WO2012093490A1

WO2012093490A1 - Information processing device, time control method, and time control program

Info

Publication number: WO2012093490A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/050190
Authority: WO
Inventors: 実久土肥
Original assignee: 富士通株式会社
Priority date: 2011-01-07
Filing date: 2011-01-07
Publication date: 2012-07-12

Abstract

The present invention facilitates confirmation of time-dependent information processing on a virtual machine. The information processing device (10) has a clock device (12), a memory unit (13), and a controller (14). The clock device (12) provides a first time. The memory unit (13) stores difference information showing the difference in time with respect to the first time. The controller (14) acquires the first time from the clock device (12), calculates a second time using the acquired first time and the difference shown by the difference information stored to the memory unit (13), and provides the calculated second time to virtual machines (11a, 11b).

Description

Information processing apparatus, time control method, and time control program

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a time control method, and a time control program.

Currently, virtualization technology is used to execute one or more virtual computers (sometimes called virtual machines) on a physical computer (sometimes called a physical machine). In a physical machine that employs a virtualization technology, for example, software (sometimes called a hypervisor) that controls the virtual machine is executed. The hypervisor allocates resources such as a processing capacity of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage area of a RAM (Random Access Memory) to a virtual machine.

In each virtual machine, an operating system (OS: Operating System) is executed. The OS of the virtual machine manages resources allocated from the hypervisor and controls execution of application programs. When the OS of the virtual machine tries to access a device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Disk Drive), the access request is detected by the hypervisor. Then, for example, a hypervisor (or other software that receives a request from the hypervisor) executes access to the device instead of the OS of the virtual machine, and notifies the OS of the virtual machine of the access result.

When a timer command is issued from the OS of the virtual machine, a virtual computer system that divides the elapsed time specified by the timer command by the acceleration factor and operates the real timer mechanism based on the corrected elapsed time is proposed. ing. Further, there has been proposed a method of generating a timer interrupt by correcting the requested elapsed time based on a timer acceleration coefficient when software on a virtual machine requests a timer interrupt.

In order to absorb the effects of changing the timer source, a microcomputer that converts the real timer to a virtual timer based on the ratio of the clock frequency before and after the timer source change and proposes a microcomputer that controls application processing based on the virtual timer clock is proposed. Has been.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-309136 (bottom right of page 2) JP-A-11-306036 (paragraph [0011]) JP 2007-34672 A

By the way, some software includes time-dependent information processing that is executed only at a specific time. In situations such as software testing, a method for preparing a software execution environment in which the current time is changed can be considered in order to execute time-dependent information processing and check the result. However, how to efficiently realize the software execution environment becomes a problem. For example, even if the virtualization technique is adopted, it is difficult to change the current time recognized by the OS to an arbitrary time with the methods of

Patent Documents

1 and 2 described above.

In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a time control method, and a time control program that facilitate confirmation of time-dependent information processing on a virtual machine.

In one embodiment, an information processing apparatus that executes a virtual machine is provided. This information processing apparatus includes a timing device, a storage unit, and a control unit. The timing device provides a first time. The storage unit stores difference information indicating a time difference with respect to the first time. The control unit acquires the first time from the timing device, calculates the second time using the acquired first time and the difference indicated by the difference information stored in the storage unit, and calculates the calculated second time Provide the time to the virtual machine.

Also, in one embodiment, a time control method performed by a computer executing a virtual machine is provided. In this time control method, the first time is acquired from the time measuring device provided in the computer. A second time is calculated based on the acquired first time and difference information indicating a difference in time with respect to the first time stored in the storage unit. The calculated second time is provided to the virtual machine. A time control program to be executed by a computer that executes the virtual machine is also provided.

According to one embodiment, confirmation of time-dependent information processing on a virtual machine is facilitated.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments as examples of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the information processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the information processing system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware example of a server apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a virtual machine. It is a block diagram which shows a virtual machine control function. It is a figure which shows the example of a description of a time setting file. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a virtual machine management table. It is a flowchart which shows a virtual machine starting process. It is a flowchart which shows a time acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows a time setting process. It is a flowchart which shows a timer management process.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the information processing apparatus 10,

virtual machines

11a and 11b are executed as an example. However, the number of virtual machines executed by the information processing apparatus 10 may be one or three or more. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a timing device 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14.

