Improving the energy efficiency of virtual data centers in an IT service provider through proactive fuzzy rules-based multicriteria decision making

Abstract

A proactive multicriteria mechanism for virtual data center optimization through server consolidation is proposed. In contrast with previous works where heuristic mechanisms were designed using expert knowledge, the new proactive approach uses multiobjective evolutionary algorithms to learn fuzzy rule-based systems that determine optimal reallocation decisions according to the preferences of the data center operator and a prediction of the load. Experimental evaluations based on an actual IT service provider show that the proactive mechanism is capable of improving energy savings compared to commercial hypervisors while complying with service provider’s preferences and constraints.