WinHEC 2006 has been a decisive conference for Microsoft in its effort to relaunch a solid virtualization strategy.
To recap the whole list of announcements take a look at following posts:
- Microsoft extends virtualization strategy and outlines roadmap
- Microsoft shows Windows Hypervisor
- Windows Server Virtualizatino Q&A with Mike Neil
Now slides of all WinHEC sessions about virtualization have been made available online:
- Device Virtualization Architecture
This session discusses I/O virtualization techniques, focusing on those that will be used in Windows virtualization. It explains how devices can be shared between multiple partitions and provides the background necessary for understanding the following session. - How to Use the WMI Interfaces with Windows Virtualization
This session provides attendees all of the information that they need to take advantage of the Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI) interfaces that allow remote and local management of a server that is running with Windows virtualization enabled. This knowledge will enable attendees to build software management solutions on top of the Windows virtualization architecture. - HyperCall APIs Explained
This session provides attendees a robust understanding of Windows hypervisor application programming interfaces (APIs) that are used to configure and communicate with the Windows hypervisor. Makers of third-party operating systems can use this knowledge to build solutions on the Windows virtualization infrastructure. - Hypervisor, Virtualization Stack, and Device Virtualization Architectures
The powerful new Windows virtualization infrastructure will be a core capability in Windows Server Longhorn and in subsequent client releases. This session provides an architectural overview of the three pillars of Windows virtualization: the hypervisor, the virtualization stack, and device virtualization. Other Windows virtualization sessions build on the groundwork that will be laid during this session. - I/O Memory Management Hardware goes Mainstream
I/O memory management hardware has been an essential component of mainframe and high-end server platforms for decades. Just as other technology components that were once confined to the high end of the computing space have moved into the mainstream PC, I/O memory management hardware is now poised to make its mainstream debut. This presentation introduces the AMD I/O memory management architecture, including details of the software interface, page table formats, and table walking algorithms. The potential usage and benefits of the AMD I/O memory management architecture are also discussed. - Inside Microsoft’s Network and Storage VSP/VSC
This session provides independent software vendors (ISVs) and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) an in-depth understanding of the architecture that is used in Microsoft’s network and storage virtual device drivers and familiarity with the built-in capabilities of these drivers. - Intel Virtualization Technology: Strategy and Evolution
This session presents the vision and strategy for virtualization in enterprise computing, for both client and server usage models. It then discusses how system virtualization is implemented today and describes the role and value of the first-generation Intel Virtualization Technology (VT). Finally, the session provides a deep discussion of future VT architecture directions and ends with a description of the Intel virtualization roadmap. - Microsoft Server Virtualization Strategy and Virtual Hard Disk Directions
This session provides attendees with insight into the direction that Microsoft is taking with its operating system virtualization technologies. It covers virtual server, virtual PC, Windows virtualization, and Microsoft’s virtual hard disk (VHD) direction. The session includes a brief history of product releases to date, the current work, and the future direction for each of these products. - PCIe Address Translation Services and I/O Virtualization
This session presents some of the evolutions from the PCI I/O Virtualization working group in the two key areas of PCIe Address Translation Service (ATS) and protocols to support multiple operating system instances. The PCIe ATS specification defines a new protocol to enable I/O endpoints to efficiently work with chipsets that implement address translation and protection table technology. This session provides a functional overview of the address translation and protection table, ATS terminology, ATS wire protocol operation, critical areas of attention, and what lies ahead.The PCIe I/O Virtualization specifications define new protocols to enable I/O endpoints to be efficiently shared by multiple operating system instances and to break through the performance barriers that are currently gating virtualization solutions within the industry. This session covers the I/O virtualization terminology, a functional overview, I/O virtualization usage models, single-root and multi-root topologies, configuration, management, error handling, quality of service (QoS), and what lies ahead.
- Windows Virtualization Best Practices and Future Hardware Directions
This future-looking session gives attendees an understanding of the directions that Microsoft is taking with Windows virtualization and what independent hardware vendors (IHVs) can do to ensure interoperability between their hardware and Windows virtualization. Example topics include IOMMUs and direct memory access (DMA) remapping. - Windows Virtualization: Scenarios and Features
This session discusses the scenarios and features that were used to define Windows virtualization. It looks in depth at the server consolidation, business continuity, development and test, and dynamic datacenter scenarios. - Windows Virtualization: Strategy and Roadmap
This session outlines the short-term to mid-term business planning strategy and roadmap for Microsoft’s virtualization technologies. The primary focus is the expected enhancements to virtualization in the Windows Server Longhorn timeframe. The target audience is the senior business or marketing professional who wants to capitalize on the opportunity.