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A microprocessor-based logical machine system

1987; Elsevier BV; Volume: 19; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0165-6074(87)90249-3

1878-7061

Shang Rong Tsai, Li Ming Tseng, Martin Beer,

Interconnection Networks and Systems

With the increasing power of microprocessors, users are demanding the ability to run multiple applications on a single microcomputer. Each of these applications may well require its own special operating environment. Traditionally, such facilities have been provided on large computers by means of virtual machine environments. This paper proposes an approach, called Logical Machine, which provides many of the benefits of virtual machine systems without the rigid hardware restrictions. A logical machine is an abstract machine with purely logical resources. It is created by a control program called the Logical Machine Monitor (lmm). The lmm provides the link between the real machine and the multiple logical machines that run concurrently under its control. The motivation in proposing the logical machine system is twofold: - as a means of providing multiple operating environments simply and effectively on a single computer - as a means to develop a highly portable operating system. An experimental system, called to lm286, has been developed to illustrate the feasibility of the logical machine concept. This consists of an Intel 80286-8086 dual processor configuration. The concepts of logical machine systems are introduced. The design and implementation of the lm286 system are described. An assessment is made of how well the prototype meets the original design goals.