Data and state threading for virtualized partition management

Abstract

The system includes a virtualized environment having at least one partition. An instance of an application executes in the partition. The application instance is not dedicated to a single user or element. Rather, the application instance may be shared or parsed out to two or more users or elements. To accomplish this sharing, the static data (which is common to all the elements or users) may be maintained in the partition or is loaded at runtime. The dynamic data (the data which is unique to each instantiation and associated with the element requesting the application) can be loaded when an instance is dedicated to execute for a particular element or user. Thus, various elements can share instances of an application and there need not be instances dedicated to particular elements.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for managing at least two partitions in a virtualized environment, comprising:
 at least one computer system executing the virtualized environment, wherein the virtualized environment includes a partition allocator and a partition controller;   the partition allocator determining an initial number of partitions to execute in the virtualized environment;   the partition allocator creating the initial number of partitions;   after the partition allocator has created the initial number of partitions, the partition allocator determining a performance factor associated with the virtualized environment; and   the partition allocator adjusting the number of partitions based on the performance factor.   
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the partition allocator determining a size requirement for at least two application instances; and   the partition allocator adjusting the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor and the size requirement.   
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 the partition allocator determining a setting associated with an element; and   the partition allocator adjusting the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor, the size requirement, and the setting.   
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the performance factor is a usage. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein at least one partition executes at least one instance of an application and includes at least two sets of tenant data. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 at least one computer system executing a virtualized environment, wherein the virtualized environment includes a partition allocator and a partition controller, wherein the partition allocator determines an initial number of partitions to execute in the virtualized environment; creates the initial number of partitions; after the partition allocator has created the initial number of partitions, determines a performance factor associated with the virtualized environment; and adjusts the number of partitions based on the performance factor.   
     
     
         22 . The system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein:
 the partition allocator determines a size requirement for at least two application instances and adjusts the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor and the size requirement.   
     
     
         23 . The system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the partition allocator determining a setting associated with an element and adjusts the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor, the size requirement, and the setting. 
     
     
         24 . The system as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the performance factor is a usage. 
     
     
         25 . The system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein at least one partition executes at least one instance of an application and includes at least two sets of tenant data. 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for executing an application instance in a virtualized environment, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to determine an initial number of partitions to execute in the virtualized environment;   instructions to create the initial number of partitions;   instructions to determine, after the creation of the initial number of partitions, a performance factor associated with the virtualized environment; and   instructions to adjust the number of partitions based on the performance factor.   
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising:
 instructions to determine a size requirement for at least two application instances; and   instructions to adjust the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor and the size requirement.   
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 instructions to determine a setting associated with an element; and   instructions to adjust the number of partitions based on at least one of the group consisting of the performance factor, the size requirement, and the setting.   
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the performance factor is a usage. 
     
     
         30 . The computer readable medium as defined in  claim 29 , wherein at least one partition executes at least one instance of an application and includes at least two sets of tenant data.