Remote rendering of three-dimensional images using virtual machines

摘要

Remote rendering of three-dimensional images using virtual machines includes using a hypervisor executing on a physical computer to allocate exclusive and direct access to a graphics processing unit in the physical computer, to a first virtual machine. An agent executing on a second virtual machine intercepts three-dimensional draw commands generated by a three-dimensional application and forwards the intercepted draw commands to a rendering agent executing on the first virtual machine. The rendering agent then transmits the intercepted draw commands to the graphics processing unit for rendering upon which the graphics processing unit renders a three-dimensional image from the draw commands. The rendering agent obtains the rendered image from the graphics processing unit and forwards the image to the second virtual machine. Upon receiving the rendered image, the second virtual machine transmits the rendered image to another remote, physical computer where the rendered image is displayed to a user.

主权项

1. A method for remotely rendering three-dimensional draw commands generated by an application executed by a virtual machine executing a non-paravirtualized operating system, the method comprising:
allocating, by a hypervisor executing on a first physical computer executing a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, to a paravirtualized operating system executing on the first virtual machine, direct access to a graphics processing unit of the first physical computer; intercepting, by an agent executing on the second virtual machine, three-dimensional draw commands generated by an application executing on the second virtual machine; receiving, by the agent executing on the second virtual machine, a notification denying the agent access to the graphics processing, the notification including an identification of the first virtual machine that is allocated direct access to the graphics processing unit; redirecting, by the agent executing on the second virtual machine, the intercepted three-dimensional draw commands to a rendering agent executing on the first virtual machine; rendering, by the graphics processing unit responsive to receiving the three-dimensional draw commands from the rendering agent, an image based on the three-dimensional draw commands; forwarding, by the rendering agent executing on the first virtual machine responsive to receiving the rendered image from the graphics processing unit, the rendered image to the agent executing on the second virtual machine that intercepted the three-dimensional draw commands generated by the application; and transmitting, from the second virtual machine responsive to receiving the rendered image from the rendering agent executing on the first virtual machine, the rendered image to a second physical computer over a communication channel established between the first physical computer and the second physical computer.