Method and system for workload distributing and processing across a network of replicated virtual machines

A server computer configured to implement a head node VM that is replicated at a plurality of replica VMs communicatively hosted within a communication network, the server computer comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, the memory comprising instructions hosted therein, which when executed in the processor implement the head node virtual machine (VM), the head node configured to:
• specify a workload, the workload assignable into sub-tasks amongst each one of the plurality of replica VMs, the assignment of the sub-tasks being coordinated amongst the plurality of replica VMs via workload communication modules at the respective plurality of replica VMs to assign at least one workload sub-task of the workload to the each one of the plurality of replica VMs, the assigned workload sub-tasks being processed at the respective each one of the plurality of replica VMs without an additional program and environment information being shared over the network about the workload sub-task other than the replicating of a clone of the head node VM specifying the workload at each one of the plurality of replica VMs to provide at least one sub-task result from each of the respective replica VMs, and
• receive the at least one sub-task result from each of the replica VMs;
• wherein the head node VM and each one of the plurality of replica VMs is a software container that holds a complete operating environment comparable to that provided by a complete physical computer, the operating environment including at least an operating system, system libraries, and application stack.

A virtual machine (VM)-based workload distribution and processing system in a communication network, the system comprising:

• a head node VM hosted at a server computer, the head node VM specifying the workload, the workload being assignable into sub-tasks;
• and
• a pool of hosts, each of the pool of hosts comprising a physical computing device configured to host a replica VM, each of the replica VMs configured to replicate a clone of the head node VM specifying the workload, each of the replica VMs comprising:
• a respective workload coordination module configured to coordinate assignment and processing of at least one workload sub-task amongst each one of the plurality of replica VMs, the at least one assigned workload sub-tasks configured to be processed at the respective each one of the plurality of replica VMs without an additional program and environment information being shared over the network about the workload sub-task other than the replicating of a clone of the head node VM at each one of the plurality of replica VMs and to provide at least one sub-task result to the head node VM;
• wherein the head node VM and each of the replica VMs is a software container that holds a complete operating environment comparable to that provided by a complete physical computer, the operating environment including at least an operating system, system libraries, and application stack.