US 8,769,531 B2 · Optimizing the configuration of virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for optimizing a configuration of virtual machine (VM) instances. In a typical embodiment, such optimization comprises either the splitting of a single VM instance into multiple VM instances or the consolidation of multiple VM instances into fewer (e.g., a single) VM instance. Along these lines, it will first be determined which VM instances would be good candidates for reconfiguration. Under one approach, VM instances that are candidates for reconfiguration are identified based upon an analysis of applicable/associated service level agreement (SLA) terms versus the performance of the VM instances. For example, VM instances can be reconfigured if such reconfiguration will maximize a benefit provided by the applicable SLA terms (e.g., if the splitting of a single VM instance into multiple VM instances would cause a workload to be processed more efficiently, resulting in a more favorable cost/benefit ratio). In another embodiment, candidate VM instances can be identified based upon a commonality of an entity (e.g., a consumer) associated therewith. For example, if a single entity is utilizing multiple VM instances, such VM instances could be considered candidates for consolidation to avoid unnecessary computing resource consumption.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for optimizing virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment, comprising:

identifying, with at least one computer device, a set of virtual machine (VM) instances in the networked computing environment that are potential candidates for optimization based upon at least one of the following:
a performance of the set of VM instances with respect to a set of service level agreement (SLA) terms that are associated with the set of VM instances, or a commonality of an entity associated with the set of VM instances;
and
optimizing, with the at least one computer device, the set of VM instances by performing at least one of the following actions:
splitting a single VM instance, which has multiple unique projects, of the set of VM instances into multiple VM instances having different ones of the multiple unique projects, or consolidating multiple VM instances, which each have at least one unique project, of the set of VM instances into a single VM instance having all unique projects from the multiple instances of the set of VM instances,
wherein the consolidating comprising:
establishing communication between a first instance and a second instance of the set of VM instances;
providing credentials associated with the second instance to the first instance;
and
deleting the second instance, and
wherein the splitting comprising:
generating, responsive to an existence of a first instance of the set of VM instances, a second instance to correspond to the first instance of the set of VM instances;
establishing communication between the first instance and the second instance;
and
copying a set of credentials associated the first instance to the second instance.

12 more elements

A system for optimizing virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment, comprising:

a bus;
a processor coupled to the bus;
and
a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to:
identify a set of virtual machine (VM) instances in the networked computing environment that are potential candidates for optimization based upon at least one of the following:
a performance of the set of VM instances with respect to a set of service level agreement (SLA) terms that are associated with the set of VM instances, or a commonality of an entity associated with the set of VM instances;
and
optimize the set of VM instances by performing at least one of the following actions:
splitting a single VM instance, which has multiple unique projects, of the set of VM instances into multiple VM instances having different ones of the multiple unique projects, or consolidating multiple VM instances, which each have at least one unique project, of the set of VM instances into a single VM instance having all unique projects from the multiple instances of the set of VM instances,
wherein the consolidating comprising:
establishing communication between a first instance and a second instance of the set of VM instances;
providing credentials associated with the second instance to the first instance;
and
deleting the second instance, and
wherein the splitting comprising:
generating, responsive to an existence of a first instance of the set of VM instances, a second instance to correspond to the first instance of the set of VM instances;
establishing communication between the first instance and the second instance;
and
copying a set of credentials associated the first instance to the second instance.

16 more elements

A computer program product for optimizing virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage device, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:

identify a set of virtual machine (VM) instances in the networked computing environment that are potential candidates for optimization based upon at least one of the following:
a performance of the set of VM instances with respect to a set of service level agreement (SLA) terms that are associated with the set of VM instances, or a commonality of an entity associated with the set of VM instances;
and
optimize the set VM instances by performing at least one of the following actions:
splitting a single VM instance, which has multiple unique projects, of the set of VM instances into multiple VM instances having different ones of the multiple unique projects, or consolidating multiple VM instances, which each have at least one unique project, of the set of VM instances into a single VM instance having all unique projects from the multiple instances of the set of VM instances,
wherein the consolidating comprising:
establishing communication between a first instance and a second instance of the set of VM instances;
providing credentials associated with the second instance to the first instance;
and
deleting the second instance, and
wherein the splitting comprising:
generating, responsive to an existence of a first instance of the set of VM instances, a second instance to correspond to the first instance of the set of VM instances;
establishing communication between the first instance and the second instance;
and
copying a set of credentials associated the first instance to the second instance.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optimizing the configuration of virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment

Life of this patent

Optimizing the configuration of virtual machine instances in a networked computing environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22