I/O Virtualization Controller for Multi-Host Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

Current I/O virtualization technologies, such as the MR-IOV standard, do not provide a method for implementing virtualization of I/O devices in a multi-host environment, leading to increased power consumption and silicon area usage due to the need for complex MRIOV aware switches, which are not defined in the existing standards for managing device-specific functionalities across multiple host processors.

Innovation Solution

A virtualization and switching system (VSS) that includes a Peripheral Virtualization Controller (PVC), device control modules, and a command parser to manage I/O virtualization and switching logic, enabling seamless sharing and switching of I/O devices between multiple host processors by initializing configuration and device registers, and handling interrupts and commands, thereby implementing virtualization through a combination of hardware and software components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If MRIOV aware switches are used to enable I/O device sharing between multiple host processors, then I/O virtualization capability is improved, but power consumption and silicon area usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveI/O virtualization capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the virtualization control logic from the complex MRIOV aware switch and places it in a separate virtualization controller. This separation allows the switch to be simplified, reducing its silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the I/O virtualization capability through the dedicated virtualization controller that manages multiple virtual hierarchies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtualization controller as an intermediary component between the host processors and the I/O devices. This mediator handles the complex virtualization management, allowing the switch to operate with reduced functionality and lower resource consumption while still enabling multi-host I/O sharing through coordinated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If MRIOV aware switches are used to enable I/O device sharing between multiple host processors, then I/O virtualization capability is improved, but silicon area usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveI/O virtualization capabilityVSAvoidsilicon area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the virtualization control logic from the complex MRIOV aware switch and places it in a separate virtualization controller. This separation allows the switch to be simplified, reducing its silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the I/O virtualization capability through the dedicated virtualization controller that manages multiple virtual hierarchies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the I/O virtualization system into distinct functional components: a simplified switch responsible for basic routing and a dedicated virtualization controller responsible for management. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the overall silicon area required while maintaining full virtualization functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex MRIOV aware switches are implemented to support multiple virtual hierarchies, then multi-host I/O sharing is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-host I/O sharingVSAvoidswitch complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the virtualization control logic from the complex MRIOV aware switch and places it in a separate virtualization controller. This separation allows the switch to be simplified, reducing its silicon area and power consumption while maintaining the I/O virtualization capability through the dedicated virtualization controller that manages multiple virtual hierarchies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtualization controller serves as a universal management unit that handles multiple virtual hierarchies and supports I/O sharing across multiple host processors. By consolidating these management functions in a single multi-functional controller rather than embedding them in each switch, the overall system complexity is reduced while maintaining full multi-host capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8996734B2I/O virtualization and switching system

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 SOCTRONICS INC

AI summary

Described herein is a system (102) having a virtualization and switching system configured to virtualize I/O devices (108) and perform switching of the I/O devices (108) and I/O requests. The virtualization and switching system (102) includes a peripheral virtualization controller (PVC) (204), at least one device control module (206) connected to the PVC (204), and at least one command parser (210). The PVC (204) is configured to manage I/O virtualization and I/O command access of different I/O devices (108). The device control module (206) is configured to store configuration and I/O device registers, implemented by the PVC (204) to enable virtualization of I/O devices (108). The device control module (206) also implements the I/O command and switching logic to perform graceful handling of the I/O commands and virtualized I/O devices between multiple host processors (104).