Saving, transferring and recreating GPU context information across heterogeneous GPUs during hot migration of a virtual machine

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for recreating graphics processing unit (GPU) state information associated with a migrated virtual machine (VM). A VM running on a first VM host coupled to a first graphics device, comprising a first GPU, is migrated to a second VM host coupled to a second graphics device, in turn comprising a second GPU. A context module coupled to the first GPU reads its GPU state information in its native GPU state representation format and then converts the GPU state information into an intermediary GPU state representation format. The GPU state information is conveyed in the intermediary GPU state representation format to the second VM host, where it is received by a context module coupled to the second GPU. The context module converts the GPU state information related to the first GPU from the intermediary GPU state representation format to the native GPU state representation format of the second GPU. Once converted, the GPU state information of the first GPU is restored to the second GPU in its native GPU state representation format.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory; and a context module operable to:
convert graphics processing unit (GPU) state information of a virtual machine (VM) that is represented in a first GPU state representation format into an intermediary GPU state representation format that is stored in the memory, wherein the GPU state information of the VM that is represented in the first GPU state representation format is generated by a first GPU of a first VM host during migration of the VM from the first VM host to a second VM host; andconvert the GPU state information of the VM that is represented in the intermediary GPU state representation format into a second GPU state representation format, wherein the second GPU state representation format is usable by a second GPU of the second VM host to restore the GPU state of the VM in the second VM host.