Many embedded developers are using virtualization to run multiple operating systems (OSes) on their devices. This enables them to simplify the porting of legacy applications onto new platforms, increase the determinism of time-critical functions and improve the security and stability of safety-critical code. Enhancing the capabilities of traditional software–based virtualization solutions, Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) provides hardware-assist that boosts platform performance and robustness. Intel VT is one of the technologies that is part of Intel® vPro™ technology. Watch the video.
How it Works
Intel VT performs various virtualization tasks in hardware, like memory address translation, which reduces the overhead and footprint of virtualization software and improves its performance. For instance, switching between two OSes is significantly faster when memory address translation is performed in hardware compared to software. In fact, Intel developed three different, yet complementary, virtualization technologies that are built into multiple platform components, including processor, chipset and network interface controllers (NICs).
Key Benefits
With virtualization, applications run in secure partitions, which increases security by preventing unintended software interactions. In addition, the ability to put applications in partitions (called virtual machines) facilitates software migration and consolidation, leading to reduced software development effort and lower platform cost. Furthermore, embedded systems running a real-time operating system can also run a general-purpose OS, which typically provides a richer user interface.
Industrial Scenario
Many industrial systems, like programmable logic controllers and motion controllers, require a combination of low-latency, deterministic response and full-featured user interfaces. Satisfying both objectives, virtualization enables systems to simultaneously run real-time and general-purpose operating systems, each on dedicated processor cores of an Intel® multi-core processor. This configuration can increase the speed and determinism of time-critical applications, because they operate unencumbered by non-real-time tasks that would otherwise compete for CPU resources. Furthermore, virtualization enables equipment manufacturers to combine functions running on multiple boards onto one board, which lowers platform cost and reduces system size.
Medical Device Scenario
Securing applications and patient data is essential for medical diagnostic equipment. Applications requiring a higher level of security can be isolated using Intel VT, which protects their memory space in hardware and helps prevent attacks from malicious software. As such, software running in a secure partition only has access to its own code and data regions, unable to page outside its memory boundary because the hardware precludes unauthorized access.
Intel® Virtualization Technology requires a computer system with an enabled Intel® processor, BIOS, virtual machine monitor (VMM). Functionality, performance or other benefits will vary depending on hardware and software configurations. Software applications may not be compatible with all operating systems. Consult your PC manufacturer. For more information, visit
http://www.intel.com/go/virtualization
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