# US 2014/0157270 A1 · Virtual machine management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157270 A1 - Document ID: US20140157270A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/900,596 - Filed: 2013-05-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-09 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca; Charles M. Kinard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157270A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/45533: {Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors} - G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects} - G06F 11/3409: {for performance assessment} - G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management - G06F 11/3419: {by assessing time} - G06F 2009/45591: {Monitoring or debugging support} - G06F 2201/815: Virtual - G06F 2201/87: Monitoring of transactions - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A virtual machine management method and system is provided. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a list of virtual machines deployed within an enterprise. The computing system determines that a specified time period has elapsed during deployment and a list of resources and transactions associated with the virtual machines is retrieved. The computing system calculates a cost value and service value for deploying the virtual machines and a premium value associated with the services. The computing system determines if the premium value is within a policy for the enterprise. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining, by said computer processor, a specified time period associated with periodic checks of each virtual machine of a list of running virtual machines deployed for performing a list of services within an enterprise; determining, by said computer processor, that said specified time period has elapsed since a last benefit check of said periodic checks; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of resources consumed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a cost value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of services performed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a service value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on said cost value and said service value, a premium value associated with said list of services for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; and determining, by said computer processor, if said premium value is within a policy for said enterprise, and if said premium value is within said policy for said enterprise, generating, by said computer processor, a modified service value comprising said service value multiplied by said premium value, and determining, by said computer processor, if said modified service value is greater than said cost value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said modified service value is greater than said cost value, and wherein said method further comprises: continuing, by said computer processor, to run said virtual machines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said modified service value is not greater than said cost value, and wherein said method further comprises: receiving, by said computer processor, a time extension for continuing to run said virtual machines; approving, by said computer processor, said time extension; and determining, by said computer processor, if said time extension is within said policy for said enterprise. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said time extension is within said policy for said enterprise, and wherein said method further comprises: continuing, by said computer processor, to run said virtual machines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said time extension is not within said policy for said enterprise, and wherein said method further comprises: determining, by said computer processor, if there are any dependents associated with said first virtual machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein there are dependents associated with said first virtual machine, and wherein said method further comprises: determining, by said computer processor, that a deployment exception is within said policy for said enterprise. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein there are not any dependents associated with said first virtual machine, and wherein said method further comprises: marking, by said computer processor, each said virtual machine for teardown; quiescing, by said computer processor in response to said marking, each said virtual machine; and determining, by said computer processor, if each said virtual machine should be retained. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein each said virtual machine is retained, and wherein said method further comprises: unquiescing, by said computer processor, each said virtual machine; and increasing, by said computer processor, said premium value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein each said virtual machine is not retained, and wherein said method further comprises: generating and storing, by said computer processor, an archive/backup data file associated with each said virtual machine; and removing, by said computer processor, each said virtual machine from said enterprise. ### Claim 10 A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising: determining, by said computer processor, a specified time period associated with periodic checks of each virtual machine of a list of running virtual machines deployed for performing a list of services within an enterprise; determining, by said computer processor, that said specified time period has elapsed since said a last benefit check of said periodic checks; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of resources consumed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a cost value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of services performed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a service value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on said cost value and said service value, a premium value associated with said list of services for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; and determining, by said computer processor, if said premium value is within a policy for said enterprise, and if said premium value is within said policy for said enterprise, generating, by said computer processor, a modified service value comprising said service value multiplied by said premium value, and determining, by said computer processor, if said modified service value is greater than said cost value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computing system of claim 10, wherein said modified service value is greater than said cost value, and wherein said method further comprises: continuing, by said computer processor, to run said virtual machines. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computing system of claim 10, wherein said modified service value is not greater than said cost value, and wherein said method further comprises: receiving, by said computer processor, a time extension for continuing to run said virtual machines; approving, by said computer processor, said time extension; and determining, by said computer processor, if said time extension is within said policy for said enterprise. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computing system of claim 12, wherein said time extension is within said policy for said enterprise, and wherein said method further comprises: continuing, by said computer processor, to run said virtual machines. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computing system of claim 12, wherein said time extension is not within said policy for said enterprise, and wherein said method further comprises: determining, by said computer processor, if there are any dependents associated with said first virtual machine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computing system of claim 14, wherein there are dependents associated with said first virtual machine, and wherein said method further comprises: determining, by said computer processor, that a deployment exception is within said policy for said enterprise. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computing system of claim 14, wherein there are not any dependents associated with said first virtual machine, and wherein said method further comprises: marking, by said computer processor, each said virtual machine for teardown; quiescing, by said computer processor in response to said marking, each said virtual machine; and determining, by said computer processor, if each said virtual machine should be retained. ### Claim 17 A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing system implements a method comprising: determining, by said computer processor, a specified time period associated with periodic checks of each virtual machine of a list of running virtual machines deployed for performing a list of services within an enterprise; determining, by said computer processor, that said specified time period has elapsed since said a last benefit check of said periodic checks; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of resources consumed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a cost value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on a list of services performed by each said virtual machine during said specified time period, a service value for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; calculating, by said computer processor based on said cost value and said service value, a premium value associated with said list of services for each said virtual machine for said specified time period; and determining, by said computer processor, if said premium value is within a policy for said enterprise, and if said premium value is within said policy for said enterprise, generating, by said computer processor, a modified service value comprising said service value multiplied by said premium value, and determining, by said computer processor, if said modified service value is greater than said cost value.