Patent ID: 8990459
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of sharing a peripheral device amongst a plurality of hosts in a multi-host computing system, the method comprising: receiving a switching request from at least one amongst the plurality of hosts, by at least one of a peripheral and interface virtualization unit (PIVD), and a switching module, to switch the peripheral device from a first operating system running on a first host from amongst the plurality of hosts to a second operating system running on a second host from amongst the plurality of hosts; generating a request based on ownership configuration for the first operating system to relinquish ownership of the peripheral device at a safe transaction boundary; determining the status of the relinquishment based in part on response generated by the first operating system; storing the switching request, by a register module, while the switching module is processing another prior switching request; initiating a request for the second operating system to install a device driver for the peripheral device upon determining successful status of the relinquishment; and transferring ownership of the peripheral device to the second operating system by reprogramming at least one of the PIVU and the peripheral device.