help needed on VM placement algorithm
eru: I will look into your problem.  Perhaps I can work out an integer linear formulation that you can feed into a standard solver for linear optimization problems.If you want to read papers on the subject, look for 'scheduling' or 'production planning'.  'Bin packing' and 'cutting stock' might also be related.Do you need an online solution or do you know all demands in advance?  Also what do you do when not enough slots are available for all VMs?  That could happen either because the number of slots in demand is higher than the supply --- or a bit more subtle: Say you have n servers, and n+1 VMs each taking M/2+1 slots.  The total number of slots suffices, but still your VMs do not fit the machines.