The timing device 12 is a hardware device that provides the first time. The first time may be the current time in the time zone where the information processing apparatus 10 is installed. The first time may be Coordinated Universal Time (UTC: Universal Time Time Coordinated). The first time held by the timing device 12 proceeds in accordance with, for example, an actual time speed.

The storage unit 13 stores difference information indicating a time difference (for example, a non-zero value) with respect to the first time. The difference indicated by the difference information may be commonly applied to a plurality of virtual machines. Further, difference information for each virtual machine may be stored in the storage unit 13. The difference information stored in the storage unit 13 may be received from outside the information processing apparatus 10 via a network. As the storage unit 13, for example, an arbitrary storage device such as a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, or a magnetic disk can be used.

The control unit 14 acquires the first time from the time measuring device 12, and calculates the second time using the acquired first time and the difference indicated by the difference information stored in the storage unit 13. For example, the difference indicated by the difference information is added to the first time (shifted from the first time) to obtain the second time. The control unit 14 provides the calculated second time to the

virtual machines

11a and 11b. The second time can also be said to be a virtual time viewed from the

virtual machines

11a and 11b. When difference information for each virtual machine is prepared, the control unit 14 may calculate the second time for each virtual machine. The control unit 14 may calculate the second time of the issuing virtual machine when a command to access the timing device 12 is issued from the

virtual machines

11a and 11b. The control unit 14 can be realized as a hypervisor module.

According to the information processing apparatus 10, the first time is acquired from the timing device 12 included in the information processing apparatus 10. The second time is calculated based on the acquired first time and the difference indicated by the difference information stored in the storage unit 13. The calculated second time is provided to some or all of the

virtual machines

11a and 11b.

By using the information processing apparatus 10, the time recognized by the

virtual machines

11a and 11b can be easily changed, and time-dependent information processing can be efficiently executed on the

virtual machines

11a and 11b. For example, by registering the difference information in the information processing apparatus 10, it is possible to easily test software that assumes an arbitrary time. Also, by registering different difference information for each virtual machine in the information processing apparatus 10, a plurality of virtual machines having different time settings can coexist on the information processing apparatus 10, and multiple tests assuming different times are possible. Can be performed in parallel. Therefore, for example, tests of computer systems installed in a plurality of places having different time zones can be performed in parallel on the information processing apparatus 10, and the test is made more efficient.

The storage unit 13 may further store speed information indicating a ratio of the time speeds of the

virtual machines

11a and 11b to the time speed of the timing device 12 (for example, the ratio may be referred to as an acceleration coefficient). For example, in addition to the difference indicated by the first time and the difference information, the control unit 14 uses the operating time of the

virtual machines

11a and 11b measured based on the ratio indicated by the speed information and the time speed of the time measuring device 12. The second time may be calculated. By using the speed information, the time speed viewed from the

virtual machines

11a and 11b can be easily adjusted.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 2 illustrates an information processing system according to the second embodiment. The information processing system according to the second embodiment includes

server devices

100, 100a, 100b, a management device 200, and a client device 300.

Server devices

100, 100 a, 100 b and management device 200 are connected to network 20. The client device 300 is connected to the network 30. The information processing system according to the second embodiment can be realized, for example, as a system (cloud system) in the form of so-called cloud computing.

The

server apparatuses

100, 100a, 100b are server computers on which one or more virtual machines are arranged. In the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, and 100b, a hypervisor that controls the virtual machine is executed. For example, in response to an instruction from the management apparatus 200, the hypervisor performs control of activation and termination of a virtual machine used by the user of the client apparatus 300, allocation of resources such as a CPU and RAM to the virtual machine, and the like.

