International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

5# * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
Revie- on /en 0pervisor
Shikha R. Thakur*, R. M. Goudar
MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi (D)
Unier!i"y of #une, #une, India$%&'&()
"hakur!hikha'*+yahoo.com ,, rmgoudar+com-.mae-une.ac.in

A 1 % 2 R A C 2
In this era, Cloud Computin, and virtuali3ation are insepara4le from each other$ Virtuali3ation
increases efficienc, fle5i4ilit and scala4ilit in cloud computin,$ Virtuali3ation in cloud
computin, is possi4le due to different virtuali3ation platform such as 6vm, 7M8inu5, VM-are,
Virtual1o5, /en$ /en is an open source virtuali3ation tool for cloud computin, that is -idel used
amon, cloud providers$ /en hpervisor provides t-o modes of virtuali3ation 9ara)virtuali3ed and
hard-are assisted virtuali3ation$ /en hpervisor in 9ara)virtuali3ed mode 4uilds cloud platform$
2his paper ,ives the introduction of /en hpervisor and surve of related -or: on improvin, the
performance of /en hpervisor$
Inde5 2erms; /en hpervisor, virtual machine monitor, net-or: I<= virtuali3ation, cloud
computin,, virtuali3ation, para)virtuali3ation, hard-are assisted virtuali3ation

I$ I&2R=>7C2I=&
.loud /&0 i! a ir"uali1a"ion of re!ource!. .om-u"ing "ha" ena2le! acce!!ing of ir"uali1ed re!ource! and
!erice! needed "o -erform func"ion! 3i"h dynamically u!er demand! and changing need! i! "ermed a!
.loud .om-u"ing. .loud com-u"ing com-ri!e! of "hree !erice, Infra!"ruc"ure a! a Serice (IaaS),
#la"form a! a Serice (#aaS) and Sof"3are a! a Serice (SaaS). 4ir"uali1a"ion i! a key "echnology "o
im-lemen" infra!"ruc"ure !erice!. 4ir"uali1a"ion i! alike emula"ion in 3hich !y!"em -re"end! "o 2e one
or more of "he !ame !y!"em. Im-lemen"ing ir"uali1a"ion -roide! fle5i2ili"y, !cala2ili"y and
effec"iene!! "o "he cloud.
4ir"uali1a"ion in cloud could 2e im-lemen"ed 3i"h "he hel- of numerou! ir"uali1a"ion "ool! !uch a! 6m,
UM7inu5, 4m3are, 4ir"ual8o5, and 9en. 9en hy-eri!or, drier domain 2a!ed model i! an o-en !ource
ir"uali1a"ion -la"form. 9en /', :0 i! a hy-eri!or -roiding !erice! "ha" allo3 mul"i-le ir"uali1ed
o-era"ing !y!"em! "o e5ecu"e on !ingle com-u"er hard3are concurren"ly. 9en hy-eri!or -roide! a
!"rong founda"ion of ir"uali1a"ion "o cloud -roider!. ;y-eri!or i! a !of"3are layer "ha" crea"e! run!
and manage! ir"ual machine! (4M!). ;y-eri!or layer lie! 2e"3een -hy!ical and o-era"ing !y!"em.
;y-eri!or 3ere fir!" im-lemen"ed for com-u"ing in"en!ie a--lica"ion and no" for "he ne"3ork
in"en!ie a--lica"ion.
The degraded I<= -erformance of drier domain 2a!ed model ha! limi"ed "he ado-"ion of 9en hy-eri!or
in a--lica"ion domain "ha" re>uire da"a$in"en!ie, high "hrough-u" ne"3ork com-u"ing. A num2er of
ariou! re!earche! ha! 2een done "o oercome "hi! -ro2lem and "o -roide !"ronge!" cloud -la"form.
Seeral re!earche! are carried ou" "o im-roe in"er$domain communica"ion and "o im-roe
communica"ion 2e"3een hard3are and 9en hy-eri!or layer. Enhancemen"! in !of"3are a! 3ell a!
hard3are hae 2een done "o im-roe ne"3ork I<= ir"uali1a"ion -erformance.
International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)
Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

