Nested Virtual Machine Instruction Translation Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nested virtual machines face performance inefficiencies due to the overhead of dynamic instruction translation, particularly when an inner virtual machine translates instructions that need further translation by an outer virtual machine, leading to sub-optimal processing performance.

Innovation Solution

The outer virtual machine directly translates and executes instructions on behalf of the inner virtual machine, eliminating the need for unnecessary translation and improving system throughput by enabling communication and cooperation between nested virtual machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the inner virtual machine translates instructions to its native architecture, then the instructions can be executed in the inner VM environment, but the translated instructions require further translation by the outer virtual machine, increasing translation overhead and reducing processing speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenested virtual machine compatibilityVSAvoidinstruction processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the translation operations of the inner and outer virtual machines by having the outer virtual machine perform the translation directly from the inner VM's instruction set to the host architecture, eliminating the intermediate translation step and reducing overall translation overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a communication mechanism between nested virtual machines where the inner VM can directly communicate translation requests to the outer VM, which acts as an intermediary to perform the translation and return results, avoiding unnecessary intermediate translation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the inner virtual machine performs dynamic instruction translation, then it can execute instructions independently, but the translation process consumes additional time and resources, reducing overall system throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent virtual machine executionVSAvoidsystem throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The outer virtual machine serves the translation needs of the inner virtual machine directly, allowing the inner VM to maintain independence while the outer VM provides translation services that would otherwise require the inner VM to perform costly translation operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The outer virtual machine is designed to perform multiple functions including both its own execution and providing translation services to nested inner virtual machines, making the system more efficient by consolidating translation capabilities at the outer VM level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8819647B2Performance improvements for nested virtual machines

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Nested virtual machines cooperate with one another to improve system performance. In particular, an outer virtual machine performs tasks on behalf of an inner virtual machine to improve system performance. One such task includes translation of instructions for the inner virtual machine.