Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing operation of a physical device in a virtualized computing environment are provided. The method comprises monitoring instructions issued by an application running on a virtual machine's (VM) operating system, wherein the VM is hosted by a hypervisor providing access to a physical device connected to a virtualized computing environment; wherein a device driver supported by the operating system issues one or more instructions to an emulated device supported by the hypervisor to control the physical device according to the issued instructions, wherein the emulated device's registers are implemented in memory of the hypervisor and the instructions issued by the device driver are stored in said registers, wherein the hypervisor handles the instructions, in response to learning that the instructions are stored in said registers.

Abstract: A method of address translation in a computing system providing direct memory access (DMA) by way of one or more remote memory management units (MMUs) is provided. The method comprises intercepting a request for a first DMA operation forwarded by a first device to a second device; and translating a guest address included in the request to a first address according to a mapping referencing a memory frame in a memory of the second device. A local MMU increments a first reference count indicating number of active DMA operations directed to the memory frame and a second reference count indicating number of remote MMUs that have mapped the memory frame.

Abstract: A para-virtualization method is provided. The method comprises implementing a virtual machine (VM) for guest software running on first host software. In response to a privileged instruction, the guest software causes a first VM exit. If the first host software is not running directly on hardware, the privileged instruction is managed without causing a second VM exit. Otherwise, the privileged instruction is managed normally.

Abstract: A method of handling an event occurring in a nested virtualization computing environment is provided, wherein N hypervisors are executed nestedly, with a first hypervisor running at level zero (L0) directly over a host machine, and other hypervisors nestedly running at levels L1 to Ln, respectively. The method comprises trapping an event generated by software running at level Ln; determining a hypervisor x at level Lx designated for handling the trapped event; and wherein the hypervisor x emulates features needed for performing the trapped event for the software running at the level Ln.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for handling events in a multi-core processing environment is provided. The method comprises handling an event by a second application running on a second core, in response to determining that the event is initiated by a first application running on a first core; and running a third application on the first core, while the first application is waiting for the event to be handled by the second application.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method of nesting a second virtual machine (VM) on a first VM running on a physical machine is provided. The method comprises receiving a first instruction from the physical machine, wherein the first instruction originates from the first VM, wherein a first control structure is associated with the first VM, and wherein a second control structure is associated with the second VM; creating a secondary control structure based on the second control structure associated with the second VM; providing the first instruction and the secondary control structure to the physical machine, wherein the physical machine executes the first instruction according to information included in the secondary control structure; and updating the secondary control structure to correspond to current state or execution environment of the physical machine.

Abstract: A method of handling an event occurring in a nested virtualization computing environment is provided, wherein N hypervisors are executed nestedly, with a first hypervisor running at level zero (L0) directly over a host machine, and other hypervisors nestedly running at levels L1 to Ln, respectively. The method comprises trapping an event generated by software running at level Ln; determining a hypervisor x at level Lx designated for handling the trapped event; and wherein the hypervisor x emulates features needed for performing the trapped event for the software running at the level Ln.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for managing virtual addresses of blade servers in a data center are disclosed that include storing by a blade server management module (‘BSMM’), in non-volatile memory of a blade server, a parameter block, the parameter block including one or more virtual addresses for communications adapters of the blade server and one or more action identifiers, each action identifier representing a type of address modification; detecting, by a basic input-output system (‘BIOS’) module of the blade server upon powering on the blade server, the parameter block; and modifying, by the BIOS module of the blade server in dependence upon the one or more action identifiers of the parameter block, an address of at least one communications adapter of the blade server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing operation of a physical device in a virtualized computing environment are provided. The method comprises monitoring instructions issued by an application running on a virtual machine's (VM) operating system, wherein the VM is hosted by a hypervisor providing access to a physical device connected to a virtualized computing environment; wherein a device driver supported by the operating system issues one or more instructions to an emulated device supported by the hypervisor to control the physical device according to the issued instructions, wherein the emulated device's registers are implemented in memory of the hypervisor and the instructions issued by the device driver are stored in said registers, wherein the hypervisor handles the instructions, in response to learning that the instructions are stored in said registers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving performance in a virtualization environment. The method comprising: detecting, by a first software, a first set of features supported by a hardware device, wherein the first software runs on the hardware device; detecting a second set of features with which to run a second software, wherein the second software is launched by the first software with the second set of features; exposing one or more features in the second set of features to the second software, wherein the second software detects and enables the exposed features for a third software launched by the second software; and emulating a first feature without causing a trap such that control is transferred to the second software, in response to determining that the first feature is an exposed feature not included in the first set of features, wherein one or more sensitive events are associated with the first feature.

