Injecting virtualization events in a layered virtualization architecture

A method comprising:

• initiating a transfer of control of a processor from a host to a guest to be executed in a virtual machine;
• recognizing, before the transfer of control to the guest is completed, a request from the host to inject a virtualization event into the virtual machine;
• identifying, before the transfer of control to the guest is completed, an intervening monitor to handle the virtualization event;
• completing the transfer of control to the guest;
• transfer control of the apparatus to the intervening monitor after the transfer of control to the guest is completed;
• and
• aborting the transfer of control from the host to the guest if the identifying step fails to identify the intervening monitor.

A system comprising:

• a memory to store a control structure for a virtual machine;
• and
• a processor including
• virtual machine entry logic to initiate a transfer of control of the processor from a host to a guest to be executed on a virtual machine;
• recognition logic to recognize, before the transfer of control to the guest is completed, a request from the host to inject a virtualization event into the virtual machine;
• evaluation logic to identify, before the transfer of control to the guest is completed, an intervening monitor to handle the virtualization event;
• and
• virtual machine exit hardware to transfer control of the apparatus to the intervening monitor after the transfer of control to the guest is completed;
• wherein the virtual machine entry logic is to abort the transfer of control from the host to the guest if the evaluation hardware fails to identify the intervening monitor.