Dynamically assigning network addresses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10003568-B2
Application number	US-201514935865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2015
Priority date	Nov 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

Dynamically assigning network addresses provided by a server in a network to virtual network adapters in virtual machines, in which a reassignment of the assigned network addresses due to suspending virtual machines is prevented. Network addresses of the virtual machines in the network are logged. Network addresses are combined with information about suspending and/or resuming virtual machines by a control instance. Information about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses is sent to the server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of dynamically assigning network addresses provided by a server in a network to virtual network adapters in virtual machines, the computer-implemented method comprising:
logging network addresses of the virtual machines in the network;
combining, in a structure, one or more network addresses with state information about at least one of suspending or resuming virtual machines by a control instance; and
based on suspending a virtual machine, periodically sending, using the structure, information about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses to the server, wherein a reassignment of the dynamically assigned network addresses due to suspending virtual machines is prevented.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising periodically renewing one or more dynamically assigned network addresses via network communication from the respective virtual network adapter to the server in order to prevent their reassignment.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
based on suspending the virtual machine, starting to periodically send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses; and
based on resuming the virtual machine, stopping to send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the server is configured as a dynamic host configuration protocol server.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the sending information about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines uses a control instance.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the logging network addresses of the virtual machines in the network is performed by intercepting data packages sent between the server and the virtual machines and extracting network addresses.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a table with network addresses and states of running and suspended virtual machines.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising using a sniffer to collect network addresses associated with media access control addresses of virtual machines from data packages.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8 , wherein the sniffer is implemented in a same subnet of the network as the server.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising using a keep-alive daemon for periodically sending renewals of network addresses of suspended virtual machines to the server.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising reconfiguring one or more dynamically assigned network addresses in the server in order to prevent their reassignment.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
based on suspending the virtual machine, setting at least one network address to a static state for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses; and
based on resuming the virtual machine, setting the at least one network address to a dynamic state for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses.

13. A computer system for dynamically assigning network addresses provided by a server in a network to virtual network adapters in virtual machines, the computer system comprising:
a memory; and
a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the computer system is configured to perform a method, said method comprising:
logging network addresses of the virtual machines in the network;
combining, in a structure, one or more network addresses with state information about at least one of suspending or resuming virtual machines by a control instance; and
based on suspending a virtual machine, periodically sending information, using the structure, about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses to the server, wherein a reassignment of the dynamically assigned network addresses due to suspending virtual machines is prevented.

14. The computer system according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises periodically renewing one or more dynamically assigned network addresses via network communication from the respective virtual network adapter to the server in order to prevent their reassignment.

15. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
based on suspending the virtual machine, starting to periodically send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses; and
based on resuming the virtual machine, stopping to send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses.

16. The computer system according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:
reconfiguring one or more dynamically assigned network addresses in the server in order to prevent their reassignment;
based on suspending the virtual machine, setting at least one network address to a static state for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses; and
based on resuming the virtual machine, setting the at least one network address to a dynamic state for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses.

17. A computer program product for dynamically assigning network addresses provided by a server in a network to virtual network adapters in virtual machines, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
logging network addresses of the virtual machines in the network;
combining, in a structure, one or more network addresses with state information about at least one of suspending or resuming virtual machines by a control instance; and
based on suspending a virtual machine, periodically sending, using the structure, information about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses to the server, wherein a reassignment of the dynamically assigned network addresses due to suspending virtual machines is prevented.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises periodically renewing one or more dynamically assigned network addresses via network communication from the respective virtual network adapter to the server in order to prevent their reassignment.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
based on suspending the virtual machine, starting to periodically send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses; and
based on resuming the virtual machine, stopping to send renewals to the server for its virtual network adapters with the dynamically assigned network addresses.

20. The computer program product according to claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
reconfiguring one or more dynamically assigned network addresses in the server in order to prevent their reassignment;

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Lang Jakob C
• Nunez Mencias Angel
• Pohl Thomas
• Troester Martin

Classifications

• G06F2009/45575

  Starting, stopping, suspending or resuming virtual machine instances · CPC title

• G06F9/45558 Primary

  Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects · CPC title

• G06F2009/45595

  Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances · CPC title

• H04L61/2053

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L61/2015 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic