Memory Over-Committing

How can multiple virtual servers be hosted on a single host when the virtual servers’ aggregate memory exceeds the physical memory that is available on the host?

Problem

A host needs to be able to host multiple virtual servers, even though their total memory configuration exceeds the host’s own physical memory.

Solution

Memory virtualization is implemented to enable more virtual servers to be hosted on the same host, by allowing the host’s physical memory to be exceeded by the total memory configuration of the virtual servers.

Application

One or more memory over-commitment components are implemented.

Mechanisms

Hypervisor, Virtual Infrastructure Manager, Virtual RAM, Virtualization Agent, Virtualization Monitor

Compound Patterns

Burst In, Burst Out to Private Cloud, Burst Out to Public Cloud, Cloud Authentication, Cloud Balancing, Elastic Environment, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Isolated Trust Boundary, Multitenant Environment, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Resilient Environment, Resource Workload Management, Secure Burst Out to Private Cloud/Public Cloud, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Virtual Servers A, B, and C are each allotted a portion of Host A’s physical memory.

The four steps involved in applying the Memory Over-Committing pattern are shown.

Virtual Servers A through F can all be powered on at Hypervisor A.