Efficient Nested Virtualization
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- generating, using a processor, a first virtual machine (VM) and storing the first VM in a memory coupled to the processor;
executing a guest application with the first VM;
executing the first VM with a first virtual machine monitor (VMM);
executing the first VMM with a second VMM in a nested virtualization environment; and
directly emulating an underlying virtualized device to the guest with the second VMM;
wherein the second VMM is included in a lower virtualization layer than the first VMM and the virtualized device is coupled to the processor.
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Abstract
In one embodiment of the invention, the exit and/or entry process in a nested virtualized environment is made more efficient. For example, a layer 0 (L0) virtual machine manager (VMM) may emulate a layer 2 (L2) guest interrupt directly, rather than indirectly through a layer 1 (L1) VMM. This direct emulation may occur by, for example, sharing a virtual state (e.g., virtual CPU state, virtual Device state, and/or virtual physical Memory state) between the L1 VMM and the L0 VMM. As another example, L1 VMM information (e.g., L2 physical to machine address translation table) may be shared between the L1 VMM and the L0 VMM.
178 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating, using a processor, a first virtual machine (VM) and storing the first VM in a memory coupled to the processor; executing a guest application with the first VM; executing the first VM with a first virtual machine monitor (VMM); executing the first VMM with a second VMM in a nested virtualization environment; and directly emulating an underlying virtualized device to the guest with the second VMM; wherein the second VMM is included in a lower virtualization layer than the first VMM and the virtualized device is coupled to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to:
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execute a guest application on a first virtual machine (VM); execute the first VM on a first virtual machine monitor (VMM); execute the first VMM on a second VMM in a nested virtualization environment; and directly emulate an underlying virtualized entity to the guest with the second VMM. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
a processor, coupled to a memory, to (1) execute a guest application on a first virtual machine (VM) stored in the memory;
(2) execute the first VM on a first virtual machine monitor (VMM);
(3) execute the first VMM on a second VMM in a nested virtualization environment; and
(4) directly emulate an underlying virtualized entity to the guest with the second VMM.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification