Direct memory access-like data transfer between guest operating systems

A computer-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions for execution by a processor of a computer system, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises:

• a first guest operating system comprising a first portion of the memory;
• a second guest operating system comprising a second portion of the memory;
• an address exchange module for exchanging memory address handles between the first guest operating system and the second guest operating system, wherein the first guest operating system comprises a first address exchange module driver for exchanging the memory address handles using the address exchange module, wherein the second guest operating system comprises a second address exchange module driver for exchanging the memory address handles using the address exchange module;
• a data mover for moving data between the first portion of the memory and the second portion of the memory;
• an emulated input output memory management unit for controlling the data mover;
• and
• wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to:
• register accessible memory chosen from the second portion of the memory with the emulated input output memory management unit;
• write address handles of the accessible memory to the address exchange module using the second address exchange module driver;
• read address handles of the accessible memory from the address exchange module using the first address exchange module driver;
• determine if a write address of a request to write the data to the second memory portion is within the accessible memory using the emulated input output memory management unit;
• and
• move the data into the second memory portion using the data mover if the write address is within the accessible memory.

A computer-implemented method of operating a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises a processor, wherein the computer system further comprises a memory containing machine executable instructions for execution by the processor, wherein the memory comprises:

• a first guest operating system comprising a first portion of the memory;
• a second guest operating system comprising a second portion of the memory;
• an address exchange module for exchanging memory address handles between the first guest operating system and the second guest operating system, wherein the first guest operating system comprises a first address exchange module driver for exchanging the memory address handles using the address exchange module, wherein the second guest operating system comprises a second address exchange module driver for exchanging the memory address handles using the address exchange module;
• a data mover for moving data between the first portion of the memory and the second portion of the memory;
• an emulated input output memory management unit for controlling the data mover;
• and
• wherein the method comprises:
• registering accessible memory chosen from the second portion of the memory with the emulated input output memory management unit;
• writing address handles of the accessible memory to the address exchange module using the second address exchange module driver;
• reading address handles of the accessible memory from the address exchange module using the first address exchange module driver;
• determining if a write address of a request to write the data to the second memory portion is within the accessible memory using the emulated input output memory management unit;
• and
• moving the data into the second portion of the memory using the data mover if the write address is within the accessible memory.