The management device 200 is a server computer that manages the placement of virtual machines on the

server devices

100, 100a, and 100b. For example, when the client device 300 requests the virtual machine to be activated, the management device 200 selects one or more server devices so that the load is not biased, and instructs the selected server device to activate the virtual machine. When time setting information indicating a change in time viewed from the virtual machine is acquired from the client device 300 at or before the request to start the virtual machine, the time change is also instructed to the selected server device. In addition, when the client apparatus 300 requests the end of the virtual machine, the management apparatus 200 instructs the server apparatus in which the virtual machine related to the request is disposed to end the virtual machine.

The client device 300 is a computer as a terminal device operated by a user. For example, the client device 300 requests the management device 200 to start a virtual machine via the network 30. Then, for example, an instruction to place an application program on the activated virtual machine is transmitted to execute the application program. In order to change the time seen from the virtual machine, the time setting information may be transmitted to the management apparatus 200 when the virtual machine is requested to be started or before. Further, the client apparatus 300 requests the management apparatus 200 to end the virtual machine. The client device 300 may execute a web browser as a user interface used for accessing the management device 200.

Note that the information processing system of the second embodiment can be used as a software development environment. For example, a software engineer can operate the client apparatus 300 to start one or more virtual machines on the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, and 100b, and test the created application program on the virtual machine. . In the following description, as an example of usage, a case is considered in which application software in which time-dependent information processing is implemented is tested using a plurality of virtual machines having different time settings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware example of the server device. The server apparatus 100 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, an HDD 103, a timing device 104, a timer device 105, an image signal processing unit 106, an input signal processing unit 107, a disk drive 108, and a communication unit 109. In the server apparatus 100, the unit is connected to a bus.

The CPU 101 is an arithmetic device that controls information processing of the server device 100. For example, the CPU 101 reads out at least a part of a program and data stored in the HDD 103 (or a storage device of another information processing apparatus), expands it in the RAM 102, and executes the program. The CPU 101 may access the timing device 104 to obtain the current time. When generating a timer interrupt, the timer device 105 is designated with time or time. The computing power of the CPU 101 is allocated to the hypervisor and the virtual machine.

The RAM 102 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores programs and data read by the CPU 101. A storage area of the RAM 102 is allocated to the hypervisor and the virtual machine. Note that the server device 100 may include a type of memory other than the RAM.

The HDD 103 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs such as an OS program and application programs, and data used for the operation of the CPU 101. The HDD 103 reads from and writes to the built-in magnetic disk. Note that the server device 100 may include a nonvolatile storage device of a type other than the HDD.

Time keeping device 104 is a hardware device that holds the current time. When accessed from the CPU 101, the timing device 104 provides the current time to the CPU 101. The current time held by the time measuring device 104 may be the time (local time) of the time zone where the server apparatus 100 is installed, or UTC.

The timer device 105 is a hardware device that outputs an interrupt signal. When there is an access specifying a time from the CPU 101, the timer device 105 monitors the elapsed time from the access point and outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 101 when the specified time has elapsed. In addition, when there is an access specifying a time from the CPU 101, the timer device 105 outputs an interrupt signal to the CPU 101 at the specified time.

The image signal processing unit 106 displays a screen on the display 111 connected to the server apparatus 100 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101. As the display 111, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or a liquid crystal display can be used.

The input signal processing unit 107 acquires an input signal from the input device 112 connected to the server apparatus 100 and outputs it to the CPU 101. As the input device 112, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch panel, or a keyboard can be used.

The disk drive 108 is a drive device that reads programs and data recorded on the recording medium 113. As the recording medium 113, for example, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk (FD), an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a magneto-optical disk (MO) is used. be able to. The disk drive 108 writes the read program and data into the RAM 102 and notifies the CPU 101 of the completion of writing.

The communication unit 109 performs wired communication via the network 20. For example, the communication unit 109 communicates with the management device 200 and the client device 300 to transmit data stored in the RAM 102 and write received data to the RAM 102.

