Virtual machine image analysis

摘要

Techniques for analyzing virtual machine images are described. In one embodiment, a subset of settings is extracted from one or more virtual machine images, the virtual machine images store therein values of the settings. The settings are used by software executing in virtual machines of the virtual machine images, respectively. A target one of the virtual machine images is selected and target values of the settings are obtained from the target virtual machine image. Sample values of the settings are obtained from a plurality of virtual machine images. The subset formed by identifying similarities and differences of the values between the virtual machine images.

主权项

1. A method of identifying a subset of settings, the method comprising:
accessing stored values of settings of virtual machines, the settings occurring among each of the virtual machines, wherein each virtual machine comprises a respective virtual machine image storing a guest operating system and comprises a respective virtual machine configuration specifying virtual hardware of the virtual machines, the values of the settings comprising guest values for controlling software in the guest operating systems of virtual machine images and comprising virtualization values for use by virtualization layers in provisioning virtual hardware for the virtual machines, respectively; selecting a target one of the virtual machines and obtaining target guest values and target virtualization values of the settings from the target virtual machine, wherein the target virtualization values specify virtual hardware of the target virtual machine and were used by a virtualization layer of the target virtual machine to provision the virtual hardware for the target virtual machine; accessing sample values of the settings, the sample values having been obtained from a sample set of the virtual machines, wherein the sample values of the settings including sample virtualization values of virtual hardware settings that were used by the virtualization layers to provision virtual hardware for the sample set of the virtual machines; and identifying the subset of settings by computing statistical similarities and differences of the sample values of the settings and the obtained target guest values and target virtualization values of the settings to generate a set of categorized setting.