Virtual Machine Access via Host Driver and Hypervisor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual machine access methods differ from general system or peripheral device access, requiring inter-process communication (IPC) and complicating data exchange between host and guest operating systems, which can lead to host system crashes if real hardware experiences abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A computer system and method that utilizes a host driver and hypervisor with an expansion module to convert access instructions, allowing the host operating system or application to access virtual machines as system or peripheral devices, using guest drivers and hardware pass-through units to access real or virtual hardware without crashing the host system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If virtual machine is accessed via network service (HTTP, FTP, NFS, CIFS), then data exchange between host and guest is enabled, but access complexity increases and differs from general device access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a device driver as an intermediary layer between the host operating system and the virtual machine. This driver translates standard device access instructions into virtual machine-specific access protocols, enabling uniform access methods while handling protocol complexity internally. The driver acts as a mediator that shields the host from the complexity of virtual machine access protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual device interface that copies the standard device access interface. By presenting a familiar device driver interface for virtual machine access, it replicates the standard access pattern, allowing host applications to access virtual machines using the same methods as physical devices, thereby simplifying the access process.
2Reliability
If host operating system directly accesses real hardware, then hardware access is efficient, but hardware abnormalities can cause host system crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hardware access path by introducing a virtual machine layer between the host operating system and real hardware. This segmentation isolates hardware abnormalities to the virtual machine level, preventing system-wide crashes while maintaining efficient hardware access through dedicated device drivers within the virtual environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a protective layer (virtual machine with device driver) before the host operating system directly accesses real hardware. This cushioning layer absorbs and isolates hardware abnormalities, preventing them from propagating to the host system and causing crashes, while still enabling efficient hardware access through proper driver interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual machine uses container technology for OS-level virtualization, then resource isolation is achieved, but access method becomes different from system device access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal access interface through device drivers that can access both physical devices and virtual machines using the same method. This multi-functional approach allows the host operating system to use identical access procedures for different types of devices, maintaining ease of operation while supporting diverse virtualization implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a computer system and a method for accessing virtual machine. The computer system comprises a host operating system installed with a host driver and a virtual machine. The virtual machine comprises a hypervisor and a guest operating system. When the host operating system is intended for accessing the virtual machine, it will issue at least one access instruction to the hypervisor of the virtual machine via the host driver. The guest operating system of the virtual machine receives the access instruction from the hypervisor via a guest driver, and accesses a guest application program, a real hardware, and/or a virtual hardware according to the indication of the access instruction so as to generate an access result. Finally, the guest operating system of the virtual machine is able to transmit the access result to the host operating system.