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High Assurance Virtualization Engine (HAVEN)

This FPGA-based virtualization engine addresses the reliability, performance, and security limitations of current software-based virtualization technologies.

Virtualization technology has been around since the late 1960s. Initially, it was conceived to maximize utilization of expensive hardware by running multiple instances of an operating system (OS) using virtual machines (VM). In the past decade, virtualization has become popular due to its cost and space-saving advantages.

Virtualization consolidates underutilized servers and workstations while maintaining isolation. For software developers, virtualization provides an environment to develop, test, and debug system software such as kernel and device drivers. Traditionally, separate computers were required to develop and test system software. Virtualization also allows developers to test the reliability of an application by simulating hardware bottlenecks and failures.

HAVEN Components assembled with a commodity computer motherboard
HAVEN (High Assurance Virtualization ENgine) is a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based virtualization technology that implements much of the traditional hypervisor functionality in FPGAs instead of in software. HAVEN was prototyped using FPGA-based secure co-processing to address the limitations of current virtualization technologies. Specifically, HAVEN:

  • Increased reliability via a hardwareassisted virtual I/O subsystem for each VM.
  • Improved performance by minimizing context switches back to the controller VM and by using a hardware virtual I/O manager.
  • Improved security by protecting storage and communication channels using FPGA assisted encryption and authentication. The high assurance virtualization platform will enable:
  • Use of virtualization in mission-critical and high-assurance applications.
  • High-assurance/high-performance computing platform that provides application- level compartmentalization.

There are two main parts to HAVEN: a Secure Virtual I/O Manager (SIM) and a Secure Memory Manager (SMM). The SIM implements a virtual PCI controller along with multiple virtual Network Interface Cards (NICs) in conjunction with independent data buffers on a single FPGA. The CPU sees multiple NICs even though there is only one true physical card. The SMM registers a memory range with the CPU and ensures that all memory managed by the SMM is encrypted and only decrypted when it is moved to the CPU cache.

This work was done by Ramesh Karri, Nasir Memon, Vikram Padman, and Pratik Mathur of the Polytechnic Institute of NYU for the Air Force Research Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.defensetechbriefs.com/tsp  under the Electronics/Computers category. AFRL-0142

Topics:
Computer software and hardware Electrical systems Electronics & Computers Hardware Materials handling Parts Reliability Research and development Storage Switches Vehicle drivers Vehicle occupants
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
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High Assurance Virtualization Engine (HAVEN)

(reference AFRL-0142) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

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    Defense Tech Briefs Magazine

    This article first appeared in the December, 2009 issue of Defense Tech Briefs Magazine (Vol. 3 No. 6).

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document is a Final Technical Report on the High Assurance Virtualization Engine (HAVEN), authored by Ramesh Karri, Nasir Memon, Vikram Padman, and Pratik Mathur from the Polytechnic Institute of NYU. It was published in May 2009 and is focused on advancements in virtualization technology, particularly in enhancing security and assurance in virtualized environments.

    The report begins with a summary of virtualization technology, which has been in existence since the late 1960s. It outlines the limitations of existing virtualization architectures and presents the outcomes of the HAVEN project, which aims to address specific vulnerabilities in virtualization systems.

    A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the architecture and components of HAVEN. It details the Secure Virtual I/O Manager (SIM) and the Secure Memory Manager (SMM), which are critical for managing I/O operations and memory in a secure manner. The SIM is responsible for virtualizing the PCI bus and devices, including the implementation of a virtual PCI controller and the virtualization of Ethernet MAC devices. The report discusses the performance improvements achieved through these implementations and the development of device drivers to support Ethernet virtualization.

    The SMM section provides an overview of memory management in virtualization, comparing HAVEN's architecture with existing solutions like Xen. It elaborates on the implementation of the SMM and its role in ensuring secure memory management within the virtualized environment.

    The report concludes with a summary of the findings and the implications of HAVEN for future virtualization technologies. It emphasizes the importance of high assurance in virtualization, particularly for applications requiring stringent security measures.

    Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the HAVEN project, its objectives, and its contributions to the field of secure virtualization. It highlights the ongoing challenges in virtualization security and the innovative solutions proposed by the HAVEN team to enhance the reliability and safety of virtualized systems. The report is intended for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders interested in advanced computing and information security.

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