Method and apparatus for constructing host processor soft devices independent of the host processor operating system
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a hardware platform including a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of a soft device;
a first virtual machine, coupled to the hardware platform, the first virtual machine including a driver of the soft device, the soft device driver controlling the residual fixed function hardware device;
a second virtual machine, coupled to the hardware platform, the second virtual machines utilizing the soft device when needed, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the second virtual machine; and
a virtual machine monitor (VMM), coupled to the hardware platform and the first and second virtual machines, to present the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine as an external or internal device, and to emulate communication between the first and second virtual machines using a virtualized connectivity means linked to the driver of the soft device,wherein the VMM emulates communication between the first and second virtual machines by trapping accesses of one of the virtual machines to the virtualized connectivity means, and redirecting the accesses to another of the virtual machines via the virtualized connectivity means.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for constructing host processor soft devices independent of the host processor operating system are provided. In one embodiment, a driver of a soft device is implemented in a virtual machine monitor (VMM), and the soft device is made available for use by one or more virtual machines coupled to the VMM. In an alternative embodiment, a software component of a soft device is implemented in a first virtual machine that is coupled to a VMM, and the soft device is made available for use by a second virtual machine coupled to the VMM.
227 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a hardware platform including a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of a soft device; a first virtual machine, coupled to the hardware platform, the first virtual machine including a driver of the soft device, the soft device driver controlling the residual fixed function hardware device; a second virtual machine, coupled to the hardware platform, the second virtual machines utilizing the soft device when needed, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the second virtual machine; and a virtual machine monitor (VMM), coupled to the hardware platform and the first and second virtual machines, to present the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine as an external or internal device, and to emulate communication between the first and second virtual machines using a virtualized connectivity means linked to the driver of the soft device, wherein the VMM emulates communication between the first and second virtual machines by trapping accesses of one of the virtual machines to the virtualized connectivity means, and redirecting the accesses to another of the virtual machines via the virtualized connectivity means.
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2. A method for constructing a soft device, the method comprising:
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implementing a software component of the soft device in a first virtual machine, the software component controlling a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of the soft device; and making the soft device available for use by a second virtual machine, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the second virtual machines; wherein making the soft device available comprises; presenting the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine as an external or internal device; and emulating communication between the first and second virtual machines using a virtualized connectivity means linked to the software component of the soft device, wherein accesses to the virtualized connectivity means by one of the virtual machines are trapped and redirected to another of the virtual machines via the virtualized connectivity means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for constructing a soft device, the method comprising:
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implementing software components of the soft device in a plurality of dedicated virtual machines, each of the software components controlling a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of the soft device; and making the soft device available for use by a main virtual machine, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the main virtual machine; wherein making the soft device available comprises; presenting the plurality of dedicated virtual machines to the main virtual machine as a hardware device; and emulating communication between the plurality of dedicated virtual machines and the main virtual machine using a virtualized communication means linked to the software components of the soft device, wherein accesses to the virtualized communication means by one virtual machine are trapped and redirected to another virtual machine via the virtualized communication means. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a hardware platform including a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of a soft device; a virtual machine monitor (VMM), coupled to the hardware platform; and a plurality of virtual machines, coupled to the virtual machine monitor, the plurality of virtual machines including one or more dedicated virtual machines with one or more software components of the soft device implemented therein, and remaining one or more virtual machines utilizing the soft device when needed, the soft device being independent of any operating system run by the virtual machines;
wherein the VMM is to present the dedicated of virtual machines to others of the plurality of virtual machines as a hardware device, and to emulate communication between the dedicated of virtual machines and the other virtual machines using a virtualized communication means linked to the software component of the soft device, the VMiM emulating the communication by trapping accesses of one virtual machine to the virtualized communication means and redirecting the accesses to another virtual machine via the virtualized communication means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, executed on a processor, causing said processor to perform operations comprising:
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implementing a software component of the soft device in a first virtual machine, the software component controlling a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of the soft device; and making the soft device available for use by a second virtual machine, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the second virtual machine; wherein making the soft device available comprises; presenting the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine as an external or internal device; and emulating communication between the first and second virtual machines using a virtualized connectivity means linked to the software component of the soft device, wherein accesses to the virtualized connectivity means by one of the virtual machines are trapped and redirected to another of the virtual machines via the virtualized connectivity means.
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21. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, executed on a processor, causing said processor to perform operations comprising:
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implementing software components of the soft device in a plurality of dedicated virtual machines, each of the software components controlling a residual fixed function hardware device represented by a hardware component of the soft device; and making the soft device available for use by a main virtual machine, the soft device being independent of an operating system run by the main virtual machine; wherein making the soft device available comprises; presenting the plurality of dedicated virtual machines to the main virtual machine as a hardware device; and emulating communication between the plurality of dedicated virtual machines and the main virtual machine using a virtualized communication means linked to the software components of the soft device, wherein accesses to the virtualized communication means by one virtual machine are trapped and redirected to another virtual machine via the virtualized communication means.
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Specification