A systematic literature review on contemporary and future trends in virtual machine scheduling techniques in cloud and multi-access computing

IntroductionThe migration of business and scientific operations to the cloud and the surge in data from IoT devices have intensified the complexity of cloud resource scheduling. Ensuring efficient resource distribution in line with user-specified SLA and QoS demands novel scheduling solutions. This study scrutinizes contemporary Virtual Machine (VM) scheduling strategies, shedding light on the complexities and future prospects of VM design and aims to propel further research by highlighting existing obstacles and untapped potential in the ever-evolving realm of cloud and multi-access edge computing (MEC).MethodImplementing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), this research dissects VM scheduling techniques. A meticulous selection process distilled 67 seminal studies from an initial corpus of 722, spanning from 2008 to 2022. This critical filtration has been pivotal for grasping the developmental trajectory and current tendencies in VM scheduling practices.ResultThe in-depth examination of 67 studies on VM scheduling has produced a taxonomic breakdown into three principal methodologies: traditional, heuristic, and meta-heuristic. The review underscores a marked shift toward heuristic and meta-heuristic methods, reflecting their growing significance in the advancement of VM scheduling.ConclusionAlthough VM scheduling has progressed markedly, the focus remains predominantly on metaheuristic and heuristic approaches. The analysis enlightens ongoing challenges and the direction of future developments, highlighting the necessity for persistent research and innovation in this sector.