Porting KVM to the ARM architecture

Registered by Elena Zannoni

This blueprint has been superseded. See the newer blueprint "ARM Virtualization" for updated plans.

This session scheduled with "Xen on ARM Cortex A15":
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/lpc/+spec/lpc2012-virt-xen-cortexa15

With the introduction of the Virtualization Extensions to the ARM architecture (as implemented in the Cortex A7 and A15 processors), it is possible to implement a hardware assisted hypervisor. The KVM port to the ARM architecture, started by Christoffer Dall (University of Columbia) is an example of such a hypervisor.

Our proposal is to describe the current state of the project, explain how the various virtualization extensions (hypervisor mode, second stage translation, virtual interrupt controller, timers) are used, how the KVM implementation on ARM differs from other architectures, and what our plans are for upstreaming the code.

Topic Lead: Marc Zyngier <email address hidden>
Marc has been toying with the Linux kernel since 1993, and has been involved over time with the RAID subsystem (MD), all kind of ancient architectures (by maintaining the EISA bus), messed with consumer electronics, and now focuses on the ARM architecture.

Blueprint information

Status:
Complete
Approver:
None
Priority:
Undefined
Drafter:
None
Direction:
Needs approval
Assignee:
None
Definition:
Superseded
Series goal:
None
Implementation:
Unknown
Milestone target:
None
Completed by
Grant Likely

Related branches

Sprints

Whiteboard

(?)

Work Items

This blueprint contains Public information 
Everyone can see this information.