Method and system for migrating virtual machines between hypervisors

US8196138B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Claus Allwell · Stuttgart, DE
• Michael Behrendt · Randersacker, DE
• Gerd Breiter · Wildberg, DE
• Sebastian OTT · Hermsdorf, DE
• Hans-Joachim Picht · Glessen, DE
• Jens Wollenhaupt · Kassel, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 18, 2008
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2012
• Expiry date: Apr 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2009/4557
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for migrating virtual machines between hypervisors is disclosed. Initially, metadata describing a virtual machine are automatically scanned and parsed. The structure of the metadata of a source virtual machine are automatically analyzed. Elements of this structure are mapped to corresponding entries of a target virtual machine. A target metadata descriptor to be used as part of the target virtual machine is generated. A predefined layout description of the data stored in a file system image of the source virtual machine read. A predefined layout description of the data to be stored in a file system image to be used at the target virtual machine is also read. The data are extracted from the source virtual machine. A template of a file system image for the target virtual system is generated. Storage space corresponding to the target virtual machine is allocated, and the extracted data are inserted into the allocated storage space.