Processor Feature ID Response for Virtualization Guest Exits

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Solution Overview

Problem

In prior virtualization systems, guest exits are frequently triggered in response to requests for processor feature ID information, leading to performance overhead and increased power consumption due to the need for supervisory partition intervention.

Innovation Solution

The technology provides processor feature ID information to virtual machines and guest partitions by precomputing or determining this information within a supervisory partition, such as a hypervisor, and storing it for later use, thereby reducing the frequency of guest exits by allowing the processor to handle requests without supervisory partition intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the processor requests processor feature ID information from the supervisory partition, then the information is accurate and up-to-date, but the guest exit frequency increases and performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessor feature ID information accuracyVSAvoidprocessing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor determines processor feature ID information in advance during a guest partition setup operation and stores it locally. This preliminary action eliminates the need for frequent supervisory partition interventions during runtime, reducing guest exits while maintaining information accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the processor requests processor feature ID information from the supervisory partition, then the information is reliable, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The processor determines and stores processor feature ID information in advance during setup operations. This preliminary determination eliminates subsequent power-consuming supervisory partition interactions, maintaining reliability while reducing ongoing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the supervisory partition intervenes for each processor feature ID request, then the information is current, but the processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeature ID information currencyVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The processor determines processor feature ID information in advance during guest partition setup and stores it for later use. This eliminates time-consuming supervisory partition interventions during runtime operations, reducing processing overhead while maintaining information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12020050B2Processor feature ID response for virtualization

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The disclosed technology is generally directed to virtualization technology. The disclosed technology includes providing processor feature ID information requested by, or from, a virtual machine (VM), virtualized application, Virtualization Based Security (VBS) user mode process, VBS kernel mode process, or other guest partition, by a processor. Such information may be provided based on information provided a priori to the processor, for example, by a supervisory partition, such as a hypervisor. The disclosed technology also includes a supervisory partition, for example, that provides such information to the processor, and includes guest partitions that receive such information.