Systems and methods for implementing an operating system in a virtual machine environment
First Claim
1. A method for an operating system to improve efficiency when executing on a virtual machine, said method comprising determining if said operating system is executing on a virtual machine and, if so, said operating system modifying its execution to operate more efficiently on said virtual machine or, if not, said operating system executing as most efficient for a standard dedicated hardware environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes systems for and methods of implementing an operating system that is capable of ascertaining whether it is operating in a virtual machine environment and is further capable of modifying its behavior to operate more efficiently in a virtual machine environment. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for providing operating systems that are aware that they are operating in a virtual machine environment and, as a result of this realization, are able to reduce some of the performance overhead associated with a virtual machine environment. The invention relaxes the illusion that a guest operating system is operating on dedicated hardware and describes ways for the guest operating system to operate more efficiently now that this illusion has been relaxed.
82 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method for an operating system to improve efficiency when executing on a virtual machine, said method comprising determining if said operating system is executing on a virtual machine and, if so, said operating system modifying its execution to operate more efficiently on said virtual machine or, if not, said operating system executing as most efficient for a standard dedicated hardware environment.
- 7. A system for an operating system to improve efficiency when executing on a virtual machine, said system comprising at least one subsystem for determining if said operating system is executing on a virtual machine and, if so, said operating system modifying its execution to operate more efficiently on said virtual machine or, if not, said operating system executing as most efficient for a standard dedicated hardware environment.
- 13. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for an operating system to improve efficiency when executing on a virtual machine, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for determining if said operating system is executing on a virtual machine and, if so, said operating system modifying its execution to operate more efficiently on said virtual machine or, if not, said operating system executing as most efficient for a standard dedicated hardware environment.
- 19. A hardware control device for an operating system to improve efficiency when executing on a virtual machine, said hardware control device comprising means for determining if said operating system is executing on a virtual machine and, if so, said operating system modifying its execution to operate more efficiently on said virtual machine or, if not, said operating system executing as most efficient for a standard dedicated hardware environment.
Specification