Guest OS Resource Allocation via Host Hardware Topology Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtualization technologies do not effectively convey the inter-relationships between hardware resources to virtual machines, leading to poor performance due to non-local allocation of processor and memory resources in Non-Uniform Memory Architecture (NUMA) machines.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a host operating system communicates hardware resource information to guest operating systems, allowing them to request and allocate physical hardware components, enabling informed resource allocation based on locality and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current virtualization technology is used to allocate hardware resources, then resource allocation is simplified and management is easier, but guest performance deteriorates due to non-local allocation of processor and memory resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the guest OS reports its hardware resource requirements and locality preferences to the host OS, which then adjusts resource allocation accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize for both ease of management and guest performance by dynamically adapting allocations based on actual workload characteristics and hardware topology information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the host OS proactively provide hardware topology information (such as NUMA node configurations and memory locality data) to the guest OS before resource allocation decisions are made. This allows the guest OS to make informed requests for locally-attached resources, preventing performance degradation before it occurs.
2Device complexity
If hardware resources are allocated without conveying inter-relationships information to guests, then device complexity is reduced, but guest performance suffers due to inability to request local resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the host OS acts as a mediator that translates complex hardware topology information into guest-accessible formats. The host OS provides summarized hardware relationship data to the guest OS, enabling the guest to make informed resource requests without exposing the full complexity of the underlying hardware architecture, thus maintaining simplicity while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information flow into distinct components: the host OS maintains complete hardware topology knowledge, selectively shares relevant locality information with the guest OS, and receives specific resource requests in return. This segmentation allows each layer to operate with appropriate complexity levels while achieving the dual goal of simplified management and optimized performance.
3Measurement precision
If the host OS provides detailed hardware information to guest OS, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but information transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential hardware topology information needed for local resource allocation decisions and transmits this subset to the guest OS. Rather than providing complete hardware documentation, the host OS selectively extracts and communicates specific data elements such as NUMA node assignments, memory controller locations, and processor-memory affinity data, thereby achieving accurate resource allocation while minimizing information overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, embodiments of the invention relates to a method for conveying hardware resources from a host (OS) executing on a computer system. The method includes obtaining host hardware information by the host OS, wherein the host hardware information specifies a plurality of physical hardware components of the computer system, sending the host hardware information to a guest OS executing within the host OS, generating, by the guest OS, a resource request using the host hardware information, sending, by the guest OS, the resource request to the host OS, and in response to receiving the resource request, allocating, by the host OS, guest hardware resources, where the guest hardware resources include at least one of the physical hardware components in the resource request.