Burst buffer appliance comprising multiple virtual machines

A method comprising:

• configuring a burst buffer appliance adapted for coupling between a computer system and a file system to include a high-speed memory having a substantially lower access time than the file system;
• and
• configuring the burst buffer appliance to include a plurality of virtual machines for processing respective different types of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• wherein each of the virtual machines provides a different performance level for its associated type of input-output operations;
• wherein the plurality of virtual machines comprises:
• a first virtual machine for processing a first type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• and
• at least a second virtual machine for processing at least a second type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• wherein the first type of input-output operations is associated with a first priority and the second type of input-output operations is associated with a second priority lower than the first priority;
• wherein the first type of input-output operations comprises operations involving writing checkpoints from the computer system to the high-speed memory;
• and
• wherein the second type of input-output operations comprises operations involving at least one of:
• writing sensor data from a sensor network to the high-speed memory;
• writing or reading analytic engine data to or from the high-speed memory;
• and writing from the high-speed memory to the file system.

An information processing system comprising:

• a computer system;
• a file system;
• and
• a burst buffer appliance coupled between the computer system and the file system, the burst buffer appliance comprising:
• a high-speed memory having a substantially lower access time than the file system;
• and
• a plurality of virtual machines for processing respective different types of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• wherein each of the virtual machines provides a different performance level for its associated type of input-output operations;
• wherein the plurality of virtual machines comprises:
• a first virtual machine for processing a first type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• and
• at least a second virtual machine for processing at least a second type of input-output operations that involve utilization of the high-speed memory;
• wherein the first type of input-output operations is associated with a first priority and the second type of input-output operations is associated with a second priority lower than the first priority;
• wherein the first type of input-output operations comprises operations involving writing checkpoints from the computer system to the high-speed memory;
• and
• wherein the second type of input-output operations comprises operations involving at least one of:
• writing sensor data from a sensor network to the high-speed memory;
• writing or reading analytic engine data to or from the high-speed memory;
• and writing from the high-speed memory to the file system.