A technique for utilizing resources in a virtual machine operating system. The virtual machine operating system comprises a multiplicity of virtual machines. A share of resources is allocated to each of the virtual machines. Utilization by one of the virtual machines of the resources allocated to the one virtual machine is automatically monitored. If the one virtual machine needs additional resources, the one virtual machine is automatically cloned. The clone is allocated a share of the resources taken from the shares of other of the virtual machines, such that the resultant shares allocated to the one virtual machine and the clone together are greater than the share allocated to the one virtual machine before the one virtual machine was cloned. The clone performs work with its resources that would have been performed by the one virtual machine if not for the existence of said clone.