Virtual machine migration using multiple, synchronized streams of state data transferring via file descriptors

Abstract

A server includes a hardware platform, a hypervisor platform, and at least one virtual machine operating as an independent guest computing device. The hypervisor includes a memory facilitator, at least two hardware emulators, a toolstack and an emulator manager. The memory facilitator provides memory for a virtual machine, with the memory having state data associated therewith at a current location within the virtual machine. The at least one hardware emulator provides at least one set of hardware resources for the virtual machine, with the at least one set of hardware resources having state data associated therewith at the current location within the virtual machine. The toolstack controls the hypervisor including generation of a start state data transfer request. The emulator manager coordinates transfer of the respective state data from the current location to a different location, and tracks progress of the transfer of the respective state data to the different location.