Note that the timing device 104 is an example of the timing device 12 according to the first embodiment. The RAM 102 or the HDD 103 is an example of the storage unit 13 according to the first embodiment. The CPU 101 and the RAM 102 are an example of the control unit 14 according to the first embodiment.

Further, the server device 100 may include a plurality of CPUs and RAMs. In that case, different CPUs and RAMs can be allocated to different virtual machines. The

server apparatuses

100a and 100b, the management apparatus 200, and the client apparatus 300 can also be realized by the same hardware configuration as the server apparatus 100 described above. However, some or all of the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, 100b and the management apparatus 200 may not include a user interface such as a display or an input device, and may not include a disk drive.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement example of virtual machines. In the example of FIG. 4, two virtual machines are arranged on each of the

server apparatuses

100 and 100 a by the selection of the management apparatus 200.
In the server apparatus 100, virtual machines 121 and 122 (virtual machines # 1 and # 2) are arranged.

Virtual machines

121a and 122a (virtual machines # 3 and # 4) are arranged on the server 100a. The OS is executed on each of the virtual machines # 1 to # 4. The OSs of the virtual machines # 1 to # 4 may all be the same type of OS, or different types of OSs may be mixed.

The server apparatus 100 executes the hypervisor 130. The hypervisor 130 allocates the resources of the server device 100 such as the computing capacity of the CPU 101 and the storage area of the RAM 102 to the virtual machines # 1 and # 2. The server apparatus 100a executes the hypervisor 130a. The hypervisor 130a allocates the resources of the server device 100a to the virtual machines # 3 and # 4. The OSs of the virtual machines # 1 to # 4 manage the allocated resources.

The hypervisor 130 uses the timer device 105 to periodically acquire control of the server device 100. For example, the hypervisor 130 designates a time for the timer device 105 and generates an interrupt signal at regular time intervals so that the hypervisor 130 can obtain control. Thereby, even if the OS processing of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 is being executed, the processing of the hypervisor 130 is prioritized. Similarly, the hypervisor 130a uses a timer device 105a corresponding to the timer device 105 of the server apparatus 100 in order to periodically acquire control of the server apparatus 100a.

In addition, the hypervisor 130 uses the timing device 104 to provide time to the OSs of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2. However, the time provided to the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 is a virtual time and may be different from the actual time provided by the timing device 104. When the hypervisor 130 acquires the time change information from the management apparatus 200 before the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 are activated, the hypervisor 130 determines whether the actual time and the virtual time are based on the acquired time change information. Perform conversion. The virtual time can be changed for each virtual machine. Similarly, the hypervisor 130a provides time to the OSs of the virtual machines # 3 and # 4 by using a timing device 104a corresponding to the timing device 104 of the server apparatus 100.

The hypervisor 130 may provide a virtual time to the issuing OS when the OS of any virtual machine issues an instruction to access the timing device 104. For example, the hypervisor 130 sets a virtual address indicating an instruction to access the timing device 104 for each virtual machine. The address may be an I / O (Input / Output) space address (I / O address system) or a memory space address (memory mapped I / O system). When the hypervisor 130 detects the instruction at the set address, the hypervisor 130 accesses the timing device 104 in place of the OS that issued the instruction.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the virtual machine control function. By executing the program, a virtual machine information storage unit 131, a virtual machine control unit 132, a virtual clock control unit 133, and a virtual timer control unit 134 are realized in the server device 100. These units are included in the hypervisor 130. The

server device

100a, 100b also realizes the same function as the server device 100. In addition, a clock initialization unit 211 and a virtual machine arrangement unit 212 are realized in the management apparatus 200. In the second embodiment, the above function is realized by software. However, it can be implemented as a hardware circuit.

The virtual machine information storage unit 131 stores virtual machine information including information regarding the times of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2. The virtual machine information storage unit 131 can be realized as a storage area secured in the RAM 102 or the HDD 103, for example.

