PLACING VIRTUAL MACHINES IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

Virtual machines are allocated among servers in a virtual environment, whereby each virtual machine has a current placement. A current fitness score is calculated for each virtual machine based on its current placement. Proposed placement plans are then generated, each plan including a proposed placement of each virtual machine. For each plan, a plan score is created. Each plan score is created by calculating a proposed fitness score for each virtual machine based on a proposed placement of that virtual machine in accordance with that plan, generating a virtual machine score for each virtual machine based on a comparison of that virtual machine's current fitness score and proposed fitness score, and then combining the virtual machine scores. The plan scores are then compared, and a target plan is selected from among the plans. The virtual machines are then reallocated among the servers in accordance with the target proposed placement plan.