Use of virtual machines in information systems

Abstract

This paper presents a scheme using the virtual machine concept for-creating: 1) An environment for increasing the effectiveness of researchers who use analytical, modeling systems and have complex data management needs. 2) A mechanism for multi-user coordination of access and update to a central data base. 3) A mechanism for creating an environment where several different modeling facilities can access the same data base. 4) A mechanism for creating an environment where several different and potentially incompatible data management systems can all be accessed by the same user models or facilities'. 5) A mechanism for reducing the transport cost of integrating existing analytical packages and applications programs under a single unified system.. 6) A mechanism for enhancing the data management capabilities of existing modeling and anlaytical languages. Also presented is a theoretical analysis of the performance implications of this scheme specifically directed at the question of response time degradation as a function of number of virtual machines, of locked time of the data base machine, and of query rate of the modeling machine. A discussion of the practical implications of this analysis is given.