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Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Technology

Improving the fundamental flexibility and robustness of traditional software-based virtualization solutions

Hardware-assisted virtualization

Hardware-Assisted Virtualization

Hardware-based Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT)1 improves the fundamental flexibility and robustness of traditional software-based virtualization solutions by accelerating key functions of the virtualized platform, including:

  • Speeding up the transfer of platform control between the guest operating systems (OSs) and the virtual machine manager (VMM)/hypervisor
  • Enabling the VMM to uniquely assign I/O devices to guest OSs
  • Optimizing the network for virtualization with adapter-based acceleration

Virtualization is used in data centers for disaster recovery, high availability, and business continuity, and in desktops to increase flexibility, improve security, and reduce costs.

Features

Hardware-assisted Intel® VT is built into every aspect of server platforms based on Intel® Xeon® processors and Intel® Server Adapters, as well as every 3rd generation Intel® Core™ vPro™ processor.

Combining Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) with Intel VT creates a more secure, and protected virtualized platform for server and client deployments. Intel® TXT helps ensure the integrity of the of the virtual machine prior to launching an application.

Server Virtualization

Get enhanced server virtualization performance in the data center using platforms based on Intel® Xeon® processors with Intel VT, and achieve faster VM boot times with Intel® Virtualization Technology FlexPriority and more flexible live migrations with Intel® Virtualization Technology FlexMigration (Intel® VT FlexMigration).

The Intel® Xeon® processor E5 family enables superior virtualization performance and a flexible, efficient, and secure data center that is fully equipped for the cloud.

The Intel® Xeon® processor 6500 series delivers intelligent and scalable performance optimized for efficient data center virtualization.

The Intel® Xeon® processor E7 family features flexible virtualization that automatically adapts to the diverse needs of a virtualized environment with built-in hardware assists.

Desktop Virtualization

Desktop Virtualization, using PCs powered by 3rd generation Intel® Core™ vPro™ processors with Intel VT, can improve IT security, management, and control, while reducing complexity. Desktop Virtualization can also improve application performance and responsiveness as well as increase the efficiency of data center resources.

In addition to desktop virtualization, PCs based on 3rd generation Intel® Core™ vPro™ processors and Intel®  vPro™ technology include support for hardware-based security and manageability to help improve the ability to manage and secure remote desktops and laptops.

Server Virtualization Resources

Watch this virtualization demo >

Simplify VMware vSphere* 4 Networking with Intel® Ethernet 10 Gigabit Server Adapters >

Advanced Virtualization I/O Queuing Technologies—An Intel-Microsoft Perspective >

IDC White Paper: Optimizing I/O Virtualization: Preparing the Datacenter for Next-Generation Applications >

Achieving Fast, Scalable I/O for Virtualized Servers With Intel® Virtualization Technology and the PCI-SIG* Single Root I/O Virtualization and Sharing Specification >

Virtual Switches Demand Rethinking Connectivity for Servers >

Desktop Virtualization Resources

Intelligent desktop virtualization technical animation > 

Case Study: Virtual Desktop Solution at NYC DOE >

Intel IT: Embracing Desktop Virtualization >

Additional Information:2

Videos

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Product and Performance Information

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1. Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) requires a computer system with an enabled Intel® processor, BIOS, virtual machine monitor (VMM) and, for some uses, certain platform software enabled for it. Functionality, performance, or other benefits will vary depending on hardware and software configurations and may require a BIOS update. Software applications may not be compatible with all operating systems. Please check with your application vendor.


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