A virtual machine scaling method, comprising: creating, by a virtualized network function manager, VNFM, a target virtualized network function, VNF node, and creating a virtual machine cluster for the target VNF node, wherein the virtual machine cluster comprises Q virtual machines, and Q is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving, by the VNFM, a virtual machine scaling request sent by a network function virtualization orchestrator, NFVO, wherein the virtual machine scaling request carries an identifier of the target VNF node, information about a target virtual machine, and a virtual machine status identifier, and the virtual machine status identifier is a power-on identifier or a power-off identifier; determining, by the VNFM, the virtual machine cluster of the target VNF node based on the identifier of the target VNF node, and determining the target virtual machine in the virtual machine cluster based on the information about the target virtual machine; and setting, by the VNFM, a running status of the target virtual machine based on the virtual machine status identifier, wherein the target virtual machine is set to a power-on state if the virtual machine status identifier is a power-on identifier, so as to scale out the target VNF node, or the target virtual machine is set to a power-off state if the virtual machine status identifier is a power-off identifier, so as to scale in the target VNF node, wherein after the setting, by the VNFM, a running status of the target virtual machine based on the virtual machine status identifier, the method further comprises: if Q is less than a first threshold and P/Q is greater than a second threshold, creating, by the VNFM, M new virtual machines for the target VNF node, wherein P is a quantity of virtual machines in a power-on state in the virtual machine cluster, and M is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to a difference between the first threshold and Q; and adding, by the VNFM, the M virtual machines to the virtual machine cluster. creating, by a virtualized network function manager, VNFM, a target virtualized network function, VNF node, and creating a virtual machine cluster for the target VNF node, wherein the virtual machine cluster comprises Q virtual machines, and Q is an integer greater than or equal to 1; receiving, by the VNFM, a virtual machine scaling request sent by a network function virtualization orchestrator, NFVO, wherein the virtual machine scaling request carries an identifier of the target VNF node, information about a target virtual machine, and a virtual machine status identifier, and the virtual machine status identifier is a power-on identifier or a power-off identifier; determining, by the VNFM, the virtual machine cluster of the target VNF node based on the identifier of the target VNF node, and determining the target virtual machine in the virtual machine cluster based on the information about the target virtual machine; and setting, by the VNFM, a running status of the target virtual machine based on the virtual machine status identifier, wherein the target virtual machine is set to a power-on state if the virtual machine status identifier is a power-on identifier, so as to scale out the target VNF node, or the target virtual machine is set to a power-off state if the virtual machine status identifier is a power-off identifier, so as to scale in the target VNF node, wherein after the setting, by the VNFM, a running status of the target virtual machine based on the virtual machine status identifier, the method further comprises: if Q is less than a first threshold and P/Q is greater than a second threshold, creating, by the VNFM, M new virtual machines for the target VNF node, wherein P is a quantity of virtual machines in a power-on state in the virtual machine cluster, and M is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to a difference between the first threshold and Q; and adding, by the VNFM, the M virtual machines to the virtual machine cluster. if Q is less than a first threshold and P/Q is greater than a second threshold, creating, by the VNFM, M new virtual machines for the target VNF node, wherein P is a quantity of virtual machines in a power-on state in the virtual machine cluster, and M is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to a difference between the first threshold and Q; and adding, by the VNFM, the M virtual machines to the virtual machine cluster.