all their work is already preserved and ready for immediate resumption, eliminating the need for manual saving or waiting for resource allocation.
2Loss of energy
If the virtual machine is shut down to release computing resources, then resource waste is reduced, but the user cannot resume access without saving and reopening all documents
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of shutting down the VM and risking data loss, the system creates a comprehensive snapshot copy that captures all open documents, application states, and user data. This snapshot acts as a complete virtual backup, allowing the user to resume from exactly where they left off without any manual intervention to preserve or restore data.
Solution Approach 2:
The snapshot serves as an intermediary between the running virtual machine and the user's need to resume access. Rather than directly connecting user devices to the VM or requiring manual data transfer, the snapshot acts as a mediating state that preserves everything and enables automatic restoration when the user returns.
3Reliability
If the virtual machine remains running during disconnection time, then user sessions are preserved for later access, but computing resources are not reallocated to other uses
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a snapshot copy of the virtual machine's entire state (memory, disk, processes, and configuration) when the user disconnects. This snapshot preserves all user sessions and data without requiring the original VM to remain running. When the user returns, the snapshot is loaded into a new VM instance, maintaining session reliability while enabling resource reallocation of the original VM to other productive uses.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing virtual machines are described herein. A virtualization computing platform may host a plurality of virtual machines comprising. The platform may detect that the first user device is disconnected from the first virtual machine and determine, using a machine learning model, that the first virtual machine, during a time period while the user device is disconnected, is in an idle state. The platform may obtain, based on the determination that the first virtual machine is in the idle state, a snapshot of the first virtual machine and cease hosting the first virtual machine. If the platform receives a request from a second user device associated with the same user account to continuing using the virtual application executed previously by the first virtual machine, the platform may establish a second virtual machine and load, to memory of the second virtual machine, information associated with the snapshot.