Heterogeneous VirtIO for Automotive Computing
Note: The virtio-msg effort is moving to CoreCollective.dev
The virtio-msg effort is moving to the CoreCollective.dev Virtualization WG. Ongoing work will happen in the Virtio subgroup of that WG.
Currently the Virtualization WG has one mail list and 3 sub-groups. Each sub-group has it’s own meetings.
The Virtio sub-group currently meets every 2 weeks on Tuesdays at 3PM UTC. The next meeting will be Jul 7, 2026
The mail list for the WG is public and notes from meetings can be read there by anyone.
To join the CC Virtio meeting:
Your company will need to join CC.dev (no money or obligation required)
You need to subscribe to the virtualization WG mail list
Once subscribed you will receive invites for all WG meetings, accept the ones you wish to attend
The last HVAC meeting will be July 30th. This HVAC project wiki page will be accessible for historical reference. The current github repos and the virtio-msg mail list will remain active for now.
Project Purpose
The Heterogeneous Virtio for Automotive Computing (HVAC) project works to deliver the flexibility, power, and standardization of Virtio to platforms with Linux and RTOS running on various CPU cores types and topographies. HVAC will demonstrate these capabilities in a realistic manner for Automotive use. It is expected that the technology itself will be applicable to other markets as well.
In addition the HVAC project will serve as a community focus point to drive the virtio-msg technology which will form the basis of most of the HVAC work.
Project Details
Project | Heterogeneous Platform (HPP) |
Project Contact | Bill Mills - bill.mills@linaro.org |
Project Lead | @Bill Mills |
Project Manager | Julianus Larson julianus.larson@linaro.org |
Segment Group | LEDGE SG |
Jira board | (No longer maintained) |
Source Repository | Virtio Spec in progress |
Presentations and blogs | |
Documentation/ wiki pages |
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Project mail list | |
Meetings |
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Meeting Notes |
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Overview
The HVAC project will deliver the following:
Virtio between two OS’es that do not share a hypervisor
Virtio device and driver on Zephyr while maintaining real-time performance and functional safety
QEMU as a Linux user-space device model provider for these systems
Linux kernel as a virtio driver side (device consumer)
Xen as a hypervisor for Linux and RTOS
QEMU as a development and demonstration platform for these systems
A demonstration on real hardware aimed at the automotive market
The Technologies above should provide value in lots of use cases including:
Linux + RTOS (or no OS)
RTOS + RTOS
Linux + Linux
Inside a container or as a hypervisor guest
In co-operation with secure world components as needed
Heterogeneous cores on one SOC
Heterogeneous systems constructed via PCIe interconnect
Slides
Latest update:
Original Intro slides:
Linux Kernel work
This diagram show the expected kernel architecture and the scope of HVAC, Trusty-virtio and future projects.
Roadmap
The project has published Patch V2 for the spec. We have multiple working demonstrations and are preparing Linux kernel and QEMU patches for upstream review.
Engaged Members
Arm, Google, and AMD Xilinx are engaged at the moment and others are expressing interest or are engaged on complementary work.