Virtual machine migration plan generation through A∗ search

Modern virtual machine (VM) management software includes components that enable consolidation of VMs for power savings or load-balancing for performance. While the existing literature provides various methods for computing a better load-balanced, or consolidated goal state, it fails to adequately suggest the best path from the system´s current state to the desired goal allocation. This paper discusses an approach to efficient path finding in VM placement plan generation for cloud computing environments. Initial results indicate our prototype solution is viable for managing hundreds of VMs through the application of A∗ search.