When the virtual machine control unit 132 acquires time change information from the management apparatus 200, the virtual machine control unit 132 records the acquired time change information in the virtual machine information storage unit 131. Further, the virtual machine control unit 132 activates the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 in accordance with an instruction from the management apparatus 200, and records the activation time in the virtual machine information storage unit 131. Further, the execution of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 is terminated in response to an instruction from the management apparatus 200.

The virtual clock control unit 133 detects an instruction for accessing the timing device 104 issued by the OS of any virtual machine. For example, an instruction specifying a virtual I / O space address or a memory space address associated with the timing device 104 is detected. In the case of a time acquisition command, the virtual clock control unit 133 acquires the time from the time measuring device 104, and converts the acquired time into a virtual time based on the information stored in the virtual machine information storage unit 131. Then, the virtual time is notified to the OS that issued the instruction. On the other hand, in the case of a time setting command, the virtual clock control unit 133 updates the information related to the time stored in the virtual machine information storage unit 131 without changing the time held by the timing device 104.

The virtual timer control unit 134 detects an instruction to access the timer device 105 issued by the OS of any virtual machine. For example, an instruction specifying a virtual I / O space address or a memory space address associated with the timer device 105 is detected. When the virtual timer control unit 134 detects an instruction, the virtual timer control unit 134 generates an interrupt signal without using the timer device 105. For example, the virtual timer control unit 134 calculates the target virtual time by adding the time specified by the command to the current virtual time calculated as described above. Then, when the calculated virtual time becomes the target virtual time, an interrupt signal is generated so that the OS that issued the instruction can acquire control.

The clock initialization unit 211 acquires a file (time setting file) including time setting information created by the client device 300. As described later, the time setting information includes a time offset, an acceleration coefficient, and an assumed time zone for each virtual machine. The clock initialization unit 211 calculates a time difference considering the time difference for each virtual machine from the time offset and the time zone, and transmits time change information including the time difference and the acceleration coefficient to the

server devices

100, 100a, and 100b. .

When the virtual machine placement unit 212 requests the virtual machine to be activated from the client apparatus 300, the virtual machine arrangement unit 212 selects a server apparatus that operates the requested virtual machine so that the load on the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, and 100b is not biased. Then, it instructs the selected server device to start the virtual machine. When the client device 300 requests the end of the virtual machine, the client device 300 instructs the server device in which the virtual machine related to the request is arranged to end the virtual machine.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of the time setting file. The client device 300 creates a time setting file 221 according to the user's operation and transmits it to the management device 200. In FIG. 6, time setting information is described in an XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. The format shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and the description format of the time setting information is not limited to this.

For example, in the time setting file 221, a set of virtual machines used for application software testing is defined. In the example of FIG. 6, the name “test1” is defined in the top tag for the set of virtual machines # 1 to # 3. In the following description, it is assumed that the user of the client apparatus 300 tests application software using the virtual machines # 1 to # 3.

In the time setting file 221, a time offset and an acceleration coefficient are defined for the set of virtual machines # 1 to # 3 as described above. The time offset is an initial value (difference when the virtual machines # 1 to # 3 are started) of the difference between the actual time and the virtual time when the time difference is not taken into consideration. The acceleration coefficient is a ratio of the traveling speed of the virtual time to the traveling speed of the actual time, and takes a positive number. An acceleration factor greater than 1 means acceleration, and an acceleration factor less than 1 means deceleration.

In the time setting file 221, a time zone is defined for each of the virtual machines # 1 to # 3 as described above. The sum of the time difference and time offset indicated by the time zone is the initial value of the time difference taking into account the time difference set for each virtual machine (the time difference at the time of startup of the virtual machines # 1 to # 3).

In the above description, the time offset and acceleration coefficient are set for the set of virtual machines # 1 to # 3. However, the time offset and acceleration coefficient may be set for each virtual machine. In that case, the time offset for each virtual machine described in the time setting file 221 may be one that takes into account the influence of the time difference.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a structure example of the virtual machine management table. A virtual machine management table 141 is stored in the virtual machine information storage unit 131 of the server apparatus 100. The

server apparatuses

100a and 100b also store a virtual machine management table having a similar structure. The structure shown in FIG. 7 is an example, and the data structure of the virtual machine information is not limited to this.

