Amazon.com, Inc.
Reducing execution times in an on-demand network code execution system using saved machine states

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for reducing latency to service requests to execute code on an on-demand code execution system by maintaining snapshots of virtual machine instances in a ready state to execute such code. A user may submit code to the on-demand code execution system, which code depends on other software, such as an operating system or runtime. The on-demand code execution system can generate a virtual machine instance provisioned with the other software, and initialize the instance into a state at which it is ready to execute the code. The on-demand code execution system can then generate a snapshot of the state of the instance, and halt the instance. When a request to execute the code is received, the snapshot can be used to quickly restore the instance. The code can then be executed within the instance, reducing the need to initialize the instance or maintain the instance in an executing state.