Datasheet

Technologies
Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor C5500/C3500 Series
Datasheet, Volume 1 February 2010
306 Order Number: 323103-001
4.0 Technologies
4.1 Intel
®
Virtualization Technology (Intel
®
VT)
Intel
®
VT comprises technology components to support virtualization of platforms
based on Intel architecture microprocessors and chipsets. Intel
®
Virtualization
Technology (Intel
®
VT-x) added hardware support in the processor to improve the
virtualization performance and robustness. Intel
®
Virtualization Technology for
Directed I/O (Intel
®
VT-d) adds chipset hardware implementation to support and
improve I/O virtualization performance and robustness.
Intel
®
VT-x specifications and functional descriptions are included in the Intel
®
64 and
IA-32 Architectures Software Developer’s Manual, Volume 3B and is available at http://
www.intel.com/products/processor/manuals/index.htm.
The Intel
®
VT-d 2.0 spec and other VT documents are located at http://www.intel.com/
technology/platform-technology/virtualization/index.htm.
4.1.1 Intel
®
VT-x Objectives
Intel
®
VT-x provides hardware acceleration for the virtualization of IA platforms. Virtual
Machine Monitor (VMM) can use Intel
®
VT-x features to provide improved reliable
virtualized platform. By using Intel
®
VT-x, a VMM is:
• Robust: VMMs no longer need to use paravirtualization or binary translation. This
means that they will be able to run off-the-shelf OSs and applications without any
special steps.
• Enhanced: Intel
®
VT enables VMMs to run 64-bit guest OSs on IA x86 processors.
• More reliable: With the available hardware support, VMMs can now be smaller,
less complex, and more efficient. This improves reliability and availability, and
reduces the potential for software conflicts.
• More secure: The use of hardware transitions in the VMM strengthens the isolation
of VMs and further prevents corruption of one VM from affecting others on the
same system.