METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LOAD BALANCING OF VIRTUAL MACHINES IN CLUSTERED PROCESSORS USING STORAGE RELATED LOAD INFORMATION

Methods and systems for generating storage related load factor information for load balancing of multiple virtual machines operable in a cluster of multiple physical processors (such as a blade center). Load factor information is generated within a storage system relating to operation of the storage system as a whole and relating to each of multiple storage controllers in the storage system. The information so generated in the storage system is communicated to a load balancing element associated with the multiple virtual machines. The load balancing element then utilizes the storage related load factor information, optionally in combination with other load factor information, to distribute or redistribute the operation of the multiple virtual machines over the plurality of physical processors.