AMD Readies I/O Virtualization

LONDON — Processor vendor Advanced Micro Devices Inc. said its I/O virtualization technology specification is now available broadly.

AMD's CPU virtualization technology, formerly referred to by the code name "Pacifica", delivers CPU efficiencies to traditional software only-based virtualization approaches, AMD (Sunnyvale, Calif.) said. AMD I/O virtualization technology provides mechanisms to support virtualization software in managing, partitioning, and securing I/O devices, which is anticipated to result in improved performance and less implementation complexity in providing I/O in virtual environments, the company added.

AMD's I/O virtualization technology is expected to be supported by all AMD processors in mid-2006, and is also anticipated to be implemented in chipsets and core logic designed for AMD64-based platforms in 2006.