Abstract: A method for managing memory in a nested virtualization environment is provided. The method comprises implementing a first virtual machine (VM) for a first software such that a first guest memory is allocated to the first software; maintaining a first data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the first guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in a physical memory; maintaining a second data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the second guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in the physical memory. The first software implements a second VM for a second software such that a second guest memory is allocated to the second software and maintains a third data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the second guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in the first guest memory.

Abstract: Failover of blade servers in a data center including powering off a failing blade server by a system management server through a blade server management module (‘BSMM’) managing the failing blade server, the failing blade server characterized by a machine type, one or more network addresses, and one or more storage addresses, the addresses being virtual addresses; identifying, by the system management server from a pool of standby blade servers, a replacement blade server, the replacement blade server managed by a BSMM; assigning, by the system management server through the BSMM managing the replacement blade server, the one or more network addresses and the one or more storage addresses of the failing blade server to the replacement blade server, including enabling in the replacement blade server the assigned addresses; and powering on the replacement blade server by the system management server through the BSMM managing the replacement blade server.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for handling events in a multi-core processing environment is provided. The method comprises handling an event by a second application running on a second core, in response to determining that the event is initiated by a first application running on a first core; and running a third application on the first core, while the first application is waiting for the event to be handled by the second application.

Abstract: A method for managing memory in a nested virtualization environment is provided. The method comprises implementing a first virtual machine (VM) for a first software such that a first guest memory is allocated to the first software; maintaining a first data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the first guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in a physical memory; maintaining a second data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the second guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in the physical memory. The first software implements a second VM for a second software such that a second guest memory is allocated to the second software and maintains a third data structure to translate one or more memory addresses in the second guest memory to corresponding memory addresses in the first guest memory.

Abstract: A para-virtualization method is provided. The method comprises implementing a virtual machine (VM) for guest software running on first host software. In response to a privileged instruction, the guest software causes a first VM exit. If the first host software is not running directly on hardware, the privileged instruction is managed without causing a second VM exit. Otherwise, the privileged instruction is managed normally.

Abstract: Power and redundancy management policies are applied individually to the tiers of redundant servers of an application service such that power is reduced while maintaining a high level of system availability. Servers which are determined to be relatively inactive are moved to a free pool. Certain servers of the free pool are maintained in a hot standby state, while others are powered-off or set to operate in a low power mode. During times of high load, the servers in the hot standby state can be provisioned quickly into the application service.

Abstract: A method of address translation in a computing system providing direct memory access (DMA) by way of one or more remote memory management units (MMUs) is provided. The method comprises intercepting a request for a first DMA operation forwarded by a first device to a second device; and translating a guest address included in the request to a first address according to a mapping referencing a memory frame in a memory of the second device. A local MMU increments a first reference count indicating number of active DMA operations directed to the memory frame and a second reference count indicating number of remote MMUs that have mapped the memory frame.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method of nesting a second virtual machine (VM) on a first VM running on a physical machine is provided. The method comprises receiving a first instruction from the physical machine, wherein the first instruction originates from the first VM, wherein a first control structure is associated with the first VM, and wherein a second control structure is associated with the second VM; creating a secondary control structure based on the second control structure associated with the second VM; providing the first instruction and the secondary control structure to the physical machine, wherein the physical machine executes the first instruction according to information included in the secondary control structure; and updating the secondary control structure to correspond to current state or execution environment of the physical machine.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for managing virtual addresses of blade servers in a data center are disclosed that include storing by a blade server management module (‘BSMM’), in non-volatile memory of a blade server, a parameter block, the parameter block including one or more virtual addresses for communications adapters of the blade server and one or more action identifiers, each action identifier representing a type of address modification; detecting, by a basic input-output system (‘BIOS’) module of the blade server upon powering on the blade server, the parameter block; and modifying, by the BIOS module of the blade server in dependence upon the one or more action identifiers of the parameter block, an address of at least one communications adapter of the blade server.

Abstract: Failover of blade servers in a data center including powering off a failing blade server by a system management server through a blade server management module (‘BSMM’) managing the failing blade server, the failing blade server characterized by a machine type, one or more network addresses, and one or more storage addresses, the addresses being virtual addresses; identifying, by the system management server from a pool of standby blade servers, a replacement blade server, the replacement blade server managed by a BSMM; assigning, by the system management server through the BSMM managing the replacement blade server, the one or more network addresses and the one or more storage addresses of the failing blade server to the replacement blade server, including enabling in the replacement blade server the assigned addresses; and powering on the replacement blade server by the system management server through the BSMM managing the replacement blade server.