Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform better management and control of VM (virtual machine) operations. SOLUTION: Methods and systems are provided to control transitions between a virtual machine (VM) and a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM). A processor uses state action indicators to load and/or store associated elements of a machine state before completing the transition. The state action indicators may be stored in a Virtual Machine Control Structure (VMCS), predetermined, and/or calculated dynamically. In some embodiments, the values loaded can be directly acquired from the VMCS, predetermined and/or calculated dynamically. In some embodiments, the values stored may be acquired directly from the machine state, predetermined and/or calculated dynamically. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage a machine state in a virtual machine operation.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a method and a system in which a shift between a virtual machine (VM) and a virtual machine monitor (VMM) is controlled. In a processor, a state action indicator is used to load and/or store related elements of the machine state before completing the shift. The state action indicator may be saved in a virtual machine control structure (VMCS), predetermined, and/or dynamically calculated. In an embodiment, a value which is loaded may be obtained directly from the VMCS, predetermined, and/or dynamically calculated. In another embodiment, a value which is saved may be obtained directly from the machine state, predetermined, and/or dynamically calculated.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage a machine state in virtual machine operations.SOLUTION: Methods and systems are provided to control a transition between a virtual machine (VM) and a virtual machine monitor (VMM). A processor uses state action indicators to load and/or store associated elements of a machine state before completing the transition. The state action indicators may be stored in a virtual machine control structure (VMCS), predetermined, and/or calculated dynamically. In some embodiments, the values loaded can be directly acquired from the VMCS, predetermined and/or calculated dynamically. In some embodiments, the values stored may be acquired directly from the machine state, predetermined and/or calculated dynamically.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for allowing a virtual machine monitor to assume control of a system when the current privilege level of guest software meets a privilege level exiting criteria. SOLUTION: A processor detects that the current privilege level meets the criteria and then transfers control from the guest software to the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may decline to assume control for certain privilege level changes or values. Transfer to the virtual machine monitor may occur before or after executing some instructions in VM. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system to control the execution of a virtual machine (VM). SOLUTION: A VM monitor (VMM) indirectly accesses VM control structures (VMCS) through access instructions transferred to a processor. In one embodiment, the access instructions include VMCS component identifiers used by the processor to determine the appropriate storage component for the VMCS components. The processor identifies the appropriate storage location for the VMCS components within a processor storage mechanism or within a memory storage mechanism. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a command pertaining to one or more portions of a register is received from guest software. Further, a determination is made as to whether the guest software has access to all of the requested portions of the register based on indicators within a mask field that correspond to the requested portions of the register. If the guest software has access to all of the requested portions of the register, the command received from the guest software is executed on the requested portions of the register.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, information pertaining to a first fault occurring during operation of a virtual machine (VM) is stored in a first field. A second fault is detected while delivering the first fault to the VM, and a determination is made as to whether the second fault is associated with a transition of control to a virtual machine monitor (VMM). If this determination is positive, information pertaining to the second fault is stored in a second field, and control is transitioned to the VMM.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method includes transitioning control to a virtual machine (VM) from a virtual machine monitor (VMM), determining that a VMM timer indicator is set to an enabling value, and identifying a VMM timer value configured by the VMM. The method further includes periodically comparing a current value of a timing source with the VMM timer value, generating an internal event if the current value of the timing source has reached the VMM timer value, and transitioning control to the VMM in response to the internal event without incurring an event handling procedure in any one of the VMM and the VM.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method induces receiving a request to transition control to a virtual machine (VM) from a virtual machine monitor (VMM), determining that a single-stepping indicator is set to a single stepping value, and transitioning control to the VM. Further, if an execution of a first instruction in the VM completes successfully, control is transitioned to the VMM following the successful completion of the execution of the first instruction.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a processor mode is provided for guest software. The processor mode enables the guest software to operate at a privilege level intended by the guest software. When the guest software attempts to perform an operation restricted by processor mode, the processor mode is exited to transfer control of the operation to a virtual-machine monitor, which runs outside this processor mode.