OS Debugging Method Using a Lightweight Virtual Machine Monitor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a lightweight virtual machine monitor-based debugging method for OS development, significantly improving data transfer speeds and addressing limitations of traditional debugging environments.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel OS debugging approach using a lightweight VM monitor that enhances speed, stability, and customization for new OSs and I/O devices.

Findings

Data transfer is approximately 5.4 times faster than conventional VM monitors.

The method improves OS debugging stability and customization.

Experimental evaluation confirms performance benefits.

Abstract

Demands for implementing original OSs that can achieve high I/O performance on PC/AT compatible hardware have recently been increasing, but conventional OS debugging environments have not been able to simultaneously assure their stability, be easily customized to new OSs and new I/O devices, and assure efficient execution of I/O operations. We therefore developed a novel OS debugging method using a lightweight virtual machine. We evaluated this debugging method experimentally and confirmed that it can transfer data about 5.4 times as fast as the conventional virtual machine monitor.