Hybrid Virtual Device Composition via PCIe P2P
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hardware virtualization techniques are limited to supporting a single physical function, making it difficult to compose virtual devices with capabilities from multiple physical functions, which restricts system flexibility and performance.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid virtual device composition approach using a primary physical function extended with secondary physical functions, facilitated by an assignable device interface manager executing on offload hardware, allowing communication through PCIe peer-to-peer communications and internal device interconnections, enabling the creation of virtual devices with diverse capabilities from multiple physical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hardware virtualization techniques are used, then a single physical function can be virtualized, but the system cannot compose virtual devices with capabilities from multiple physical functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple physical functions (PFs) from different physical devices into a single hybrid virtual device. The virtual device composition module combines capabilities from multiple PFs, allowing a virtual device to access diverse functionalities that would otherwise require separate virtualization instances, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through unified composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid virtual device achieves multi-functionality by incorporating capabilities from multiple physical functions. A single virtual device can now provide diverse capabilities (e.g., network, storage, compute) that were previously distributed across multiple separate virtualization contexts, enabling universal access to heterogeneous resources through one unified interface.
2Reliability
If virtualization is executed on host hardware, then system control is maintained, but security risks increase due to potential software access to virtual devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual device composition module as an intermediary layer between the host software and physical devices. This module executes on the device rather than the host, acting as a mediator that enables virtualization functionality while preventing direct software access to physical resources, thus improving security isolation without sacrificing management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual device composition module enables self-service virtualization by executing directly on the physical device. The device performs virtualization operations autonomously without requiring host software intervention, which enhances security by eliminating the attack surface associated with host-based virtualization while maintaining operational efficiency through local execution.
3Productivity
If multiple physical functions are composed into a hybrid virtual device, then system performance and flexibility improve, but the complexity of managing multiple physical devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid virtual device provides universal access to multiple physical functions through a single unified interface. Instead of managing multiple separate devices or complex device trees, the system presents a consolidated view of diverse capabilities (network, storage, compute) that can be accessed and managed through one virtual device, reducing management complexity while maintaining high system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple physical functions are embedded within a single hybrid virtual device container. This nesting approach allows diverse capabilities from multiple physical devices to be organized hierarchically under one unified virtual device, simplifying management by providing a single point of access while preserving the functional diversity and performance of underlying physical devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Creating hybrid virtual devices using a plurality of physical functions. A processor of a device may identify a plurality of physical functions accessible to the device, the plurality of physical functions including a first physical function and a second physical function. The processor may create a virtual device to comprise the first physical function to provide a first capability and the second physical function to provide a second capability, wherein the first capability and second capability are different capabilities.