Utilizing software component metadata to provision virtual machines in a networked computing environment

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention provide a set of algorithmic methods that can be used to generate a pre-provisioned pool of virtual machines (VMs) in a networked computing environment. Specifically, an install time for possible combinations of software components of a VM in a plurality of software component combinations is calculated. Each respective install time is weighted by a value associated with a provisioning history of software components. At least part of the software component combinations is allocated to the pre-provisioned pool of virtual machines (VMs).

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method to generate a pre-provisioned pool of virtual machines (VMs) in a networked computing environment, comprising:
calculating an install time for each software component combination in a plurality of software component combinations, the install time including an amount of time necessary to uninstall the software components from a partially provisioned VM of which the software components form a subset of VM software components and to transition the software components to a VM having the software component combination having a first plurality of software components from the partially provisioned VM having a different software component combination having a second plurality of software components that is different from the first plurality of software components; weighting each respective install time by a numerical value that indicates a probability, with respect to other software component combinations, that the software component combination will be requested based on a provisioning history; allocating, prior to a request for software components, at least part of the first plurality of software components in the software component combinations to the pre-provisioned pool of virtual machines (VMs) based on the install time and the weighting; and maintaining diversity in the pre-provisioned pool of VMs by removing, in response to the allocating of the at least part of the first plurality of software components to the pre-provisioned pool of VMs, a VM instance having a different combination of software components from the allocated at least part of the first plurality of software components that has the first plurality of software components forming a subset of the different combination of software components from the pre-provisioned pool of VMs.