Virtual Machine Network Communication via Shared Memory Page
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual machine systems incur resource wastage due to frequent page swaps and unnecessary data packet copying when performing network communications, especially with applications like instant messaging, leading to inefficient system resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single sharing page shared among multiple virtual machines and a particular virtual machine, with a page swap scheduler to reduce the frequency of page swaps and encapsulating data packets in user memory space before writing to the sharing page, thereby minimizing system resource usage and optimizing data packet transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate sharing page is allocated for each virtual machine, then each virtual machine can independently perform network communications, but system memory resources are wasted due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate sharing pages (one per virtual machine) into a single shared page that is collectively used by all virtual machines for network communication. This consolidation eliminates memory duplication while maintaining the network communication capability of each virtual machine through shared access to the same page.
2Quantity of substance
If frequent page swaps are performed to manage shared memory, then memory utilization is improved, but system performance deteriorates due to swap overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic page swap scheduling instead of frequent or continuous swapping. The virtual machine hypervisor schedules page swaps at predetermined time intervals or under specific conditions, allowing the system to balance memory utilization with performance by performing swaps only when necessary rather than continuously.
3Reliability
If data packets are copied multiple times during network communication, then data integrity is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data packet copying operation from the traditional multi-copy process. By using a shared page that virtual machines can directly access, the system eliminates unnecessary intermediate copying steps while maintaining data integrity through the shared memory mechanism, thereby reducing processing time.
4Reliability
If multiple virtual machines use individual sharing pages, then isolation between virtual machines is maintained, but resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single sharing page universal by allowing multiple virtual machines to share the same page for network communication. This multi-functional approach maintains virtual machine isolation through controlled access while improving resource efficiency by eliminating the need for separate pages for each virtual machine.
Data Source
AI summary
A method used by a virtual machine in communication with an external machine includes providing a single sharing page that is shared between a plurality of virtual machines and a particular virtual machine, wherein the particular virtual machine and the plurality of virtual machines run on a same physical machine; writing into the single sharing page a data packet to be sent by the virtual machine to the external machine; scheduling a page swap between the single sharing page and a blank memory page of the particular virtual machine; and sending, to the external machine, the data packet in the memory page of the particular virtual machine subsequent to the page swap.