Nutanix, Inc.
Multi-stage IOPS allocation

Abstract:

Systems and methods for policy-based apportionment of input/output operations (IOPS) in computing systems. Embodiments access a policy that specifies IOPS limits. Two or more virtual machines that are associated with the policy and two or more nodes that host those virtual machines are identified. In a first allocation stage, an inter-node policy manager prescribes an initial IOPS limit to the two or more nodes. The allocation amounts sent to the nodes depend at least in part on performance capabilities of respective nodes. In a second allocation stage, for each node that had received a limit amount, that amount is apportioned to the sets of virtual machines that execute on respective host nodes. Each node of the two or more nodes invokes its own node-local IOPS monitoring. Each node reports IOPS usage data to the inter-node policy manager, which in turn adjusts the node-level IOPS apportionments based on the node-level usage.