Patent ID: 8489744
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: identifying, by a computer system, an overloaded host running a plurality of virtual machines in a host cluster that comprises a plurality of hosts; selecting, by the computer system, a virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines that creates a lowest amount of load on the overloaded host, the lowest amount of load corresponding to a lowest percentage value among percentage values representing CPU utilization incurred by each virtual machine; identifying a first subset of the plurality of hosts that has CPU utilization above a deactivation threshold pertaining to a cost associated with a virtual machine migration; selecting a target host from the first subset of the plurality of hosts that has CPU utilization below a CPU utilization border for more than a predetermined time period, wherein the CPU utilization border is higher than the deactivation threshold; causing the virtual machine creating the lowest amount of load to be migrated to the target host selected from the first subset of the plurality of hosts; selecting a second subset of the plurality of hosts that has CPU utilization below the deactivation threshold; and causing the second subset of the plurality of hosts to be powered-off, wherein power saved by powering off the second subset outweighs the cost associated with the virtual machine migration.