Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for augmenting machine virtualization by entirely bypassing resource emulation for performance-critical features, such as 3D graphics acceleration, through the use of high-performance interfaces between the guest OS and the host OS. Embodiments of the present invention also comprise methods and systems for ameliorating the performance penalties and functionality restrictions of conventional resource emulation.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages the use of a virtual disk. During operation, the system obtains trace data associated with a startup process that reads blocks from the virtual disk. Next, the system physically rearranges the blocks based on the trace data to increase the speed of the startup process. During execution of the startup process, the system also determines a progress of the startup process and uses the progress and the trace data to prefetch blocks from the virtual disk for use by the startup process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for network-extended storage. A portable storage device is coupled to a host computer, and network extension code stored on the portable storage device is invoked. The network extension code is operable to detect a file system write function call generated by an application executing on the host computer, the file system write function call operable to cause data to be written to the portable storage device, and cause the data to be written to the portable storage device based upon the file system write function call. The network extension code is further operable to generate a transmit determination indicative of whether to transmit the data to a network repository, and transmit the data to the network repository based upon the transmit determination.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that provides a virtual disk in a computer system. During operation, the system stores data for the virtual disk in a virtual disk file on the computer system. Next, the system loads a differential location data structure corresponding to a snapshot of the virtual disk into memory on the computer system and processes input/output (I/O) operations to the virtual disk using the differential location data structure and the virtual disk file. Finally, the system periodically generates a new snapshot of the virtual disk by transactionally committing changes made to the differential location data structure by the I/O operations to the virtual disk file.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that provides a filesystem in a computer system. During operation, the system obtains a policy for the filesystem and separates the filesystem into a set of layers based on the policy. Next, the system processes input/output (I/O) operations to the filesystem by directing each of the I/O operations to one of the layers based on the policy. Finally, the system periodically maintains the layers using a master image of the filesystem.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system that processes an input/output (I/O) operation associated with a portable storage device. During operation, the system loads a virtual computing environment stored on the portable storage device into a host computer system coupled to the portable storage device. Next, the system intercepts the I/O operation from the virtual computing environment to the portable storage device. Finally, the system decouples the I/O operation from the virtual computing environment by processing the I/O operation independently of a representation of the I/O operation in the virtual computing environment.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that presents an alternate computing environment on a host computing device. During operation, this system detects the presence of a removable storage device which is in communication with an interface of the host computing device. The system also locates code which implements the alternate computing environment on the removable storage device. Finally, the system runs the code which presents the alternate computing environment through an environment player on the host device, wherein the environment player prevents a user of the alternate computing environment from interacting directly with a native computing environment of the host computing device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for network-extended storage. A portable storage device is coupled to a host computer, and network extension code stored on the portable storage device is invoked. The network extension code is operable to detect a file system write function call generated by an application executing on the host computer, the file system write function call operable to cause data to be written to the portable storage device, and cause the data to be written to the portable storage device based upon the file system write function call. The network extension code is further operable to generate a transmit determination indicative of whether to transmit the data to a network repository, and transmit the data to the network repository based upon the transmit determination.