Vector Informatik GmbH

Hypervisor

With MICROSAR Hypervisor, Vector introduces a new basic software solution for parallel and fully isolated operation of multiple Virtual Machines (VM) on a microcontroller. MICROSAR Hypervisor is developed according to ISO 26262 up to ASIL-D. Using hardware support for the latest microcontroller generations for virtualization, efficient and secure operation of VMs is ensured. For example, efficient switching between VMs enables the use of time-slice scheduling. In addition: Hardware-supported protection of memory areas, registers and peripherals enables secure separation and therefore also mixed-criticality systems as well as the implementation of security requirements.

Resources can be allocated to the individual VMs in a dedicated way, while access to these resources from other VMs is prevented by the Peripheral Protection Management. MICROSAR Hypervisor can also manage interrupts and make them available to the individual VMs in their time slice. The Hypervisor is compatible with any operating system. Thus, existing projects can be run together without any changes. A consolidation of several projects on one microcontroller can be easily realized.

The Hypervisor additionally provides an interface (API) that can be used both for secure communication between individual VMs as well as for managing the Hypervisor in operation. This enables the sharing of resources and a management of the system - for example by restarting individual VMs through a central instance.