Virtual machine system and a method for sharing a graphics card amongst virtual machines

摘要

The present invention provides a virtual machine system and a method for sharing a graphics card amongst virtual machines. A VMM of the virtual machine system is provided with a resource-converting module, which converts data exchanged between a graphics card drive module of a GOS in the foreground and the graphics card based on a resource-converting table, and also intercepts accesses to the real graphics card by a GOS in the background and then responds to its operations on the graphics card. The VMM is further provided with a switching module, which alters a state of a VM based on a command for switching the VM, saves a graphics card state before the VM is switched to the background and restores the stored graphics card state to the graphics card when the VM is switched back to the foreground. Further, the GOSs each comprise a graphics card drive module corresponding to the real graphics card for accessing the real graphics card. The systems and the methods according to the present invention enable the GOSs to access the real graphics card, and also enable switching among a plurality of virtual machines.

主权项

1. A virtual machine system, comprising a Service Operating System (SOS), one or more Guest Operating Systems (GOSs), a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) and a real graphics card, wherein,
the VMM is provided with a resource-converting module that converts data exchanged between a graphics card drive module of a GOS in the foreground and the real graphics card based on a resource-converting table, and also intercepts accesses to the real graphics card by a GOS in the background and then simulates operations corresponding to the accesses, which the GOS in the background is attempting to perform on the real graphics card, in such a manner that the operations do not actually occur on the real graphics card; the VMM is further provided with a switching module, which alters a state of a virtual machine (VM) based on a command to switch the VM, saves a graphics card state before the VM is switched to the background and restores the stored graphics card state to the real graphics card when the VM is switched back to the foreground; and the GOSs each comprise a graphics card drive module corresponding to the real graphics card for accessing the real graphics card.