CAREER: Rebuilding the Virtual Memory Abstraction Across Hardware and Operating Systems

虚拟内存是现代计算系统的基石抽象，它实现了内存资源的虚拟化、可编程性和隔离。然而，现有的虚拟内存机制并不是为当前的数据中心计算时代而设计的，数据中心计算具有充足的内存容量、过多的异类硬件资源以及能够绕过当前隔离机制的微体系结构攻击。为了解决这些效率低下的问题，该项目将从头开始重新构建虚拟内存。拟议的研究议程将实现硬件资源的高利用率，并极大地提高软件和硬件系统的安全性，从而实现高效、可持续和安全的数据中心。该项目包括一个全面的教育计划，该计划与拟议的研究议程相结合。这包括本科生和研究生课程的提供、研究机会和推广活动。该研究项目解决了在设计和构建可伸缩、异类和安全的灵活虚拟内存抽象方面的基础研究挑战。该技术方法基于虚拟内存抽象，它将支持：(I)TB级内存系统的可扩展地址转换；(Ii)整个堆栈的异类硬件感知虚拟内存支持；以及(Iii)在存在微体系结构漏洞的情况下为多租户环境提供强大且可配置的安全性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Virtual memory is a cornerstone abstraction of modern computing systems that enables virtualization, programmability, and isolation of memory resources. However, existing virtual memory mechanisms have not been designed for the current era of datacenter computing with ample memory capacity, a plethora of heterogeneous hardware resources, and microarchitectural attacks that are able to bypass current isolation mechanisms. To address these inefficiencies this project will rebuild virtual memory from the ground up. The proposed research agenda will enable high utilization of hardware resources and greatly improve the security of software and hardware systems leading to efficient, sustainable, and secure datacenters. The project includes a comprehensive education plan that is integrated with the proposed research agenda. This includes undergraduate and graduate course offerings, research opportunities, and outreach activities. The research project tackles fundamental research challenges in designing and building a pliable virtual memory abstraction that is scalable, heterogeneous, and secure. The technical approach is based on a virtual memory abstraction that will enable: (i) scalable address translation for terabyte-scale memory systems, (ii) heterogeneous hardware-aware virtual memory support across the stack, and (iii) strong and configurable security for multi-tenant environments in the presence of microarchitectural vulnerabilities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.