IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,910,695
Granted Patent B2
US 9,910,695 · App. 15/341,696 · Granted Mar 6, 2018

Automatic virtual machine termination in a cloud

Inventor: Jean-Yves B. Rigolet (Noisy-le-Grand, FR)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06F9/45558G06F9/485G06F9/5022G06F2009/45575
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,910,695
App. No.
15/341,696
Granted
Mar 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Managing a cloud computing environment including a plurality of resources adapted to host at least one virtual machine includes, in a virtual machine, determining a period of inactivity of the operating system for a user of the virtual machine and comparing, using a processor, the period with a defined threshold. From the virtual machine, a virtual machine termination request is sent to the cloud computing environment responsive to the period exceeding the defined threshold.

Claims (52)

1. A method of managing a cloud computing environment adapted to host a virtual machine, comprising:

determining, in the virtual machine, a period of inactivity of an operating system for a user of the virtual machine;

requesting, from the cloud computing environment and responsive to the period exceeding a defined threshold, a list of active processes of the user;

identifying, by the virtual machine and within the list, an active process being hosted by the virtual machine; and

sending, from the virtual machine and to a cloud management server, a virtual machine terminal request that includes the identified active process, wherein

the virtual machine is terminated upon the request being received, and

the requesting the list of active processes includes embedding credentials of the user in a request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the defined threshold is user-defined.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the defined threshold is defined by a system operator.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the active process is identified by comparing a network address assigned to the virtual machine to a network address associated to the active process.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the list is requested from the cloud management server.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the virtual machine is terminated by the cloud management server upon the cloud management server receiving the virtual machine terminal request.

7. A computer hardware system configured to manage a cloud computing environment adapted to host a virtual machine, comprising

a hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable operations:

determining, in the virtual machine, a period of inactivity of an operating system for a user of the virtual machine;

requesting, from the cloud computing environment and responsive to the period exceeding a defined threshold, a list of active processes of the user;

identifying, by the virtual machine and within the list, an active process being hosted by the virtual machine; and

sending, from the virtual machine and to a cloud management server, a virtual machine terminal request that includes the identified active process, wherein

the virtual machine is terminated upon the request being received, and

the requesting the list of active processes includes embedding credentials of the user in a request.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the defined threshold is user-defined.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the defined threshold is defined by a system operator.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the active process is identified by comparing a network address assigned to the virtual machine to a network address associated to the active process.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the list is requested from the cloud management server.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein

the virtual machine is terminated by the cloud management server upon the cloud management server receiving the virtual machine terminal request.

13. A computer program product, comprising:

a hardware storage device having program code stored thereon for managing a cloud computing environment adapted to host a virtual machine,

the program code, which when executed by a computer hardware system, causes the computer hardware system to perform:

determining, in the virtual machine, a period of inactivity of an operating system for a user of the virtual machine;

requesting, from the cloud computing environment and responsive to the period exceeding a defined threshold, a list of active processes of the user;

identifying, by the virtual machine and within the list, an active process being hosted by the virtual machine; and

sending, from the virtual machine and to a cloud management server, a virtual machine terminal request that includes the identified active process, wherein

the virtual machine is terminated upon the request being received, and

the requesting the list of active processes includes embedding credentials of the user in a request.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein

the defined threshold is user-defined.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein

the defined threshold is defined by a system operator.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein

the active process is identified by comparing a network address assigned to the virtual machine to a network address associated to the active process.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein

the list is requested from the cloud management server.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2016
From: RIGOLET, JEAN-YVES B.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040200/0479 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1220205.7 · Nov 9, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14071960 · Nov 5, 2013
Related Publication 20170097843A1 · Apr 6, 2017