Use of Hypervisors - 2021.2 English

Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Software Developer Guide

Document ID
UG1137
Release Date
2021-10-27
Version
2021.2 English

Xilinx distributes a port for the Xen open source hypervisor in the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC. Xen hypervisor provides the ability to run multiple operating systems on the same computing platform. Xen hypervisor, which runs directly on the hardware, is responsible for managing CPU, memory, and interrupts. Multiple numbers of OS can run on top of the hypervisor. These operating systems are called domains (also called as virtual machines (VMs)).

The Xen hypervisor provides the ability to concurrently run multiple operating systems and their standard applications with relative ease. However, Xen does not provide a generic interface which gives the guest an operating system access to system functions. Hence, you need to follow the cautions mentioned in this section.

Xen hypervisor controls one domain, which is domain 0, and one or more guest domains. The control domain has special privileges, such as the following:

  • Capability to access the hardware directly
  • Ability to handle access to the I/O functions of the system
  • Interaction with other virtual machines.

It also exposes a control interface to the outside world, through which the system is controlled. Each guest domain runs its own OS and application. Guest domains are completely isolated from the hardware.

Running multiple Operating Systems using Xen hypervisor involves setting up the host OS and adding one or more guest OS.

Note: Xen hypervisor is available as a selectable component within the PetaLinux tools; Xen hypervisor can also be downloaded from Xilinx GIT. With Linux and Xen software that is made available by Xilinx, it is possible to build custom Linux guest configurations. Guest OS other than Linux require additional software and effort from third-parties. See the PetaLinux Product Page for more information.