Systems and methods for development of emulated devices in a virtual machine environment

• US 20060004554A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Traut, Eric P., Vega, Rene Antonio
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45579 I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects

Abstract

The present invention provides a means for dynamically adding virtual devices to a virtual computing environment. The system described in the invention includes a virtualized computing system with a manifest, which further includes device lists and an external device directory, which provides users of the virtualized computing system with a directory for adding software plug-ins that contain specifications needed to add virtual devices to the virtual computing environment. Certain embodiments are specifically directed to providing a method of adding and configuring virtual devices. Certain embodiments are specifically directed to providing a method of operating a virtualized computing system wherein the host operating system and the virtual devices progress through a series of states, specifically: initializing, powering up, loading a stored state, operating in normal state, saving state for future restoration, powering down, and tearing down and turning off.

Claims

1. A method for a virtual computing environment to dynamically add virtual hardware devices, said method comprising:

said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

2. The method of claim 1 where said virtual computing environment acquires said set of device properties from an external device directory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said virtual computing environment presents said set of device properties to said virtual machine by adding said set of device properties to a device list of said virtual computing environment corresponding to said virtual machine.

4. A method for testing a design for a physical hardware device (PHD), said method comprising:

implementing a virtual hardware device (VHD) based on said design for said PHD;

developing a test device driver (TDD) for testing said VHD;

adding said VHD and said TDD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

testing said VHD using said TDD in said VCE.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

making a prototype of the PHD corresponding to the VHD tested in the VCE with the TDD; and

testing the prototype of the PHD using the TDD.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the elements by which said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD comprise:

said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

8. A method for testing a design for a device driver (DD), said method comprising:

developing a virtual test hardware device (VTHD) for testing said DD;

adding said VTHD and said DD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

testing said DD using said VTHD in said VCE.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

making a prototype hardware device of the VTHD upon which the DD was tested in the VCE; and

testing the DD on said prototype hardware device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the elements by which said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD comprise:

said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

12. A system for a virtual computing environment to dynamically add virtual hardware devices, said system comprising:

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment to scan an external service directory;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment to acquire a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment to present said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

a subsystem for said virtual machine to utilize said new virtual hardware device.

13. The system of claim 12 where said subsystem for said virtual computing environment to acquire a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device acquires said set of device properties from an external device directory.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said subsystem for said virtual computing environment to present said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment presents said set of device properties to said virtual machine by adding said set of device properties to a device list of said virtual computing environment corresponding to said virtual machine.

15. A system for testing a design for a physical hardware device (PHD), said system comprising:

a subsystem for implementing a virtual hardware device (VHD) based on said design for said PHD;

a subsystem for developing a test device driver (TDD) for testing said VHD;

a subsystem for adding said VHD and said TDD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

a subsystem for testing said VHD using said TDD in said VCE.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a subsystem for making a prototype of the PHD corresponding to the VHD tested in the VCE with the TDD; and

a subsystem for testing the prototype of the PHD using the TDD.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said virtual computing environment further comprises a subsystem for dynamically adding said VHD.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said subsystem for dynamically adding said VHD comprises:

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

a subsystem for said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

19. A system for testing a design for a device driver (DD), said system comprising:

a subsystem for developing a virtual test hardware device (VTHD) for testing said DD;

a subsystem for adding said VTHD and said DD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

a subsystem for testing said DD using said VTHD in said VCE.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a subsystem for making a prototype hardware device of the VTHD upon which the DD was tested in the VCE; and

a subsystem for testing the DD on said prototype hardware device.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said virtual computing environment further comprises a subsystem for dynamically adding said VHD.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the subsystem for dynamically adding said VHD comprises:

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

a subsystem for said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

a subsystem for said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

23. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for a virtual computing environment to dynamically add virtual hardware devices, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

said virtual computing environment to scan an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment to acquire a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment to present said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine to utilize said new virtual hardware device.

24. The computer-readable instructions of claim 23 further comprising instructions whereby said virtual computing environment acquires said set of device properties from an external device directory.

25. The computer-readable instructions of claim 24 further comprising instructions whereby said virtual computing environment presents said set of device properties to said virtual machine by adding said set of device properties to a device list of said virtual computing environment corresponding to said virtual machine.

26. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for testing a design for a physical hardware device (PHD), said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

implementing a virtual hardware device (VHD) based on said design for said PHD;

developing a test device driver (TDD) for testing said VHD;

adding said VHD and said TDD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

testing said VHD using said TDD in said VCE.

27. The computer-readable instructions of claim 26 further comprising instructions for:

making a prototype of the PHD corresponding to the VHD tested in the VCE with the TDD; and

testing the prototype of the PHD using the TDD.

28. The computer-readable instructions of claim 26 further comprising instructions whereby said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD.

29. The computer-readable instructions of claim 28, wherein the elements by which said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD, further comprising instructions whereby:

said virtual computing environment scans an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment acquires a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment presents said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine utilizes said new virtual hardware device.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for testing a design for a device driver (DD), said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

developing a virtual test hardware device (VTHD) for testing said DD;

adding said VTHD and said DD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

testing said DD using said VTHD in said VCE.

31. The computer-readable instructions of claim 30 further comprising instructions for:

making a prototype hardware device of the VTHD upon which the DD was tested in the VCE; and

testing the DD on said prototype hardware device.

32. The computer-readable instructions of claim 30 further comprising instructions whereby said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD.

33. The computer-readable instructions of claim 32, wherein the elements by which said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD, further comprising instructions whereby:

said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

34. A hardware control device for a virtual computing environment to dynamically add virtual hardware devices, said hardware control device comprising:

means for said virtual computing environment to scan an external service directory;

means for said virtual computing environment to acquire a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

means for said virtual computing environment to present said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

means for said virtual machine to utilize said new virtual hardware device.

35. The hardware control device of claim 34 further comprising means whereby said virtual computing environment acquires said set of device properties from an external device directory.

36. The hardware control device of claim 35 further comprising means whereby said virtual computing environment presents said set of device properties to said virtual machine by adding said set of device properties to a device list of said virtual computing environment corresponding to said virtual machine.

37. A hardware control device for testing a design for a physical hardware device (PHD), said hardware control device comprising:

means for implementing a virtual hardware device (VHD) based on said design for said PHD;

means for developing a test device driver (TDD) for testing said VHD;

means for adding said VHD and said TDD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

means for testing said VHD using said TDD in said VCE.

38. The hardware control device of claim 37, wherein said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD, further comprising:

means for said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

means for said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

means for said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

means for said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.

39. A hardware control device for testing a design for a device driver (DD), said hardware control device comprising:

means for developing a virtual test hardware device (VTHD) for testing said DD;

means for adding said VTHD and said DD to a virtual computing environment (VCE);

means for testing said DD using said VTHD in said VCE.

40. The hardware control device of claim 39, wherein said virtual computing environment dynamically adds said VHD, further comprising:

means for said virtual computing environment scanning an external service directory;

means for said virtual computing environment acquiring a set of device properties for a new virtual hardware device;

means for said virtual computing environment presenting said set of device properties to a virtual machine operating in said virtual computing environment; and

means for said virtual machine utilizing said new virtual hardware device.