55 * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
#a-er !"ar"! 3i"h an in"roduc"ion in !ec"ion I. Sec"ion II of "hi! -a-er gie! an archi"ec"ural and 3orking
of 9en hy-eri!or con!idering in"er$domain communica"ion. Sec"ion III focu!e! on "he rela"ed 3ork "ha"
ha! 2een done for im-roing "he I<= -erformance. Sec"ion I4 conclude! "he "o-ic.
II$ /?& ARC0I2?C27R?

9en /%0 i! a ir"ual machine moni"or "ha" -roide! a ir"ual enironmen" in 3hich a kernel can run.
;y-eri!or i! a !of"3are layer "ha" lie! 2e"3een =S and hard3are layer. A 9en !y!"em con!i!"! of "hree
com-onen"! ? ;y-eri!or, 6ernel and u!er a--lica"ion!. 9en ir"uali1a"ion "echnology 3i"h #ara$
ir"uali1ed kernel -roide! -erformance clo!e "o na"ie machine. In #ara$ ir"uali1ed kernel, "he
-riileged in!"ruc"ion! are re-laced 3i"h hy-ercall! /@ig &0. ;y-eri!or archi"ec"ure -roide!
enironmen" "o run numerou! gue!"! 3i"h differen" o-era"ing !y!"em, "hi! enironmen" i! called a!
domain /@ig '0. 8a!ically "here are "3o "y-e! of domain!, Domain ( (Dom() 3hich i! -riileged gue!" "ha"
handle! communica"ion of all o"her gue!"!, 3i"h "he hard3are. Ahen 9en 2oo"! "he fir!" "hing i" load! i!
"he Dom(. ="her gue!" are un-riileged gue!"! kno3 a! Domain U (DomU). The!e gue!"! can acce!!
hard3are only "hrough Dom(.
Alike kernel, 9en re>uire een"! for differen" o-era"ion! like reading, 3ri"ing, checking !"a"u!, gran"
mechani!m and memory acce!! e"c. @or e.g. Ahen "he Dom( make! da"a aaila2le in !hared memory, an
een" i! fired "o "ell gue!" kernel (DomU) "ha" da"a i! "here in!ide memory. 9en een"! can occur a!
hard3are or ir"ual in"erru-"!. The!e een"! can 2e deliered ia call2ack "hrough channel!. 9en analog
i! re!-on!i2le for im-lemen"ing een" mechani!m. @or "hi! "o 3ork, a gue!" kernel !hould regi!"er a
call2ack "o 2e u!ed for deliering of an een". Ahen een"! are deliered ariou! flag! are !e" "o indica"e
3hich een" i! -re!en". The!e deliering of een"! may 2e !ynchronou! or a!ynchronou!.

Sy!"em call
Fi,ure 1$ %stem calls in native and 9ara) virtuali3ed sstem.
In drier domain model of 9en, "3o domain! can "ran!fer "heir da"a "hrough !hared memory ? a memory
3ho!e con"en"! are aaila2le "o 2o"h "he domain!. Thi! !hared memory con!idered a! -age! and "he!e
-age! can 2e iden"ified 2y a gran" reference. Gran" reference i! an in"eger 3hich can 2e communica"ed
2e"3een domain! u!ing 9enS"ore$ a file !y!"em of 9enB alike UCI9. 9en -erform! "3o in"er$domain
o-era"ion! on memory -age!$ !haring and "ran!ferring. A -age "ran!fer i! a coar!e grained me!!age
-a!!ing mechani!m.
The drier domain ena2le! mul"i-le concurren" e5ecu"ion of gue!" =Se! 2y mul"i-le5ing deice!. The
drier domain and "he gue!" domain! (DomU) communica"e 2y mean! of !-li" ne"3ork$drier
archi"ec"ure /@ig. :0 "hrough !hared memory. S-li" deice drier! are "he modified na"ie drier!
de!igned "o moe da"a from DomU "o Dom( u!ing I= ring 2uffer! in !hared memory. The!e drier! are
International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)
Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

5@ * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
diided in"o "3o hale!B "he "o- half re!ide! in Dom( 6no3n a! ne"2ack 3hile "he 2o""om half kno3n a!
ne"fron" 3hich run! on "he DomU.


