Systems and methods for peripheral device control virtualization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024256320-A1
Application number	US-202318160738-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2023
Priority date	Jan 27, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method that includes obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, where the function command is associated with a peripheral device, performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command, making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy, and in response to the determination, forwarding the function command to the peripheral device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device; performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command; making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and in response to the determination:
forwarding the function command to the peripheral device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the function policy database comprises a function entry, wherein the function entry comprises the emulated function policy and an emulated function identifier associated with the emulated physical function.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function command specifies a function operation to generate a virtual function on the peripheral device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
generating an emulated virtual function associated with the virtual function.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device; performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command; making a second determination that the function command does not violate the second emulated function policy; and in response to the determination: forwarding the second function command to the peripheral device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device; performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command; making a second determination that the function command violates the second emulated function policy; and in response to the determination: rejecting the second function command.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein making the second determination comprises:
identifying that a function operation, of the function command, specifies making a global change to the peripheral device.

10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, enables the processor to perform a method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device; performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command; making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and in response to the determination:
forwarding the function command to the peripheral device.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the function policy database comprises a function entry, wherein the function entry comprises the emulated function policy and an emulated function identifier associated with the emulated physical function.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the function command specifies a function operation to generate a virtual function on the peripheral device.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
generating an emulated virtual function associated with the virtual function.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein after forwarding the function command to the peripheral device, the method further comprises:
obtaining a second function command from a second virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with the peripheral device; performing a second lookup, in the function policy database to identify a second emulated function policy associated with the second function command; making a second determination that the function command violates the second emulated function policy; and in response to the determination: rejecting the second function command.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein making the second determination comprises:
identifying that a function operation, of the function command, specifies making a global change to the peripheral device.

18 . A computing device, comprising:
a processor; and memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, enables the processor to perform a method for processing a function command for a peripheral device, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a device controller intermediary, a function command from a virtual machine, wherein the function command is associated with a peripheral device;
performing a lookup, in a function policy database to identify an emulated function policy associated with the function command;
making a determination that the function command does not violate the emulated function policy; and
in response to the determination:
forwarding the function command to the peripheral device.

19 . The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the function command is received at an emulated physical function of the device controller intermediary.

20 . The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the function command is forwarded to a physical function of the peripheral device, wherein the physical function is associated with the emulated physical function.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Dawkins William Price
• Harwood John S
• Farley Douglas L
• Lawson David Craig
• Gowda Srinivas Giri Raju
• Swanson Shawan M
• Furlong Judith A

Classifications

• G06F13/105

  where the program performs an input/output emulation function · CPC title

• G06F2009/45579

  I/O management, e.g. providing access to device drivers or storage · CPC title

• G06F9/45558 Primary

  Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects · CPC title