Appendix C: Virtualization Remote Server
The nShield Solo XC is compatible with the leading server virtualization and hypervisor
management platforms, including:
Virtualization provides an environment where multiple operating systems can run at the
same time on one physical computer. Each virtual machine is an isolated, virtualized
computer system that can run its own operating system.
•
Microsoft Hyper-V
, a role in Windows Server used to create and manage a
virtualized server computing environment
•
VMware vSphere / ESXi
, a robust, bare-metal hypervisor that installs directly onto
your physical server.
All vSphere management functions are performed through remote management
tools.
•
Citrix XenServer
- includes the XenCenter management console.
PCI passthrough is configured using the XenCenter software with command line
tools and utilities. PCI passthrough allows a VM client direct access to the nShield
Solo XC.
The operating system that runs within a virtual machine is referred to
as a
guest operating system
.
nShield software includes the nShield hardserver applications. These applications enable
applications running on multiple virtual guest operating systems to all share nShield Solo
XC hardware.
Hardserver processing services can be shared among multiple virtual operating system
instances as long as each instance has hardserver installed. Inside of the operating
system, hardservers can communicate with other hardservers.
C.1. Virtualization and Hyper-V
The host hardserver is configured to run on the Parent/Dom0 operating system. The
Parent/Dom0 operating system has privileged access to the Solo XC hardware over the
PCI bus.
Instead of using a physical network for communication between the VM guest instances
running on the same physical system, most hypervisors provide the capability to
instantiate some form of virtual switch which allows the network communication to take
place between the VMs entirely within the hypervisor software. This means that nCore
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