Advanced Hardware-Level Power State Management for OS Virtualization

The client faces the need to enable seamless multiple operating system virtualization on a single hardware platform. Achieving runtime switching between OS instances requires precise control over hardware power management states, especially forcing inactive OS environments into low-power Sleep states at the last moment to optimize resource utilization and performance. Existing methods lack granularity at the hardware abstraction layer, complicating reliable state transitions and hooks.

A large-scale technology company specializing in virtualization solutions and operating system research, aiming to optimize OS switching efficiency at hardware abstraction level.

• Develop a system to force inactive operating systems into Sleep state at the last moment before switch-over.
• Implement hardware abstraction layer hooks to manage power state transitions at a low level.
• Ensure thorough research and integration of Windows 7 power management methods for reliable control.
• Recover and analyze system transition stages at the driver level through reverse engineering techniques.
• Create a flexible framework supporting multiple OS virtualization with optimized power state management.

• Last-moment OS suspension: Force inactive OS instances into Sleep state just prior to runtime switch-over.
• Hardware abstraction layer hooking: Insert hooks at the hardware interface level to intercept and control power transition requests.
• Power management analysis: Reverse engineer and monitor PM transition stages of target OS to inform hook implementation.
• Low-level function discovery: Identify and integrate low-level kernel functions that control power transitions.
• Compatibility with multiple OS: Support OS virtualization scenarios, including Windows and Android x86.

• Hardware power management interfaces
• OS-specific power transition modules
• Virtualization management systems
• Reverse engineering and analysis tools

• Real-time execution of power state transitions with minimal latency
• High reliability and robustness of hooks under varying OS conditions
• Security measures to prevent unauthorized manipulation of power states
• Scalability to support multiple OS instances simultaneously

The implementation of precise hardware-level power management and OS state control is expected to enable efficient virtualization with rapid runtime switching, reduced power consumption, and enhanced system stability. This approach could lead to a significant reduction in system downtime and energy costs, improving overall operational efficiency in large-scale virtualization environments.