Speaker
Description
Live Update minimizes downtime by allowing PCI devices, like those assigned to VMs via VFIO, to continue operating during a host kernel upgrade. The recently proposed v7 patch series introduces the foundational PCI core support for Live Update. By leveraging LUO to preserve the list of preserve devices, the infrastructure allows PCI devices to maintain uninterrupted memory transactions to/from preserved memfds across kexec-based updates.
The current patchset provides APIs for drivers to register devices for preservation. To keep these devices safely running during the kernel transition, the PCI core automatically preserves upstream bridges and ensures devices retain configuration like Requester IDs. Crucially, and skips disabling bus mastering on preserved devices during shutdown.
This Microconference session will present these recent milestones and upcoming upcoming challenges, including supporting Peer-to-Peer (P2P), supporting preserving Virtual Functions (VFs), and managing driver assignments across Live Update.