An energy-aware algorithm to migrate virtual machines in a server cluster

Abstract

In order to realise eco-society, we have to reduce the electric energy consumed by servers in a cluster in addition to satisfying performance requirements. Virtual machines are now widely used to support applications with virtual computation service in clusters of servers. Here, a virtual machine on a host server can migrate to a guest server while processes are being performed on the virtual machine. In this paper, we propose an energy-aware migration of virtual machines (EAMV) algorithm where not only a virtual machine is selected to perform a process issued by a client but also a virtual machine migrates to a guest server which is expected to consume smaller electric energy to perform processes on the virtual machine. In the evaluation, we show the total electric energy consumption of servers and the average execution time of processes can be reduced in the EAMV algorithm compared with non-migration algorithms.