Nested Virtualization VM Data Structures

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processors with virtual machine control structures and control blocks assume a single level of virtualization, making it difficult to employ hardware virtualization at multiple nested levels, resulting in complex techniques with high overhead and slowdowns.

Innovation Solution

The use of virtual machine data structures organized as an array indexed by a processor variable, allowing for efficient management of nested virtualization levels, enabling hardware virtualization across multiple nested levels without the complexity and overhead of existing techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing processor virtual machine control structures are used, then single-level virtualization is supported, but nested virtualization becomes complex with high overhead and performance slowdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenested virtualization supportVSAvoidvirtualization management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the virtual machine control structures into multiple hierarchical levels, with each level having its own control blocks and data structures. This segmentation allows nested virtualization to be supported by dividing the monolithic control structure into manageable segments that can operate independently at different virtualization levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional organization to the virtual machine control structures by creating multi-level hierarchical data structures with different access permissions and control mechanisms. This dimensional change enables nested virtualization without the complexity of traditional approaches by adding structural depth rather than horizontal expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing virtualization techniques are used for nested levels, then hardware virtualization can be extended to multiple levels, but implementation complexity and overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-level hardware virtualizationVSAvoidimplementation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nested virtualization control structures where lower-level control blocks are contained within higher-level structures, similar to nested dolls. Each virtualization level has its own control blocks that are nested within the parent level's control structure, enabling multi-level hardware virtualization with a unified and organized implementation approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary control structures that mediate between different virtualization levels. These intermediary data structures and control blocks serve as bridges between nested levels, simplifying the implementation by providing standardized interfaces and abstraction layers rather than direct complex interactions between all levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional virtualization methods are applied to nested levels, then hardware virtualization is achieved, but performance slowdown occurs due to high overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenested virtualization capabilityVSAvoidvirtualization performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying mechanisms where control block data is replicated and cached at appropriate levels in the nested structure. This allows faster access to frequently used virtualization control information without requiring constant traversal of the entire control structure hierarchy, thereby reducing overhead and improving performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary setup and initialization of virtual machine control structures at each nested level before execution begins. Control blocks are pre-configured and validated in advance, which reduces runtime overhead and improves performance by avoiding complex operations during active virtualization execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8819677B2Virtual machine data structures corresponding to nested virtualization levels

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

A system includes a processor providing hardware virtualization, and a memory to store a first virtual machine data structure corresponding to a first nested virtualization level and a second virtual machine data structure corresponding to a second nested virtualization level. The virtual machine data structures assist management of the hardware virtualization provided by the processor. The system includes a first nested virtual machine located within the first nested virtualization level and a second nested virtual machine located within the second nested virtualization level. The system includes hypervisors to manage the nested virtual machines using the virtual machine data structures. A root hypervisor is to manage the first nested virtual machine using the first virtual machine data structure. A first nested virtualization level hypervisor is to run within the first nested virtual machine and is to manage the second nested virtual machine using the second virtual machine data structure.