Fi,ure !; Architecture of /en hpervisor
Ce"fron" -erform! ariou! func"ion! !uch a! ini"iali1ing a memory -age! and e5-or"! i" u!ing gran"
mechani!m, ader"i!e! "he gran" reference ia 9en!"ore and receie! re>ue!" and 3ri"e re!-on!e in
!hared memory 3hile ne"2ack i! re!-on!i2le for "he func"ion! like finding "he 2o""om half of "he !hared
memory -age in 9en!"ore, ma--ing "he -age in"o i"! o3n addre!! !-ace., 3ri"e! "he re>ue!" in"o !hared
memory -age. And receie! "he re!-on!e !end 2y "he ne"fron". Ce"fron" and ne"2ack communica"e 3i"h
each o"her u!ing 2idirec"ional I<= ring 2uffer!B one !ide for -acke" rece-"ion and ano"her !ide for -acke"
"ran!mi!!ion. The I<= ring 2uffer! im-lemen"! -u2li!h$ !u2!cri2e communica"ion. I" can 2e im-lemen"ed
on "he "o- of "3o 2uilding 2lock!B gran" "a2le! and een" channel!. Gran" "a2le allo3! "he u!e of ring
mechani!mB "ran!ferring da"a in 2ulk 2y !haring of memory !o "ha" 2o"h !ide! of drier! can acce!! i".
The -ur-o!e of "he gran" "a2le in ne"3ork I<= i! "o -roide a fa!" and !ecure mechani!m for gue!"
domain! (DomU!) "o hae an indirec" acce!! "o "he ne"3ork deice! "hrough "he drier domain. Gran"
"a2le ena2le! "he drier domain "o !e" u- a DMA 2a!ed da"a "ran!fer direc"ly "o<from "he !y!"em memory
of a DomU ra"her "han -erforming "he DMA "o<from drier domainD! memory. I" can 2e u!ed "o ei"her
!hare or "ran!fer -age! 2e"3een "he DomU and Dom(. @or e5am-le, "he fron"end of a !-li" drier in
DomU can no"ify "he 9en hy-eri!or (ia "he gn""a2Egran"EforeignEacce!! hy-ercall) "ha" a memory -age
can 2e !hared 3i"h "he drier domain. The DomU "hen -a!!e! a gran" "a2le reference ia "he een"
channel "o "he drier domain, 3hich direc"ly co-ie! da"a "o<from "he memory -age of "he DomU. =nce
"he -age acce!! i! com-le"e, "he DomU remoe! "he gran" reference (ia "he gn""a2EendEforeignEacce!!
call).
A" "he o"her !ide, ne"3ork deice! can receie da"a a!ynchronou!ly, "ha" i!, "he drier domain migh" 2e
unkno3n of "he "arge" DomU for an incoming -acke" un"il "he en"ire -acke" ha! 2een receied and i"!
header e5amined. In "hi! !i"ua"ion, "he drier domain fir!" co-ie! from DMA! "he -acke" in"o i"! o3n
memory -age. @ur"her, de-ending on 3he"her "he receied -acke" i! !mall, "he drier domain can choo!e
"o co-y "he en"ire -acke" "o "he DomUD! memory acro!! a !hared -age. Al"erna"iely, if "he -acke" i! large,
"he drier domain no"ifie! "he 9en hy-eri!or (ia "he gn""a2Egran"EforeignE"ran!fer call) "ha" "he -age
can 2e "ran!ferred "o "he "arge" DomU. The DomU "hen ini"ia"e! a "ran!fer of "he receied -age from "he
drier domain and re"urn! a free -age 2ack "o "he hy-eri!or. E5ce!!ie !3i"ching of a .#U 2e"3een
International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)
Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

