Features/VirtioVsock

virtio-vsock is a host/guest communications device. It allows applications in the guest and host to communicate. This can be used to implement hypervisor services and guest agents (like qemu-guest-agent or SPICE vdagent).

Unlike virtio-serial, virtio-vsock supports the POSIX Sockets API so existing networking applications require minimal modification. The Sockets API allows N:1 connections so multiple clients can connect to a server simultaneously.

The device has an address assigned automatically so no configuration is required inside the guest.

Sockets are created with the AF_VSOCK address family. Both SOCK_STREAM and SOCK_DGRAM socket types are available.

Code

• Virtio specification: RFC
• Linux kernel: stefanha's linux.git
• QEMU: stefanha's qemu.git

Links

• KVM Forum 2015 presentation: virtio-vsock: Zero-configuration host/guest communication (pdf)