VirtualLogix will spin a version of its embedded virtualization technology for mobile Internet devices (MIDs), it says. Supporting MIDs based on Intel Atom Z5xx processors, VLX for MIDs should help to simplify designs and materials bills, while improving voice quality, multimedia… performance, and security, says VirtualLogix.

The new VLX hypervisor targets the Intel-defined, handheld MID devices, which are based on the low-power Z5xx series of the Intel Atom processor. The tablet-like devices, including the the Lenovo prototype shown above, are expected to begin rolling out from a number of vendors this Fall.

Touted benefits of VLX for MIDs include:

• Supports Linux and Windows
• No need to modify (paravirtualize) the guest OS
• Built-in power management support

Unlike “enterprise” virtualization products such as VMWare, which abstract all physical hardware for easier installation and configuration, VLX lets guest OSes access physical hardware subsystems directly, for faster performance, VirtualLogix says. At the same time, hardware developers can use VLX to securely isolate critical applications, reduce materials cost, contain software failures, and segregate software licenses, according to the company.

Previous versions of VLX include:

• VLX-MH (mobile handsets)
• VLX-DM (digital media)
• VLX-NI (network infrastructure)

Additionally, VLX-NI is also available in a High-Availability (HA) version. There was no formal name provided for the upcoming MID version of VLX.

Intel is an equity investor in VirtualLogix via Intel Capital, and the two companies have long collaborated on products. In April, VirtualLogix announced it had updated the Intel Architecture (IA) version of VLX-NI 3.0 to support Intel VT-d (virtualization technology for directed I/O) and Core Microarchitecture 3.0, among other features.

Availability

VirtualLogix did not provide pricing or availability information about the VLX for MIDs product.

 
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