Dynamic binary translation from x86-32 code to x86-64 code for virtualization
Name
502427588-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
29.34 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
96acdc995d6a879ededfcd43e4ca078e
Author(s)
Chen, Yu-hsin, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor(s)
Robert T. Morris and Jeffrey W. Sheldon.
Date Issued
2009
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The goal of this project is to enhance performance of virtual machines and simplify the design of the virtual machine monitor by running 32-bit x86 operating systems in x86-64 mode. In order to do so, 32-bit operating system binary code is translated into x86-64 binary code via "widening binary translation"; x86-32 code is "widened" into x86-64 code. The main challenge of widening BT is emulating x86-32 legacy segmentation in x86-64 mode. Widening BT's solution is to emulate segmentation in software. Most of the overhead for software segmentation can be optimized away. The main contribution of widening BT is simplification of the VMM, which reduces the human cost of maintaining a complicated VMM. Widening BT also improves performance of 32-bit guest operating systems running in virtual machines and demonstrates the independence of virtual machines from physical hardware. With widening BT, legacy hardware mechanisms like segmentation can be dropped. Therefore widening BT reduces hardware's burden of backwards-compatibility, encouraging software/hardware co-design.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2009.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 95).
Subjects
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
