Hypervisor context switching using TLB tags in processors having more than two hierarchical privilege levels
US10162655B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 2014 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2009/45587
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a virtualized computer system operable in more than two hierarchical privilege levels, components of a hypervisor, which include a virtual machine kernel and virtual machine monitors (VMMs), are assigned to different privilege levels. The virtual machine kernel operates at a low privilege level to be able to exploit certain features provided by the low privilege level, and the VMMs operate at a high privilege level to support execution of virtual machines. Upon determining that a context switch from the virtual machine kernel to a VMM is to be performed, the computer system exits the low privilege level, and enters the high privilege level to execute a trampoline that supports context switches to VMMs, such as state changes, and then the VMM. The trampoline is deactivated after execution control is switched to the VMM.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.