Abstract: A method is provided for creating a virtual machine image. According to the method, at least one application is provided on a computer system. After the application is provided on the computer system, at least one optimization of the application is performed based on a runtime environment of the application to produce an optimized application, and the optimized application and at least a portion of the runtime environment are packaged in a virtual machine image. In one embodiment, the computer system is a virtual machine. Also provided is a system for creating a virtual machine image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, computer program product and a server unit of a virtual execution environment having at least one client. The server unit includes a network interface for conducting bidirectional communications with the at least one client and a control unit configured to determine, for individual ones of positions in a virtualized execution of an application, those components that are required at each position; to establish a pseudo-distance between the positions in the virtualized execution of the application; and to identify components that are candidates for prefetching as those components required at one or more positions that are proximate to a current position. The pseudo-distance between positions is indicative of an urgency of prefetching candidate components for regulating an amount of resources devoted to the prefetching of components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus and a computer program of a virtual execution environment. In one aspect thereof a data processor includes a read-only storage medium and a virtual machine monitor configured to execute a program in a virtual container. Prior to execution of the application a set of application components accessed during a phase change are recorded in the read-only storage medium in a manner predetermined to minimize the time needed to retrieve the set of components. At the occurrence of the phase change, or prior to the occurrence of a phase change if the files are prefetched, the virtual machine monitor retrieves the components from the read-only storage medium. In a further aspect thereof there is provided a packager of an application to be executed in a virtualization environment by a virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus and a computer program of a virtual execution environment. In one aspect thereof a data processor includes a disk-based storage system and a virtual machine monitor configured to execute a program in a virtual container. The virtual machine monitor is responsive, prior to execution of the application, to record a set of files accessed during a phase change in the disk-based storage system in a manner predetermined to minimize the time needed to retrieve the set of files. The virtual machine monitor is further responsive, at the occurrence of the phase change, or prior to the occurrence of a phase change if the files are prefetched, to retrieve the files from the disk-based storage system.