VirtualLogix will demonstrate an intriguing application for its VLX processor virtualization technology at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) next week in San Francisco. The vendor says its VLX technolgoy can give VoIP softphones, firewalls, and other applications “industry-leading QoS” (quality-of-service) by providing them their own virtual machine on vPro systems.

Like “Centrino” and “ViiV,” “vPro” is a marketing term for an Intel Core 2 Duo reference design and logo certification program. Aimed at business customers, the VPro design includes a special networking chipset supporting Intel remote PC management products, along with a dual-core processor that — unlike today's consumer-oriented Intel-based PCs — does not have the built-in virtualization capabilities disabled.

VirtualLogix's VLX virtualization stack enables multiple guest OSes to run simultaneously on the same processor, by providing each with its own virtual machine. When run on processors with enabled virtualization hardware, no modifications to the guest OS are required, VirtualLogix says.

VirtualLogix said it closely worked with Intel to deliver its VLX product for vPro; Intel Investments subsequently took part in a VirtualLogix funding round.

At IDF next week, VirtualLogix will demonstrate a VoIP softphone appliance running on Intel vPro systems concurrently, but independently from the desktop OS. Such an approach could someday be used by wireless carriers wishing to sell laptops using a subsidized handset business model, VP of Marketing Mark Milligan suggested. “Real-time virtualization technology is able to [enable] new business opportunities for service providers, VoIP appliances, and security vendors,” he said in a statement.

Another suggested use is in enterprises that rely on VoIP for their internal phone system. Running VoIP phones on a separate virtual machine could bring unprecedented immunity from BSODs and other desktop OS failings, VirtualLogix suggests.

Gregory Bryant, GM of Intel's digital office division, stated, “Intel vPro processor technology provides a hardware foundation that enables VirtualLogix's real-time virtualization technology to keep multiple security, management, and other appliances intact even if the user environment fails, while maintaining excellent voice quality.”

VirtualLogix said that typically, physical memory is partitioned among guest OSes, while the CPU, FPU, MMU, RTC, and IRC are virtualized for independent use by each guest OS. Small footprint and high throughput characteristics are said to allow VLX to be used in embedded and real-time applications.

In other news, enterprise virtualization specialist XenSource recently announced an embedded version of the Xen hypervisor. And, para-virtualization provider Sysgo recently pledged native support for AMD-V, AMD's marketing terminology for its virtualization technology

 
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