5A * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
domain! can nega"iely im-ac" "he -erformance. An addi"ional !ource of oerhead can 2e "he inoca"ion
of fre>uen" hy-ercall! (e>uialen" of !y!"em call! for "he hy-eri!or) in order "o -erform -age !haring or
"ran!fer!.


Fi,ure '; %plit device driver model$

III$ R?8A2?> B=R6
9en i! -o-ular ir"ual machine moni"or "ha" i! 3idely u!ed among cloud -roider!. Since 9en e5hi2i"!
-oor ne"3ork I<= -erformance, i" i! nece!!ary "o im-roe "he "hrough-u". Cumerou! re!earche! hae
2een carried ou" "o oercome "hi! -ro2lem. ;ere i! "he !ummari1ed de!cri-"ion of rela"ed 3ork "ha" i!
done "o im-roe "he -erformance. Thi! im-roemen" can 2e done 3i"h 2y enhancing !of"3are a! 3ell a!
hard3are im-lemen"a"ion!.
A. %oft-are ?nhancements

9enloo- /)0 i! a high !-eed 2idirec"ional in"er 4M$ channel kernel module. 9enloo- ena2le!
communica"ion 2e"3een "3o gue!" 4m! "hrough "hi! channel in!"ead of "he !"andard da"a -a"h ia Dom(.
Thi! module lie! a! a "hin layer in "he ne"3ork -ro"ocol !"ack 2e"3een "he ne"3ork layer and "he da"a ink
layer. There i! Sof"3are 8ridge "ha" i! u!ed "o de"ermine "he -acke"F! de!"ina"ion addre!!. The channel
can 2e crea"ed 2e"3een any -air of 4m! in a !ingle -hy!ical machine. A !of"$!"a"e domain di!coery
mechani!m i! u!ed "o find !uch -air! and i! !"ored "o ma--ing "a2le in 9enloo- module. 9enloo-
im-roe! 2and3id"h in a range of &.)) "o *.&G oer "he ne"fron" and ne"2ack !y!"em. 7a"ency
-erformance in 9enloo- can 2e 3or!e 2y a fac"or ranging from &.' "o %.*.

9en!ocke"! /*0 i! a !-eciali1ed in"erdomain communica"ion ia memory !haring. The memory !egmen"
can 2e acce!!ed u!ing "he !"andard #=SI9 !ocke" A#I alike UCI9 domain !ocke"!. The difference 2e"3een
9en!ocke" and UCI9 domain !ocke" i! "ha" i" -roide! i!ola"ion for ir"uali1a"ion. 9en!ocke"! -roide! a
!ocke"!$2a!ed in"erface "o large !hared memory 2uffer! for in"er$domain communica"ion. 9en!ocke"!
aoid! incurring "he oerhead of mul"i-le hy-ercall! and memory -age "a2le u-da"e! 2y aggrega"ing "he
hi!"orical da"a !uch a! mul"i-le o-era"ion! on mul"i-le ne"3ork -acke"! in"o one or more large
o-era"ion! on "he !hared 2uffer. @or large -acke" !i1e, 9en!ocke"! -erformance i! ::H more "han a UCI9
domain !ocke". Ahile for !mall -acke" !i1e i" lag! 2y ::H.