The virtual machine management table 141 includes items of ID (Identifier), time difference, acceleration coefficient, and start time. The ID is identification information for identifying a virtual machine operating on the server device 100. The time difference is a time difference included in the time change information transmitted by the management apparatus 200. The acceleration coefficient is an acceleration coefficient included in the time change information transmitted by the management apparatus 200. The activation time is an actual time when each virtual machine is activated (time provided by the timing device 104), and is recorded by the virtual machine control unit 132.

For example, information of ID = # 1, time difference = + 50, acceleration coefficient = 1.5, start time = 20101012_06: 10 is registered in the virtual machine management table 141. Such information indicates that the virtual machine # 1 is started at 6:10 on October 12, 2010, and the virtual time when the virtual machine # 1 starts is 50 hours ahead of the actual time. It shows that time advances at a speed 1.5 times the actual time.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing virtual machine activation processing. The process illustrated in FIG. 8 will be described along with step numbers.
(Step S 11) The clock initialization unit 211 acquires the time setting file 221 created by the client device 300.

(Step S12) The clock initialization unit 211 identifies the time difference from the time zone described in the time setting file 221. Then, the time difference is calculated for each of the virtual machines # 1 to # 3 by adding a time difference to the time offset described in the time setting file 221. The time difference is specified based on the time of the time measuring device 104. When the time of the time measuring device 104 is the local time, the time difference means a difference from the local time. When the time of the time measuring device 104 is the UTC, the time difference means a difference from the UTC.

(Step S13) The virtual machine placement unit 212 refers to the loads of the

server devices

100, 100a, and 100b, and selects the server device on which the virtual machines # 1 to # 3 are placed. Here, as described above, the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 are arranged in the server apparatus 100, and the virtual machine # 3 is arranged in the server apparatus 100a. Note that information indicating the load on the

server devices

100, 100a, and 100b can be collected from, for example, the hypervisor of each server device.

(Step S14) The clock initialization unit 211 transmits time change information for the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 to the server apparatus 100, and transmits time change information for the virtual machine # 3 to the server apparatus 100a. The time change information includes the time difference calculated in step S12 and the acceleration coefficient described in the time setting file 221. The virtual machine control unit 132 registers the time difference and the acceleration coefficient of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 in the virtual machine management table 141. Similarly, the time difference and acceleration coefficient of the virtual machine # 3 are registered in the server device 100a.

(Step S15) The virtual machine placement unit 212 instructs the server apparatus 100 to start the virtual machines # 1 and # 2, and instructs the server apparatus 100a to start the virtual machine # 3. The virtual machine control unit 132 acquires an image file including an OS program from the HDD 103 or another device connected to the network 20 and activates the OSs of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2. Also, the startup times of the virtual machines # 1 and # 2 are registered in the virtual machine management table 141. Similarly, the virtual machine # 3 is activated on the server device 100a.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the time acquisition process. Here, consider a case where the OS of the virtual machine # 1 acquires the time. The process illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described along with step numbers.
(Step S21) The virtual clock control unit 133 detects an instruction indicating access (time acquisition) to the timing device 104 issued by the OS of the virtual machine # 1. As a case where the command is issued, for example, a case where the user inputs a command for confirming the current time or a case where an application program that refers to the current time is executed may be considered.

(Step S 22) The virtual clock control unit 133 accesses the timing device 104 and acquires the actual time from the timing device 104.
(Step S 23) The virtual clock control unit 133 acquires the time difference, the acceleration coefficient, and the start time of the access source virtual machine # 1 from the virtual machine management table 141.

(Step S24) The virtual clock control unit 133 converts the actual time acquired from the time measuring device 104 into the virtual time by using the time difference, the acceleration coefficient, and the start time of the virtual machine # 1. For example, the virtual clock control unit 133 calculates the virtual time according to the following formula. Note that the difference between the actual time and the start time corresponds to the actual elapsed time from the start of the virtual machine # 1.

