VMware, Inc.
CANARY PROCESS FOR GRACEFUL WORKLOAD EVICTION

Abstract:

Memory shortage is detected in a clustered container host system so that workloads can be shut down gracefully. A method of managing memory in a virtual machine (VM) in which containers are executed, includes the steps of: monitoring a dummy process that runs in the VM concurrently with the containers, the dummy process being configured to be terminated by an operating system of the VM under a low memory condition before any other processes running in the VM; upon detecting that the dummy process has been terminated, selecting one of the containers to be terminated; and terminating processes of the selected container.