International Business Machines Corporation
System and method for determining when cloud virtual machines need to be updated

Abstract:

A method of providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. An update is received from a software supplier, the update including one or more patches that at least one of correct bugs, correct security vulnerabilities, or introduce at least one new functionality for virtual machines using software of the software supplier for which the update affects and is applicable. It is determined, using a processor on a computer, whether a virtual machine image, stored in a library and used as a template for instantiating virtual machines and affected by the received update, should be updated immediately in accordance with the received update. The virtual machine image is updated if it is determined that such immediate update should be implemented.