Server virtualized using virtualization platform
View Patent ↗A data processing system transforms a physical server into multiple virtual servers. The illustrative data processing system comprises a physical server and a virtualization platform integrated into the physical server that is configured to run multiple operating systems simultaneously one or more physical servers. A baseboard management controller integrated into the physical server controls the virtualization platform and the operating systems including physical and virtual resources. The virtualization platform operates according to state data accessed from the baseboard management controller.
1. A data processing system comprising:
a physical server;
a virtualization platform, integrated into the physical server, to run a plurality of operating systems simultaneously on at least one physical server based on persistent state data, the persistent state data comprising virtualization configuration information;
a non-volatile state storage, coupled to the physical server, to store the persistent state data; and
a physical baseboard management controller, integrated into the physical server, to edit the persistent state data when the virtualization platform is not running.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the virtualization platform is to write a predetermined code into a virtual Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) address for each of at least one guest virtual machine executable in the at least one physical server.
3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a local graphics console, wherein the virtualization platform is to enable the local graphics console to access guest consoles in absence of a connection to the network.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the physical virtualization platform is to export a guest console to a remote graphics console through the baseboard management controller to a remote client.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the physical baseboard management controller is to monitor a Digital Video In/Digital Video Out (DVI/DVO) graphics port and send data from a local physical frame buffer to the remote graphics console viewed from a browser.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the physical baseboard management controller is further to enable the remote graphics console to access the guest console through an onboard administrator to at least one physical server.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the virtualization platform is to access virtual Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) information and system information for each guest virtual machine.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein a predetermined code included in the virtual BIOS information specifies whether one or more test tools are enabled or disabled.
9. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a virtual connect device to manage a pool of server profiles that comprise identifiers uniquely describing a server and virtual environment parameters, wherein the virtualization platform is further to access the virtual environment parameters from the server profile pool.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a binary data format, and wherein the persistent state data is organized in a hierarchical structure.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a semaphore mechanism to prevent write-concurrency corruption.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile state storage uses a sector-to-memory mapping to store the persistent state data in.
13. A computer-executed method for operating a virtualized computing system comprising:
storing, in a non-volatile state storage, persistent state data comprising configuration information for a virtualization platform included in at least one physical server;
editing, by a physical baseboard management controller, the persistent state data while the virtualization platform is not running; and
running a plurality of operating systems simultaneously on the at least one physical server according to the edited persistent state data.
14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
writing a predetermined code into a virtual Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) address for each of at least one guest virtual machine executable in the at least one physical server whereby installation of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) operating system is permitted and operating system activation is bypassed.
15. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
exporting a guest console to a local monitor;
accessing guest consoles through a network via the physical baseboard management controller; and
operating the physical baseboard management controller comprising monitoring local server graphics activity to a local framebuffer and transmitting differences in the graphics activity to a target guest console.
16. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
managing a pool of server profiles that comprise identifiers uniquely describing a server and virtual environment parameters; and
accessing the virtual environment parameters from the server profile pool.
17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a binary data format, and wherein the persistent state data is organized in a hierarchical structure.
18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a semaphore mechanism to prevent write-concurrency corruption.
19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein storing the persistent state data in the non-volatile state storage comprises using a sector-to-memory mapping.
20. A non-transitory storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the program code to be executed by a hardware processor to:
store, in a non-volatile state storage, persistent state data comprising configuration information for a virtualization platform included in at least one physical server;
edit, by a physical baseboard management controller, the persistent state data while the at least one physical server is not running; and
run a plurality of operating systems simultaneously on at least one physical server according to the edited persistent state data state data.
21. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 20 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a binary data format, and wherein the persistent state data is organized in a hierarchical structure.
22. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 20 , wherein the persistent state data comprises a semaphore mechanism to prevent write-concurrency corruption.
23. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 20 , wherein storing the persistent state data in the non-volatile state storage comprises using a sector-to-memory mapping.