Systems and methods for virtio based optimization of data packet paths between a virtual machine and a network device for live virtual machine migration

A system to support virtio-based data packet transmission (Tx) path optimization for live virtual machine (VM) migration, comprising:

• a host having a VM running on it and in communication with a network device, and the host is configured to
• add a packet to be sent by the VM to a network device along a data packet Tx path to a Tx virtio memory ring (Tx vring) of a memory of the VM;
• process the packet for transmission by a vhost-net module, wherein the vhost-net module is configured to utilize a zero-copy mechanism to avoid copying the packet from the Tx vring to a macvtap module for data transmission along the data packet Tx path;
• send the packet to a virtual function (VF) network driver of the network device, wherein the VF network driver transmits the packet to the network via the network device.

A method to support virtio-based data packet receiving (Rx) path optimization for live virtual machine (VM) migration, comprising:

• accepting a packet received at a virtual function (VF) network driver of the network device, wherein the packet is to be provided to the VM along a data packet receiving (Rx) path;
• obtaining which Rx buffers of a Rx virtio memory ring (Rx vring) of a memory of the VM are associated with the VF network driver requesting for the Rx vring via the vhost-net module, wherein the vhost-net module is configured to utilize a zero-copy mechanism to avoid copying the packet to a macvtap module for data transmission along the data packet Rx path;
• saving the packet to the Rx vring under direct memory access (DMA) while bypassing the macvtap module entirely;
• performing Rx processing on the packet received in the Rx vring.