# US 2014/0157263 A1 · Restoring a Previous Version of a Virtual Machine Image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157263 A1 - Document ID: US20140157263A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,707 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: James C. Fletcher; Robert T. Uthe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157263A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/455: Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines - G06F 11/0712: {in a virtual computing platform, e.g. logically partitioned systems} - G06F 11/1402: {Saving, restoring, recovering or retrying} - G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process} - G06F 11/1469: {Backup restoration techniques} - G06F 11/1484: {involving virtual machines} - H04L 63/14: {for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic} - G06F 11/1438: {Restarting or rejuvenating} - G06F 11/3409: {for performance assessment} - G06F 11/3476: {Data logging (G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence)} - G06F 21/56: Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements - G06F 2201/83: the solution involving signatures - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An approach is provided to apply a virtual machine (VM) image to a computer system. In the approach, implemented by an information handling system, a detection is made that a current VM image executing on the computer system is experiencing a problem. In response, prior VM images are analyzed, with each of the prior VM images being an image that was previously executed on the computer system. Based on the analysis, one of the prior VM images is selected and the selected image is used to replace the current VM image on the computer system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 An information handling system comprising: a plurality of processors; a memory coupled to at least one of the processors; a nonvolatile storage area; and a set of instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors to apply a virtual machine (VM) image to a computer system, wherein the set of instructions perform actions of: detecting that a current VM image executing on the computer system is experiencing a problem; analyzing one or more prior VM images, wherein each of the prior VM images previously executed on the computer system; selecting one of the prior VM images based on the analysis; and replacing the current VM image with the selected prior VM image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the set of instructions that perform the analysis perform additional actions comprising: creating a current problem signature related to the problem detected in the current VM image; and comparing the current problem signature with historic problem signatures that each correspond with one of the prior VM images. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising: rejecting, based on the comparison, each of the prior VM images with historic problem signatures matching the current problem signature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising: identifying, based on the comparison, a set of one or more historic problem signatures that fail to match the current problem signature, wherein the selected prior VM image corresponds to a historic problem signature that is included in the set of one or more historic problem signatures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising: qualitatively comparing the set of one or more historic problem signatures, wherein the qualitative comparison results in a selected historic problem signature and wherein the selected prior VM image corresponds to the selected historic problem signature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14 wherein at least one of the historic problem signatures are non-problem signatures indicating that the corresponding prior VM images are problem free. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The information handling system of claim 16 wherein the selecting of one of the prior VM images further comprises: identifying a prior VM image with a non-problem signature, wherein the identified prior VM image is selected as the selected prior VM image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14 wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising: retrieving a plurality of resource metrics corresponding to each of the prior VM images, wherein the resource metrics were initially gathered while the prior VM images were executing on the computer system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The information handling system of claim 18 further comprising: analyzing the plurality of resource metrics corresponding to each of the prior VM images, the analysis resulting in the historic problem signatures corresponding to each of the prior VM images. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the analyzing and selecting are performed by a second computer system that manages VM images for a plurality of computer systems, including the computer system. ### Claim 21 A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium, comprising computer instructions that, when executed by an information handling system, applies a virtual machine (VM) image to a computer system by causing the information handling system to perform actions comprising: detecting that a current VM image executing on the computer system is experiencing a problem; analyzing one or more prior VM images, wherein each of the prior VM images previously executed on the computer system; selecting one of the prior VM images based on the analysis; and replacing the current VM image with the selected prior VM image. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the analysis further comprises: creating a current problem signature related to the problem detected in the current VM image; and comparing the current problem signature with historic problem signatures that each correspond with one of the prior VM images. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the actions further comprise: rejecting, based on the comparison, each of the prior VM images with historic problem signatures matching the current problem signature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the actions further comprise: identifying, based on the comparison, a set of one or more historic problem signatures that fail to match the current problem signature, wherein the selected prior VM image corresponds to a historic problem signature that is included in the set of one or more historic problem signatures. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer program product of claim 24 wherein the actions further comprise: qualitatively comparing the set of one or more historic problem signatures, wherein the qualitative comparison results in a selected historic problem signature and wherein the selected prior VM image corresponds to the selected historic problem signature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The computer program product of claim 24 wherein at least one of the historic problem signatures are non-problem signatures indicating that the corresponding prior VM images are problem free. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the selecting of one of the prior VM images further comprises: identifying a prior VM image with a non-problem signature, wherein the identified prior VM image is selected as the selected prior VM image. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The computer program product of claim 24 wherein the actions further comprise: retrieving a plurality of resource metrics corresponding to each of the prior VM images, wherein the resource metrics were initially gathered while the prior VM images were executing on the computer system. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the actions further comprise: analyzing the plurality of resource metrics corresponding to each of the prior VM images, the analysis resulting in the historic problem signatures corresponding to each of the prior VM images. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the analyzing and selecting are performed by a second computer system that manages VM images for a plurality of computer systems, including the computer system.