IP Library Granted Patent US 8,370,836
Granted Patent B2
US 8,370,836 · App. 12/695,591 · Granted Feb 5, 2013

System and method to enable power related decisions in a virtualization environment

Inventors: Sudhir V. Shetty (Cedar Park, TX); George Richards, III (Round Rock, TX); Mukund P. Khatri (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, LP
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,370,836
App. No.
12/695,591
Filed
Jan 28, 2010
Granted
Feb 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2115
USPC
718/1
Abstract

A virtualization system includes an information handling system with a power detector that detects a power level of the information handling system and another power detector that detects another power level of the information handling system, a power status module, and a virtual machine manager that starts workloads on the information handling system. The power status module receives the power levels and sends the power levels to the virtual machine manager. The virtual machine manager apportions a first portion of the first power level to the first workload, apportions a second portion of the first power level to the second workload, apportions a first portion of the second power level to the first workload, and apportions a second portion of the second power level to the second workload.

Claims (93)

1. A virtualization system comprising:

a first power detector that detects a first power level of the virtualization system;

a second power detector that detects a second power level of the virtualization system;

a power status module; and

a virtual machine manager operable to start first and second workloads on the virtualization system;

wherein the power status module:

receives the first power level and the second power level; and

sends the first power level and the second power level to the virtual machine manager; and

wherein the virtual machine manager:

apportions a first portion of the first power level to the first workload;

apportions a second portion of the first power level to the second workload;

apportions a first portion of the second power level to the first workload; and

apportions a second portion of the second power level to the second workload.

2. The virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein further the virtual machine manager determines a first total power level for the first workload, the first total power level being a sum of the first portion of the first power level and the first portion of the second power level.

3. The virtualization system of claim 2 , wherein further the virtual machine manager:

determines a second total power level for the second workload, the second total power level being a sum of the second portion of the first power level and the second portion of the second power level; and

apportions a first processing cost to the first workload and a second processing cost to the second workload, the ratio of the first processing cost to the second processing cost being equal to the ratio of the first total power level to the second total power level.

4. The virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein further:

the first power level is associated with a first element of the virtualization system and the second power level is associated with a second element of the virtualization system;

the virtual machine manager includes:

a first power budget for the first element;

a second budget for the second element;

a first power allocation for a third workload, the first power allocation being associated with the first element; and

a second power allocation for the third workload, the second power allocation being associated with the second element; and

the virtual machine manager is operable to start the third workload on the virtualization system in response to determining that

the sum of the first power level and the first power allocation is not greater than the first power budget; and

the sum of the second power level and the second power allocation is not greater than the second power budget.

5. The virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein further the power status module determines a third power level, the third power level being a difference of the first power level and the second power level.

6. The virtualization system of claim 5 , wherein further:

the power status module sends the third power level to the virtual machine manager; and

the virtual machine manager:

apportions a first portion of the third power level to the first workload; and

apportions a second portion of the third power level to the second workload.

7. The virtualization system of claim 1 , wherein the power status module comprises an application programming interface.

8. A method comprising:

receiving at a power status module a first power level of an information handling system;

receiving a second power level of the information handling system;

sending the first power level and the second power level to a virtual machine manager of a virtualization environment;

apportioning in the virtual machine manager:

a first portion of the first power level to a first workload of the information handling system;

a second portion of the first power level to a second workload of the information handling system;

a first portion of the second power level to the first workload; and

a second portion of the second power level to the second workload.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining in the virtual machine manager a first total power level for the first workload, the first total power level being a sum of the first portion of the first power level and the first portion of the second power level.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining in the virtual machine manager a second total power level for the second workload, the second total power level being a sum of the second portion of the first power level and the second portion of the second power level; and

apportioning in the virtual machine manager a first processing cost to the first workload and a second processing cost to the second workload, the ratio of the first processing cost to the second processing cost being equal to the ratio of the first total power level to the second total power level.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the first power level is associated with a first element of the information handling system and the second power level is associated with a second element of the information handling system;

the virtual machine manager includes:

a first power budget for the first element;

a second budget for the second element;

a first power allocation for a third workload, the first power allocation being associated with the first element; and

a second power allocation for the third workload, the second power allocation being associated with the second element; and

the method further comprises:

determining in the virtual machine manager that:

the sum of the first power level and the first power allocation is not greater than the first power budget; and

the sum of the second power level and the second power allocation is not greater than the second power budget; and

in response to determining, starting the third workload on the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining in the power status module a third power level, the third power level being a difference of the first power level and the second power level.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

sending the third power level to the virtual machine manager; and

apportioning in the virtual machine manager a first portion of the third power level to the first workload; and

apportioning in the virtual machine manager a second portion of the third power level to the second workload.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the power status module comprises an application programming interface.

15. Machine-executable code for an information handling system comprising a first resource, wherein the machine-executable code is embedded within a non-transitory medium and includes instructions for carrying out a method comprising:

receiving a first power level of the information handling system;

receiving a second power level of the information handling system; and

apportioning:

a first portion of the first power level to a first workload of the information handling system;

a second portion of the first power level to a second workload of the information handling system;

a first portion of the second power level to the first workload; and

a second portion of the second power level to the second workload.

16. The machine-executable code of claim 15 , the method further comprising determining a first total power level for the first workload, the first total power level being a sum of the first portion of the first power level and the first portion of the second power level.

17. The machine-executable code of claim 16 , the method further comprising:

determining a second total power level for the second workload, the second total power level being a sum of the second portion of the first power level and the second portion of the second power level; and

apportioning a first processing cost to the first workload and a second processing cost to the second workload, the ratio of the first processing cost to the second processing cost being equal to the ratio of the first total power level to the second total power level.

18. The machine-executable code of claim 15 , wherein:

the first power level is associated with a first element of the information handling system and the second power level is associated with a second element of the information handling system;

the virtual machine manager includes:

a first power budget for the first element;

a second budget for the second element;

a first power allocation for a third workload, the first power allocation being associated with the first element; and

a second power allocation for the third workload, the second power allocation being associated with the second element; and

the method further comprises:

determining that:

the sum of the first power level and a first power allocation for a third workload is not greater than a first power budget for the first element, wherein the first power allocation is associated with the first element; and

the sum of the second power level and a second power allocation for the third workload is not greater than the second power budget, wherein the second power allocation is associated with the second element; and

in response to determining, starting the third workload on the information handling system.

19. The machine-executable code of claim 15 , the method further comprising determining a third power level, the third power level being a difference of the first power level and the second power level.

20. The machine-executable code of claim 19 , the method further comprising apportioning:

a first portion of the third power level to the first workload; and

a second portion of the third power level to the second workload.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2010
From: SHETTY, SUDHIR V.; RICHARDS, GEORGE, III; KHATRI, MUKUND P.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 023883/0429 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110185356A1 · Jul 28, 2011