Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum

Keywords: Match:
Multicore MIPS64 chips gain virtualization
Jan. 21, 2008

French embedded virtualization firm Trango Virtual Processors is porting its hypervisor technology to multicore MIPS64 processors from Cavium Networks. The Linux-compatible Trango Hypervisor will be integrated with Cavium's Linux-friendly Octeon line of multi-core processors, with resulting benefits in throughput and power savings, says Trango.

According to Trango, its Hypervisor lets Octeon developers create on-demand virtual processors across the up to 16 MIPS cores available in Octeon processors, which are typically found in carrier grade telecommunications equipment. The virtualization technology will provide Octeon customers with high-availability, application reliability, and user-data security, said Frank Altschuler, Trango's director of marketing, yet the key benefits in a multi-core environment are said to be adaptive resource allocation, I/O virtualization, and power reduction.


Trango Hypervisor in a MIPS multicore environment
(Click to enlarge)

Octeon developers will be able take advantage of many of the features found on Trango's single-core implementation, Altschuler said in an interview, including the ability to easily and safely upgrade firmware in the background or to create a secure domain for running an operating system (OS) without providing [full] access to underlying hardware. Yet, virtualization's big pay-off in the multi-core environment lies in improved throughput and power savings due to dynamic load balancing, he said.

"In a multi-core environment, you typically need to statically assign various processing tasks to the cores," said Altschuler, "but with virtualization you can instead have dynamic assignments, which improve throughput and provide significant power savings."

The process is far more complex than simply multiplying the virtualization process times 16, he said. The Trango Hypervisor works closely together with the Octeon's own firmware to dynamically allocate cores and hardware resources to different system functions and features. The technology is said to reallocate processing power between different system functions with "fine granularity" to meet real-time demand. I/O virtualization enables networking OEMs to provide QoS (quality-of-service) for multimedia enabled systems, says Trango, and the Hypervisor works with Octeon's power management capabilities to consolidate processing load to active cores and shut down unnecessary cores.


Cavium Octeon architecture
(Click to enlarge)

Trango's Hypervisor comprises a 20KB microkernel capable of hosting two or more guest OSes per processor core. Because it runs the guest OSes in CPU user mode, rather than protected mode, says Trango, it offers improved security compared to other virtualization products. It ships on ARM, PPC, and MIPS architectures, and will ship this quarter in a version for multi-core ARM11 processors. In Q2 2008, Trango plans to ship a version supporting ARM's new multiprocessor-enabled Cortex A9 processors.

Cavium Octeon network processors ship with MontaVista or Wind River Linux distros. Cavium achieved its first major design win this summer when tier 1 NEP (network equipment provider) Motorola announced its ATCA-9301 blade. Now sold by Emerson Network Power as a result of its recent acquisition of Motorola's Embedded Communications Computing group, each of the blades can be configured with one or two Octeon Plus CN5860 processors, for up to 32 cores per blade. The 900MHz CN5860 processor also integrates hardware engines for TCP offload, compression/decompression, regex, cryptography, and packet queuing and scheduling.

Availability

The integrated Trango Hypervisor product will be available along with an Eclipse-based tools suite for Octeon customers starting in Q1 2008, says Trango.



Related Stories:


(Click here for further information)


FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Check out the latest Linux powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets



BREAKING NEWS

• First ALP Linux smartphone?
• First Atom-based nano-ITX board?
• New kernel boosts embedded
• First dual-monitor LTSP 5 set-up?
• Understanding Unix spells and curses
• Tools vendor touts low-cost Linux BSPs
• Debugger supports multi-core MIP64 chips
• Webinars tackle VxWorks-to-Linux ports
• Twin POS systems for Linux
• Mobile Firefox ready for download
• Miguel de Icaza on Mono 2.0
• Embedded Linux declining?
• Mobile WiMAX service launches in U.S.
• Euro Linux device conference announces speakers
• POS stack targets Linux netbooks


Most popular stories -- past 90 days:
• Open source phone goes mass-market
• Tinest Linux system, yet?
• Garmin Nav devices run Gnome Linux
• ARM9 board boots Debian in 0.69 seconds
• Low-cost laptop runs Linpus Linux
• Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150
• Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier
• Open source camera records geotagged video to SATA HDD
• Open set-top box ships
• First $100 laptop runs Linux


DesktopLinux headlines:
• Mandriva 2009 debuts with KDE 4 desktop
• Debian Sid-based distro reviewed
• Miguel de Icaza on Mono 2.0
• RIP LinuxWorld
• Testers sought for Blackberry-Linux sync software
• Google updates photo editor for Linux
• Major Mono rev ships
• Intrepid Ibex beta-tests
• Linux netbook returns higher?
• Open-source image editing project launches


Also visit our sister site:


Sign up for LinuxDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.