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Re:Kata Containers: Virtual Machines that feel and perform l... by linlinjin on Monday July 17, 2023 @05:38PM (#36764441)
i couldn't understand the comment that "the application running in user space cannot request more memory" - can someone explain whats the point of memorybalooning anywhere if an application cannot signal when the system should actually provision physical memory from the 'baloon'
Re:Kata Containers: Virtual Machines that feel and perform l... by rwmj on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @04:01AM (#36769262)
There isn't a point, that's the problem.
Re:Kata Containers: Virtual Machines that feel and perform l... by Borealid on Tuesday July 18, 2023 @04:26AM (#36769447)
The systems administrator can use ballooning to give more memory to a VM before launching a new application. This avoids the need to shut down the VM to give it a new role.

There is still a benefit to ballooning support even if it's not exposed to userspace within the VM, because VMs aren't always used purely to host a single infinitely-long-lived application without outside intervention.