Performing maintenance operations on cloud computing node without requiring to stop all virtual machines in the node

1. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing maintenance operations on a cloud computing node, the computer program product comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving an indication that a maintenance operation is to be performed on said cloud computing node;

identifying one or more virtual machines in said cloud computing node that will be affected by said maintenance operation;

relocating said one or more virtual machines to one or more other cloud computing nodes prior to said maintenance operation;

performing said maintenance operation on said cloud computing node; and

relocating one or more of said one or more virtual machines back to said cloud computing node and/or to one or more other cloud computing nodes after said maintenance operation on said cloud computing node is completed in response to a need to rebalance resources in such a manner.

2. The computer program product as recited in claim 1 further comprising the programming instructions for:

notifying a user that one or more of said one or more virtual machines can be relocated if said user temporarily overrides a policy until said maintenance operation is completed.

3. The computer program product as recited in claim 2 further comprising the programming instructions for:

overriding said policy until said maintenance operation is completed.

4. The computer program product as recited in claim 1 further comprising the programming instructions for:

presenting a user with a choice of one or more other virtual machines to be suspended in response to one or more of said one or more virtual machines being able to be relocated if not for a lack of resources in a cloud computing environment.

5. The computer program product as recited in claim 4 further comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving a selection of one or more of said one or more other virtual machines to be suspended;

suspending said selected one or more other virtual machines until said maintenance operation is completed; and

resuming said suspended one or more other virtual machines after said maintenance operation is completed.

6. The computer program product as recited in claim 1 further comprising the programming instructions for:

presenting a user with a choice of one or more other virtual machines to be terminated in response to one or more of said one or more virtual machines being able to be relocated if not for a lack of resources in a cloud computing environment.

7. The computer program product as recited in claim 6 further comprising the programming instructions for:

receiving a selection of one or more of said one or more other virtual machines to be terminated; and

terminating operation of said selected one or more other virtual machines.

8. a memory unit for storing a computer program for performing maintenance operations on a cloud computing node; and

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises:

circuitry for receiving an indication that a maintenance operation is to be performed on said cloud computing node;

circuitry for identifying one or more virtual machines in said cloud computing node that will be affected by said maintenance operation;

circuitry for relocating said one or more virtual machines to one or more other cloud computing nodes prior to said maintenance operation;

circuitry for performing said maintenance operation on said cloud computing node; and

circuitry for relocating one or more of said one or more virtual machines back to said cloud computing node and/or to one or more other cloud computing nodes after said maintenance operation on said cloud computing node is completed in response to a need to rebalance resources in such a manner.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for notifying a user that one or more of said one or more virtual machines can be relocated if said user temporarily overrides a policy until said maintenance operation is completed.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for overriding said policy until said maintenance operation is completed.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for presenting a user with a choice of one or more other virtual machines to be suspended in response to one or more of said one or more virtual machines being able to be relocated if not for a lack of resources in a cloud computing environment.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for receiving a selection of one or more of said one or more other virtual machines to be suspended;

circuitry for suspending said selected one or more other virtual machines until said maintenance operation is completed; and

circuitry for resuming said suspended one or more other virtual machines after said maintenance operation is completed.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for presenting a user with a choice of one or more other virtual machines to be terminated in response to one or more of said one or more virtual machines being able to be relocated if not for a lack of resources in a cloud computing environment.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for receiving a selection of one or more of said one or more other virtual machines to be terminated; and

circuitry for terminating operation of said selected one or more other virtual machines.