The Story Behind Intel Virtualization Technology (VT)

Rich Uhlig (BSE CE 1988, MSE PhD CSE 1993 1995) is a Senior Fellow and Corporate VP at Intel and the Director of Intel Labs. Rich is CSE’s Alumni Merit Award Winner for 2022.

Abstract

System virtualization is now widely used across the industry to increase the efficiency of cloud datacenters, to improve the security of computing systems, and to transform the legacy communication infrastructure through 5G network-function virtualization (NFV). But it wasn’t always so. Despite having been pioneered by IBM in the 1970’s, virtualization fell out of favor and by the 1990’s was nearly forgotten and nonexistent in x86-based systems.

In this talk, I’ll tell the story behind how Intel Labs reinterpreted classic virtualization in new contexts, ultimately leading to a series of CPU and platform-architecture innovations called Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) that provide the hardware foundation for virtualization today. Along the way, I’ll describe what I learned about how to drive a research effort from an industry research lab toward productization and give a peek into currently active research projects in Intel Labs.

Bio

Rich Uhlig is an Intel Senior Fellow and Corporate VP.  Rich currently leads Intel Labs, the organization responsible for research and delivery of break-through innovations in areas spanning novel compute models (quantum and neuromorphic), communications, security, intelligent systems, and design & programming efficiency.

Uhlig joined Intel in 1996 and led the definition of multiple generations of virtualization architecture for Intel processors and platforms, known collectively as Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT).

Prior to joining Intel, Uhlig held post-doctoral fellowships at the European national research labs of Germany, Greece, and France, where he worked on advancing simulation technology and on architectural support for modern operating-system design.

He earned a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering from the University of Michigan in 1995.