International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)
Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

5( * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
#acke" aggrega"ion /I, &(0 i! a mechani!m "ha" aggrega"e! incoming -acke" in"o a con"ainer of fi5ed !i1e.
Thi! con"ainer i! -laced in !hared memory a" once reducing incurring oerhead! in calling num2er of
func"ion! inoling in a !ingle -acke" "ran!fer. .ommunica"ion 2e"3een drier domain and DomU inole
"he u!e of een" channel and ring 2uffer!. #acke" aggrega"ion algori"hm i! im-lemen"ed 3i"hin !-li"
drier! i.e. in ne"2ack a! 3ell a! in ne"fron" of drier domain and DomU re!-ec"iely. Thi! im-roe!
ne"3ork I<= ir"uali1a"ion.

8. %oft-are ?nhancements

4ir"ual In"erru-" .oale!cing (4I.) /J0 reduce! "he .#U cycle! and im-roe! I<= ir"uali1a"ion
-erformance. @ron"end 4ir"ual In"erru-" .oale!cing (@4I.) con"rol! "he ir"ual in"erru-" 2y genera"ing a
-eriodic "imer "o -oll "he arriing -acke"! in "he !hared ring. @4I. genera"e! in"erru-" 2a!ed on a
-eriodic "imer, and -oll! "he !hared ring "o !ee if "here are arrial -acke"! or no". @or !mall num2er of
-acke"!, 3i"h T.#B 4I. gie! : H incremen" in "hrough-u" and &'.*H in .#U u"ili1a"ion, 3hile 3i"h UD#
i"! -erformance i! 3or!". And for large num2er of -acke"!, in 2o"h T.# and UD# "he "hrough-u" and .#U
u"ili1a"ion i! im-roed. =erall, 4I. can reduce .#U u"ili1a"ion 2y I&H.
4ir"ual Receie Side Scaling (4RSS)/J0 u!e! "he hard3are Receie Side Scaling (RSS) "o for3ard differen"
ir"ual in"erru-"! "o differen" ir"ual -roce!!or! lead! "o dynamic load 2alancing of ir"ual in"erru-"!
among ir"ual -roce!!or!. RSS i! a hard3are "echnology "ha" !u--or"! for mul"i-le >ueuing in hard3are
CI.. I" 2alance! all incoming -acke"! acro!! differen" hard3are >ueue! a" connec"ion leel i.e. i" !u--or"!
for mul"i$core -roce!!ing. The 4RSS can achiee '.*&9 "hrough-u" oer "he 2a!eline.
4MD> /G0 and i"! o-"imi1a"ion, !elf ? ir"uali1ed deice!, 4MM $2y-a!! I<= /&'0, direc" I<=, and SR$I=4/
&&0. In all of "he!e, each 4M acce!! hard3are for !ome -eriod "o reduce "he hy-eri!or in"eren"ion "o "he
2ulk da"a -a"h. Such enhancemen"! lack in efficien" 4M re-lica"ion and check-oin" a! 3ell a! !uffer from
hard3are limi"a"ion! and de-endencie!.

IV$ C=&C87%I=&

An archi"ec"ure and 3orking of 9en hy-eri!or i! de"ailed in "hi! -a-er giing 2rief idea of all
com-onen"!. Since, hy-eri!or e5hi2i"! -oor ir"uali1ed ne"3ork I<= -erformance, !eeral re!earche!
ha! 2een done "o oercome i". ;ere i! !ummari1ed de!cri-"ion of enhancemen"! for "he 9en hy-eri!or.
@rom, rela"ed 3ork 3e come "o kno3 "ha" 9en -erformance !"ill need "o 2e im-roed in a!-ec"! of
hard3are and !of"3are "o achiee 2e!" "o reach "he na"ie machine -erformance.
V$ R?F?R?&C?%

