PCIe Switch Virtualization for Multi-Host I/O Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IO virtualization technologies face limitations in providing native, transparent PCIe connections to hosts and IO devices, requiring proprietary modules or drivers, and are not scalable to support multiple hosts and IO devices effectively.
Innovation Solution
A virtualization system that couples host computers and multiple IO devices to a managed transport fabric using PCIe interfaces, enabling native IO virtualization and host-to-host communication through a scalable, low-latency Ethernet-based interconnection fabric, with a management CPU managing resource allocation and proxy devices for transparent access to shared PCIe resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional IO virtualization technologies are used, then PCIe device sharing is enabled, but native transparent PCIe connections are not provided and proprietary modules or drivers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PCIe switch as an intermediary device that enables transparent IO virtualization between hosts and PCIe devices without requiring proprietary modules or drivers. The PCIe switch acts as a mediator that manages device-to-host assignments and facilitates direct PCIe connections while enabling multi-host sharing of PCIe devices through standard PCIe protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If FCoE technology is implemented, then storage traffic tunneling is enabled, but extensive infrastructure replacement is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal PCIe-based IO virtualization platform that can handle multiple types of traffic including storage, network, and other PCIe devices through a single infrastructure. This eliminates the need for separate FCoE infrastructure by providing multi-functional PCIe device sharing across multiple hosts using standard PCIe protocols without requiring extensive infrastructure replacement.
3Speed
If ExpressEther architecture is used, then PCIe traffic transport over ethernet fabric is enabled, but PCIe device sharing at function level is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments PCIe devices into individually shareable units across multiple hosts using a PCIe switch. Each PCIe device or function can be assigned to specific hosts or shared among multiple hosts at the function level, enabling fine-grained device sharing. The PCIe switch maintains separate address spaces and transaction routing for each host-device connection while enabling efficient PCIe traffic transport.
4Adaptability or versatility
If MR-IOV is implemented, then native IO virtualization in multi-root topologies is enabled, but implementation at fabric, endpoint, and system levels is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex multi-level implementation requirements of MR-IOV and consolidates the virtualization functionality into a single PCIe switch device. This eliminates the need for separate fabric-level, endpoint-level, and system-level implementations by providing integrated IO virtualization capabilities within the PCIe switch itself, simplifying deployment while maintaining native PCIe connections.
Data Source
AI summary
An Input/Output (IO) Virtualization (IOV) system couples or connects multiple host computers and IO devices to a managed transport fabric to provide IO virtualization. The host computers may run any operating system to provide a virtualized environment for guest operating systems. The host interface to the IOV system is PCI-Express (PCIe). The IO devices are PCIe based to provide maximum compatibility with industry standard devices, but are not so limited. The IOV system comprises a management central processor unit (MCPU) coupled to transport fabric. The IOV system comprises device interfaces coupled to the transport fabric and to independent input/output (IO) devices. Each device interface couples to the IO device of the independent IO devices. The IOV system comprises host interfaces coupled to the transport fabric. Each host interface couples to a host computer of the independent host computers and exposes functions of the independent IO devices to the host computer.