Multilayer Virtualized Systems Analysis with Kernel Tracing

Abstract

This paper studies interactions between virtual machines and their host through the sharing of resources like physical CPUs. We present an analysis based on kernel tracing that erases the bounds between virtual machines and their host to reduce the multilayer system into a single layer. For this analysis we developed a view that displays a time line for each host's CPU, showing across time which process is running, even if it is from a virtual machine. By using a system of filters, we added the possibility to highlight in this view either traced machines, virtual CPUs or specific processes. This last feature grants the possibility to precisely see on the host where and when a virtual machine's thread is running.