Dissertation Defense Webcast

Info

When: Nov. 12, 2010 at 2:30pm EST

Where: McAdams 119, Clemson University     [Visitor Parking Info]     [Campus Locations]

Outcome: I passed!

Replay

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Dissertation Thesis

A Framework for Virtual Device Driver Development and Virtual Device-Based Performance Modeling

Abstract
Operating system virtualization tools such as VMWare, XEN, and Linux KVM export only minimally capable SVGA graphics adapters. This paper describes the design and implementation of system that virtualizes high-performance graphics cards of arbitrary design to support the construction of authentic device drivers. Drivers written for the virtual cards can be used verbatim, without special function calls or kernel modifications, as drivers for real cards, should real cards of the same design exist. While this allows for arbitrary design, it is not able to model performance characteristics. We describe a new kernel system that allows for arbitrarily changing the performance of a device. These virtual performance throttles (VPTs) use the framework provided by the virtual device architecture and a simple linear service model a physical drive to simulate the relative performance characteristics of the physical disk. The applications of the system include instruction in device driver and disk scheduler design, allowing device driver design to proceed in parallel with new hardware development, and for relative performance measurements without needing access to the physical device being modeled.

Paper: PDF
Presentation: PDF

FAQ

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Just log into the website above as a visitor and watch. You will need a web browser with the Flash plugin installed.

Can I ask questions?
During the talk, we will have a chat box where you can submit questions. The moderator will read the questions and then decide to answer back directly or submit to me for answering.

What if the video and/or audio quality is poor?
This should not be a problem if you have a broadband Internet connection. The proposal talk webcast was a successful test of the system. I will be setting up for the talk for 15-30 minutes before the start time. If you want to log in early, I should be broadcasting and have a way for you to send feedback.

What if I cannot watch the webcast live?
We will be recording the webcast and within a week place a link on this page to the recording.

Special Thanks

Goes to Dr. Will Pressly for his assistance with webcasting.
Goes to Glenn Sidney of glennfu.com for the site design.