The Atom gets (para)virtualized

VirtualLogix announced a new version of its VLX virtualization software for the Intel Atom Z530 processor, offering a "paravirtualized" environment for a chip that has no virtualization hardware of its own. VLX for Atom will primarily serve in-vehicle infotainment and industrial automation and control applications, says the company.
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VLX combines a compact scheduler with various nanokernel components, in order to share system hardware resources between multiple heterogeneous operating system (OS) instances. Unlike traditional virtualization solutions, VLX lets guest OSes access physical hardware subsystems directly, for faster performance. The company says that despite this direct physical access, hardware developers can securely isolate critical applications. Other touted benefits include reduced materials cost, contained software failures, and software license segregation, says VirtuaLogix.

Benefits to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) using VLX for Atom are said to include:

• Lower operational and cost constraints in migrating to the Atom
  
• Reduction of Bill of Materials (BOM) due to converging multiple OS environments on a common platform
  
• Improved security from isolating mission-critical execution domains from the less trustworthy ones
  
• Accelerated development for tight time-to-market deadlines

Intel's Atom Z530 can be clocked to 1.6GHz, and, along with the 1.1GHz 510, offers seven-year lifecycle support. Intel recently announced a newer set of Atom processors based on the Z530 and Z510. The Z530P and Z510P, as well as two more extended-temperature "PT" Atom models, are "larger footprint" versions of these chips that target the automotive market with a 22 x 22mm package that includes an integrated heat spreader.

Last April, VirtualLogix updated its VLX-NI (network infrastructure) version of VLX to support newer Intel Architecture (IA) features including Intel VT-d (virtualization technology for directed I/O), Microsoft Windows guests, and Core Microarchitecture 3.0.

The Atom, however, lacks VT-d or other hardware virtualization support. Therefore, OSes must be paravirtualized in order to run on the chips under VLX. VirtualLogix has considerable expertise making alterations to OSes such as Linux, including modifications to the scheduler, in order to be virtualized on chips without supporting hardware.

VLX everywhere

Last month, VirtualLogix demonstrated its VLX virtualization stack running Android and a baseband RTOS on an ST-Ericsson reference design with a single ARM9 core. The Android solution appears to use a version of VLX-MH (mobile handsets). Other versions of VLX include VLX-DM (digital media), and a new MID (mobile Internet device) version.

Stated Jonathan Luse, Director of Marketing, Low Power Embedded Products, Intel, "Our well-supported software ecosystem, including VirtualLogix VLX real-time virtualization, delivers a flexible combination of software execution environments, shortening time-to-market for device OEMs incorporating Intel Atom processors."

Stated Glenda Dorchak, Vice Chairman and CEO, VirtualLogix, "This latest VLX solution delivers a development platform for OEMs that will allow them to bring products to market faster."

Availability
VLX for the Atom Z530 is available now, says VirtualLogix.

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Source：LinuxDevices

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