Load balancing in cloud environs: Optimal task scheduling via hybrid algorithm

Abstract

In cloud computing, a lot of challenges like the server failures, loss of confidentiality, improper workloads, etc. are still bounding the efficiency of cloud systems in real-world scenarios. For this reason, many research works are being performed to overcome the shortcoming of existing systems. Among them, load balancing seems to be the most critical issue that worsen the performance of the cloud sector, and hence there necessitates the optimal load balancing with optimal task scheduling. With the intention of accomplishing optimal load balancing by effectual task deployment, this paper plans to develop an advanced load balancing model with the assistance acquired from the metaheuristic algorithms. Usually, handling of tasks in cloud system is an NP-hard problem and moreover, nonpreemptive independent tasks are crucial in cloud computing. This paper goes with the introduction of a new optimal load balancing model by considering three major objectives: minimum makespan, priority, and load balancing, respectively. Moreover, a new single-objective function is also defined that incorporates all the three objectives mentioned above. Furthermore, the deployment of tasks must be optimal and for this a new hybrid optimization algorithm referred as Firefly Movement insisted WOA (FM-WOA) is introduced. This FM-WOA is the conceptual amalgamation of standard Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) and Firefly (FF) algorithm. Finally, the performances of the proposed FM-WOA model is compared over the conventional models with the intention of proving its efficiency in terms of makespan, task completion (priority), and degree of imbalance as well.