Method and apparatus for associating virtual server identifiers with processes

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating an association of a virtual server identifier with a process in an operating system, wherein the operating system supports multiple virtual servers operating within multiple virtual environments, the method comprising:

• receiving a call to an operating system function from the process;
• looking up an identifier for a virtual server associated with the process;
• if the identifier for the virtual server exists, using the identifier in performing the operating system function, so that the operating system function accesses only objects defined within a virtual environment associated with the virtual server, and does not access objects defined outside the virtual environment.

An apparatus that facilitates associating a virtual server identifier with a process in an operating system, wherein the operating system supports multiple virtual servers operating within multiple virtual environments, the apparatus comprising:

• a system call processing mechanism that is configured to receive a call to an operating system function from the process;
• a lookup mechanism that is configured to look up an identifier for a virtual server associated with the process;
• wherein if the identifier for the virtual server exists, the system call processing mechanism is configured to use the identifier in performing the operating system function, so that the operating system function accesses only objects defined within a virtual environment associated with the virtual server, and does not access objects defined outside the virtual environment.