/&0 Gran", A.8.B Elu3ole, =.T. K.loud re!ource managemen" ir"ual machine! com-e"ing for limi"ed
re!ource!K, E7MAR, '(&: ))"h In"erna"ional Sym-o!ium, =n -age(!)L '*G $ 'I%, 4olumeL I!!ueL ,
') 'I Se-". '(&:.
/'0 Mukil 6e!aan , Ada Garilo!ka , 6ar!"en Sch3an, Differen"ial ir"ual "ime (D4T)L re"hinking I<=
!erice differen"ia"ion for ir"ual machine!, #roceeding! of "he &
!"
A.M !ym-o!ium on .loud
com-u"ing, Mune &($&&, '(&(.
/:0 6. @ra!er, S. ;and, R. Ceuge2auer, I. #ra"", A. Aarfield, M. Ailliam!, Safe hard3are Acce!! 3i"h "he
9en ir"ual machine moni"or, inL #roceeding! of "he @ir!" Aork!ho- on =-era"ing Sy!"em and
Archi"ec"ural Su--or" for "he on Demand IT Infra!"ruc"ure, =ASIS '((%.
International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)
Volume 1, Issue 5, Ma !"1#$ I%%& !'#( ) #(5'

5C * + !"1#, IJAFRC All Ri,hts Reserved ---$i.afrc$or,
/%0 Daid .hi!nall, NThe Defini"ie Guide "o "he 9en ;y-eri!or,O &
!"
ed., USA, #ear!on Educa"ion, Inc,
'((I.
/)0 M. Aang, 6. Arigh", and 6. Go-alan, O9en7oo-L A Tran!-aren" ;igh #erformance In"er$m Ce"3ork
7oo-8ackO, #roc. A.M Sym-. ;igh #erformnce #arrallel and Di!"ri2u"ed .om-u"ing (;#D.D(J),
'((J.
/*0 9. Phang, and Q. Dong, O=-"imi1ing 9en 4MM 2a!ed on In"el 4ir"uali1a"ion "echnologyO, #roc.
In"erna"ional .onference on .om-u"er Science and Sof"3are Engineering, '((J.
/I0 M. 8ourgui2a, 6. ;addadou, and G. #uRolle, O#acke" Aggrega"ion 8a!ed Ce"3ork I<= 4ir"uali1a"ion
for .loud .om-u"ingO,El!eier .om-u"er .ommunica"ion!, 4ol. :), no. :, -- :(G$:&G,'(&'.
/J0 S. Gamage, A. 6angarlou, R. 6om-ella, and D. 9u, O=--or"uni!"ic @looding "o Im-roe T.#
Tran!mi" #erformance in 4ir"uali1ed .loud!O, #roc. A.M Sym-. .loud .om-u"ing (S=..D &&),
'(&&.
/G0 Qao1u Dong, Dong5iao 9u, Qang Phang, Guangdeng 7iao, O=-"imi1ing Ce"3ork I<= 4ir"uali1a"ion
3i"h Efficien" In"erru-" .oale!cing and 4ir"ual Receie Side Scaling O, #roc. IEEE In"erna"ional
conference on clu!"er .om-u"ing, -.'*$:%, Se-". '*$:(, '(&&.
/&(0 GManel 8ourgui2a, 6amel ;addadou, Ine! El 6or2i, Guy #uRolle, KIm-roing Ce"3ork I<=
4ir"uali1a"ion for .loud .om-u"ing,K IEEE Tran!ac"ion! on #arallel and Di!"ri2u"ed Sy!"em!, ')
@e2. '(&:.
/&&0 Qao1u Dong, 9iao3ei Qang, 9iaoyong 7i, Mianhui 7i, 6un Tian, ;ai2ing Guan, N;igh -erformance
ne"3ork ir"uali1a"ion 3i"h SR$I=4,O ;igh #erformance .om-u"er Archi"ec"ure (;#.A), IEEE
&*"h In"erna"ional Sym-o!ium, '(&( , #age(!)L & $ &( , '(&(.
/&'0 8in2in Phang B 9iaolin Aang B Rongfeng 7ai B 7iang Qang B Qing3ei 7uo B 9iaoming 7i B Phenlin
Aang .hinaGrid .onference (.hinaGrid), '(&( @if"h Annual, #age(!)L &&I ? &':, '(&(.