Intel contributed the Scalable I/O Virtualization (SIOV) specification to the
The new SIOV specification is a modernized hardware and software architecture that enables efficient, mass-scale virtualization of I/O devices, and overcomes the scaling limitations of prior I/O virtualization technologies. Under the terms of the OCP contribution, any company can adopt SIOV technology and incorporate it into their products under an open, zero-cost license.
In cloud environments, I/O devices including network adaptors, GPUs and storage controllers are shared among many virtualized workloads requiring their services. Hardware-assisted I/O virtualization technologies enable efficient routing of I/O traffic from the workloads through the virtualization software stack to the devices. It helps keep overhead low and performance close to 'bare-metal' speeds.
I/O Virtualization Needs to Evolve from Enterprise Scale to Hyperscale
The first I/O virtualization specification, Single-Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), was released more than a decade ago and conceived for the virtualized environments of that era, generally fewer than 20 virtualized workloads per server. SR-IOV loaded much of the virtualization and management logic onto the PCIe devices, which increased device complexity and reduced the I/O management flexibility of the virtualization stack. In the ensuing years, CPU core counts grew, virtualization stacks matured, and container and microservices technology exponentially increased workload density. As we transition from 'enterprise scale' to 'hyperscale' virtualization, it's clear that I/O virtualization must evolve, as well.
SIOV is hardware-assisted I/O virtualization designed for the hyperscale era, with the potential to support thousands of virtualized workloads per server. SIOV moves the non-performance-critical virtualization and management logic off the PCIe device and into the virtualization stack. It also uses a new scalable identifier on the device, called the PCIe Process Address Space ID, to address the workloads' memory. Virtualized I/O devices become much more configurable and scalable while delivering near-native performance to each VM, container or microservice it simultaneously supports.
These improvements can reduce cost on the devices, more efficiently provide device access for large numbers of VMs and containers, and provide more flexibility to the virtualization stack for provisioning and composability. SIOV gives strained data centers an efficient path to deliver high-performance I/O and acceleration for advanced AI, networking, analytics and other demanding virtual workloads shaping our digital world.
Standards and Open Ecosystems Fuel Growth, Innovation
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SIOV technology is supported in the upcoming Intel Xeon Scalable processor, code-named Sapphire Rapids, as well as Intel Ethernet 800-series network controllers and future PCIe and Compute Express Link (CXL) devices and accelerators. Linux kernel upstreaming is underway with anticipated integration later in 2022. Key players in the device, CPU and virtualization ecosystem have been briefed and are excited to integrate SIOV in their roadmaps.
With SIOV, the cloud, network and data center industries have a unified launch pad for hyperscale-era virtualization.
Learn More About SIOV
We can already see the 'virtuous cycle' in action as open industry standards lead to great innovation and hope even more companies and organizations will join us supporting SIOV in their products and cloud infrastructure and join the OCP community in the evolution of the technology. To learn more, please check out the specification on OCP's website.
About Intel
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore's Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers' greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel's innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.
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