Speakers
Description
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) enables the use of hardware features to
improve the efficiency, performance, and security of virtual machines
created and managed by userspace. KVM was originally developed to host
and accelerate "full" virtual machines running a traditional kernel and
operating system, but has long since expanded to cover a wide array of use
cases, e.g. hosting real time workloads, sandboxing untrusted workloads,
deprivileging third party code, reducing the trusted computed base of
security sensitive workloads, etc. As KVM's use cases have grown, so too
have the requirements placed on KVM and the interactions between it and
other kernel subsystems.
The KVM Microconference will focus on how to evolve KVM and adjacent
subsystems, with a strong emphasis on all things guest_memfd.
Potential Topics:
- In-place private<=>shared conversion for guest_memfd[1]
- 1GiB hugepage support for guest_memfd[2]
- KVM Userfault, or: demand paging support for guest_memfd[3]
- Removing guest memory from the host kernel's direct map[4]
- Eliminating "struct page" for guest_memfd
- Paravirtual scheduling
- Nested virtualizaton optimizations, e.g. PV APIs for "nested" VMs
[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260326-gmem-inplace-conversion-v4-0-e202fe950ffd@google.com
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/all/cover.1747264138.git.ackerleytng@google.com
[3] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20250618042424.330664-1-jthoughton@google.com
[4] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260410151746.61150-1-kalyazin@amazon.com