Method and apparatus for starting virtual machine

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for starting a virtual machine. The method comprises the steps of determining N types of virtual network function components (VNFC) according to a first business; obtaining distribution relationships between the N types of the VNFCs and virtual machines, wherein each distribution relationship describes a quantity of each type of the VNFCs distributed in each virtual machine; according to the distribution relationships, selecting at least one to-be-started virtual machine from the non-started virtual machines, and enabling a total quantity of each type of the VNFCs contained in the started virtual machine and the at least one to-be-started virtual machine to be equal to a corresponding preset quantity; and starting the at least one to-be-started virtual machine. According to the method and the apparatus, the types and quantity of the VNFCs running in each virtual machine are obtained, and the virtual machine most needed to be started is pointedly selected out to ensure that normal operation of a business can be ensured by starting a minimum quantity of the virtual machines; and the VNFCs running in the started virtual machine are fully utilized.