SELECTION OF VIRTUAL MACHINES FROM POOLS OF PRE-PROVISIONED 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 select which partially and/or pre-provisioned virtual machines (VMs) should be used as a base platform to satisfy a new workload (e.g., provisioning) request received in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, when a workload request is received, a set (e.g., at last one) of software programs needed to process the workload request is identified. Then, a set of VMs is selected from a pool of pre-provisioned VMs having the set of software programs. In general, multiple methods and/or factors can be followed to select the set of VMs. Examples include a length of time to install the set of VMs, a probability of the set of VMs being in demand, and/or or a quantity of the set of VMs having the set of software programs. Once the set of VMs has been selected, the set of VMs may be installed, and the workload request can be processed using the set of software programs.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting pre-provisioned virtual machines (VMs) to process workload requests in a networked computing environment, comprising:
receiving a workload request in a computer storage medium; identifying a set of software programs needed to process the workload request; selecting a set of VMs from a pool of pre-provisioned VMs having the set of software programs in the networked computing environment, the set of VMs being selected based on at least one of the following: a length of time to install the set of VMs; a probability of the set of VMs being in demand, or a quantity of the set of VMs having the set of software programs, the selecting of the set of software programs further comprising:
looping through all of the pre-provisioned VMs having some combination of the set of software programs;calculating times associated with traversal paths for each combination; andselecting the set of VMs based on the shortest time associated with a traversal path indicating a shortest length of time to install the set of VMs; installing the set of VMs; and processing the workload request using the set of software programs in the set of VMs.