System, method and program product for cost-aware selection of stored virtual machine images for subsequent use

摘要

A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the cost of bundling software in a virtual machine (VM) image is automatically generated. Software is selected by the cost for each bundle according to the time required to install it where required, offset by the time to uninstall it where not required. A number of VM images having the highest software bundle value (i.e., highest cost bundled) is selected and stored, e.g., in a machine image store. With subsequent requests for resources, VMs may be instantiated from one or more stored VM images and, further, stored images may be updated selectively updated with new images.

主权项

1. A method of sharing system resources comprising:
receiving requests for resources; automatically costing bundling software in virtual machine (VM) images for said received requests; selecting a number of VM images with bundled software, selected said VM images having a higher bundle cost than any unselected said VM images; storing said selected VM images; receiving subsequent requests for resources; and selectively instantiating a VM from one or more stored VM images responsive to each subsequent request.