Intel® microprocessors and chipsets that support Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) make it feasible to run multiple operating systems (OSs) concurrently [1]. This enables the execution of multiple distinct protected execution environments that run in parallel. One such environment, the services or manageability partition, provides an isolated, controlled, and protected environment to support Embedded IT (EIT) on the platform.

EIT is Intel's strategy of embedding capabilities on the platform that enhance the overall manageability, security, and maintainability of the platform. The usages that define EIT in the business or office environment create a compelling value proposition for the use of virtualization technology on the platform. The challenges faced in the home computing environment present an opportunity to explore some of the key differentiators between the business and home computing environments.

The Intel® Lightweight Virtual Machine Monitor (LVMM) is a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) that partitions a client platform into two execution environments, using Intel VT, known as VT-x [2]. An execution environment is referred to as a virtual machine (VM) or a partition. One partition is the main user partition, and it can run a shrink-wrapped OS such as Windows XP*. The second partition is a services partition that runs a headless OS in an isolated execution environment. The user partition owns all the devices on the platform except for the network interface controllers. The latter are owned by the services partition, providing an ability to monitor and/or filter network traffic. Management applications that run in the services partition provide a remote console the ability to administer the client system.

In this paper we first present an overview of EIT and the capabilities that are enabled through the use of Intel VT. Next, we discuss the implications of using EIT in the home environment and follow that by an explanation of the VMM solution that we implemented for client virtualization. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the implication of EIT on performance in the mobile environment.