Memory maximization in a high input/output virtual machine environment

A computer implemented method is provided, including monitoring the utilization of resources available within a compute node, wherein the resources include an input/output capacity, a processor capacity, and a memory capacity. The method further comprises allocating virtual machines to the compute node to maximize use of a first one of the resources; and then allocating an additional virtual machine to the compute node to increase the utilization of the resources other than the first one of the resources without over-allocating the first one of the resources. In a web server, the input/output capacity may be the resource to be maximized. However, unused memory capacity and/or processor capacity of the compute node may be used more effectively by identifying an additional virtual machine that is memory intensive or processor intensive to be allocated or migrated to the compute node. The additional virtual machine(s) may be identified in new workload requests or from analysis of virtual machines running on other compute nodes accessible over the network.