AMD-V

AMD-V (AMD virtualization) is a set of hardware extensions for the x86 processor architecture. Advanced Micro Dynamics (AMD) designed the extensions to perform repetitive tasks normally performed by software and improve resource use and virtual machine (VM) performance.

Early virtualization efforts relied on software emulation to replace hardware functionality. But software emulation can be a slow and inefficient process. Because many virtualization tasks were handled through software, VM behavior and resource control were often poor, resulting in unacceptable VM performance on the server.

Processors lacked the internal microcode to handle intensive virtualization tasks in hardware. Both Intel Corp. and AMD addressed this problem by creating processor extensions that could offload the repetitive and inefficient work from the software. By handling these tasks through processor extensions, traps and emulation of virtualization, tasks through the operating system were essentially eliminated, vastly improving VM performance on the physical server.

AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology was first announced in 2004 and added to AMD's Pacifica 64-bit x86 processor designs. By 2006, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 and Athlon 64 FX processors appeared with AMD-V technology, and today, the technology is available on Turion 64 X2, second- and third-generation Opteron, Phenom and Phenom II processors.

See also: Intel-VT

Learn More About IT:
> There's more information on the AMD-V section of the company's website.
> AMD offers an explanation of hardware virtualization.

Learn more about Virtual machine performance management

Networking and availability considerations with virtual servers: Granting priorities to some servers over others is important for high availability in a virtual environment, as is network redundancy and isolation, when necessary.
	Virtual sprawl: Why is virtual sprawl a problem?
Prevent server crashes with application virtualization: Untamed applications can crash important servers. Application virtualization and containers can solve the problem.
How AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology works: Find out how AMD-V technology has changed the way processors and guest virtual machines interact in addition to other new features.
Get started with Intel VT: If you suffer from problems that limit virtualization performance, study these tips on how Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) can help solve them.
Microsoft Hyper-V R2 administration and management guide: This Hyper-V R2 guide features in-depth technical advice on using Microsoft's new virtualization hypervisor.
Virtualization capacity planning strategy guide: Has a lack of strategic capacity planning taken a toll on your virtual servers' performance? This guide covers tools, tasks and best practices for virtual server capacity planning.
Improving performance: Virtualization management guide: This guide offers resources and advice on setting benchmarks, server performance requirements, VirtualCenter's mapping feature to depict your infrastructure and more.
Managing Microsoft Virtual Server performance: This screencast provides a live demonstration of how you can manage Virtual Server's weight-based and constraint-based resource allocation tools for optimal VM performance.
Resource allocation for Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 virtual machines: A screencast: Anil Desai describes the two methods for VM resource allocation and provides a live demonstration of how you can manage these resources on your test and production host servers.

LAST UPDATED:

27 Oct 2009

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