Virtual time = actual time + time difference + (acceleration coefficient -1) x (actual time-start time)
(Step S25) The virtual clock control unit 133 notifies the calculated virtual time to the OS of the virtual machine # 1 as a response to the detected command.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the time setting process. Here, consider a case where the OS of the virtual machine # 1 changes the time. The processing illustrated in FIG. 10 will be described along with step numbers.
(Step S31) The virtual clock control unit 133 detects an instruction indicating access (time setting) to the timing device 104 issued by the OS of the virtual machine # 1. For example, when the user issues a command for changing the current time, or when an application program for changing the current time is executed, the OS automatically switches between daylight saving time and normal time. Cases can be considered.

(Step S 32) The virtual clock control unit 133 accesses the timing device 104 and acquires the actual time from the timing device 104.
(Step S 33) The virtual clock control unit 133 acquires the acceleration coefficient and start time of the access source virtual machine # 1 from the virtual machine management table 141.

(Step S34) The virtual clock control unit 133 updates the time difference using the acceleration coefficient and the activation time of the virtual machine # 1, the actual time acquired from the timing device 104, and the set time specified by the instruction. To do. The actual time held by the timing device 104 is not changed. For example, the virtual clock control unit 133 calculates the virtual time according to the following formula. The set time specified from the OS of the virtual machine # 1 is based on the virtual time.

Time difference = set time-actual time-(acceleration coefficient-1) x (actual time-start time)
(Step S35) The virtual clock control unit 133 updates the virtual machine information by registering the calculated new time difference in the virtual machine management table 141.

(Step S36) The virtual clock control unit 133 notifies the OS of the virtual machine # 1 of the completion of time setting as a response to the detected command.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the timer management process. Here, consider a case where the OS of the virtual machine # 1 generates a timer interrupt. The processing illustrated in FIG. 11 will be described along with step numbers.

(Step S41) The virtual timer control unit 134 detects a command indicating access to the timer device 105 issued by the OS of the virtual machine # 1.
(Step S42) The virtual timer control unit 134 determines whether an elapsed time is specified in the detected command. If the elapsed time is designated, the process proceeds to step S43. If the interrupt generation time is specified instead of the elapsed time, the process proceeds to step S44. The specified elapsed time is the time viewed from the virtual machine # 1 (time in which the acceleration coefficient is considered). The specified time is based on the virtual time of virtual machine # 1.

(Step S43) The virtual timer control unit 134 requests the current virtual time of the virtual machine # 1 from the virtual clock control unit 133, and adds the elapsed time specified by the command to the virtual time acquired from the virtual clock control unit 133. The time of occurrence of interrupt (virtual time) is calculated by addition.

(Step S44) The virtual timer control unit 134 requests the virtual clock control unit 133 for the current virtual time of the virtual machine # 1, and acquires the virtual time.
(Step S45) The virtual timer control unit 134 determines whether or not the current virtual time of the virtual machine # 1 is the time of occurrence of an interrupt. If it is time to generate an interrupt, the process proceeds to step S46. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S44.

(Step S46) The virtual timer control unit 134 generates an interrupt so that the OS of the virtual machine # 1 that sets the timer can acquire control.
In the above description, the virtual timer control unit 134 manages the timer based on the virtual time, but may manage the timer based on the actual time. For example, the virtual timer control unit 134 divides the specified elapsed time (virtual time) by the acceleration coefficient, calculates the elapsed time based on the actual time speed, adds the current time, and generates an interrupt. The actual time of is calculated. Alternatively, using the time difference and the acceleration coefficient, the designated interrupt occurrence time (virtual time) is converted into an actual interrupt occurrence time. Then, the virtual timer control unit 134 generates an interrupt when the current time becomes the actual time of occurrence of the interrupt.

The virtual time recognized by each virtual machine can be easily adjusted by using the information processing system of the second embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of testing application software in which time-dependent information processing is implemented. For example, by setting a time offset, the virtual time of each virtual machine can be shifted, and a test assuming an arbitrary time becomes easy. In addition, by setting the acceleration coefficient, the speed of the virtual time can be adjusted, and the test can be easily executed at high speed. For this reason, for example, even when testing whether information processing is normally executed when switching between daylight saving time and normal time, the test can be completed in a short time.

In addition, since a time difference can be set for each virtual machine, multiple virtual machines with different virtual times can be placed on the same server device, making it possible to efficiently test a computer system in which devices are installed at multiple locations with different time zones. Can be executed. Further, since the change of the virtual time can be realized not as an operation on the timing device 104 but as an update of the time difference, it is possible to allow the OS of each virtual machine to request the time change independently. In addition, the client device 300 can easily start a plurality of virtual machines having different virtual times by transmitting the time setting file 221 to the management device 200.

In the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, it is also possible to group virtual machines to form a plurality of “test worlds” logically separated. For example, the management apparatus 200 can communicate with virtual machines belonging to the same group by using a technology such as VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network), but does not allow communication between virtual machines belonging to different groups. It is conceivable to perform a setting for logical separation. In that case, a plurality of virtual machines belonging to the same group can form one closed “world” in which the virtual time advances with a constant acceleration factor. By building such a “test world”, it becomes easy to test application software related to a distributed processing system.

As described above, the functions of the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, 100b and the management apparatus 200 can be realized using a computer. In that case, a program to be executed by the

server apparatuses

100, 100a, 100b and the management apparatus 200 is provided. The program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, the recording medium 113). As the recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like can be used. Magnetic disks include HDDs and FDs. Optical disks include CD, CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWritable), DVD, and DVD-R / RW.

When distributing the program, for example, a portable recording medium on which the program is recorded is provided. It is also possible to store the program in a storage device of another computer and distribute the program via a network. The

server apparatuses

100, 100a, 100b and the management apparatus 200 store, for example, a program recorded on a portable recording medium or a program received from another computer in a storage device. Then, the program is read from the storage device and executed. However, the program may be directly read from the portable recording medium and executed. Alternatively, the received program may be executed sequentially each time a program is received from another computer.

The above merely shows the principle of the present invention. In addition, many modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art, and the present invention is not limited to the exact configuration and application shown and described above, and all corresponding modifications and equivalents may be And the equivalents thereof are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10

Information processing apparatus

11a, 11b Virtual machine 12 Timekeeping device 13 Storage part 14 Control part

Claims

An information processing apparatus that executes a virtual machine,
A timing device that provides a first time;
A storage unit for storing difference information indicating a difference in time with respect to the first time;
The first time is acquired from the timing device, the second time is calculated using the acquired first time and the difference indicated by the difference information stored in the storage unit, and the calculated first time is calculated. A control unit that provides the virtual machine with a time of 2;
An information processing apparatus comprising:
When the control unit detects a time setting command issued by the virtual machine to the timing device, the control unit obtains a third time specified by the time setting command and the first time acquired from the timing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the difference information is updated.
The information processing apparatus can execute a plurality of virtual machines,
The storage unit stores the difference information for each virtual machine,
The control unit calculates the second time by using difference information corresponding to a virtual machine that is a provision destination of the second time.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The storage unit further stores speed information indicating a ratio of a time speed of the virtual machine to a time speed of the timing device,
In addition to the first time and the difference indicated by the difference information, the control unit uses the ratio indicated by the speed information and the operating time of the virtual machine measured based on the time speed of the timing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second time is calculated.
A time control method performed by a computer executing a virtual machine,
Obtaining a first time from a timing device included in the computer;
Calculating a second time based on the acquired first time and difference information indicating a difference in time with respect to the first time stored in the storage unit;
Providing the calculated second time to the virtual machine;
A time control method characterized by that.
On the computer running the virtual machine,
Obtaining a first time from a timing device included in the computer;
Calculating a second time based on the acquired first time and difference information indicating a difference in time with respect to the first time stored in the storage unit;
Providing the calculated second time to the virtual machine;
A time control program for executing a process.