Google's Orphaned VMs Patches Keep VMs Running While Host Kernel Goes Offline
jedisct1 · x · 2026-09-21
An experimental RFC patch series called "Orphaned VMs," led by Google engineer Pasha Tatashin, proposes letting virtual machines keep running uninterrupted — on preserved physical CPUs — while the host Linux kernel temporarily goes offline for security updates or rebooting via the Live Update Orchestrator (LUO).
Key points:
- Requires in-RAM vCPU state preservation, physical CPU preservation core support, an on-core scheduling framework, and KVM Caretaker Core infrastructure
- Tested on Intel, AMD and Arm server processors, but explicitly "very early" and not production-ready
- The series spans 46 patches, sent out for feedback from other Linux kernel stakeholders
The work targets hyperscalers' zero-downtime host maintenance push, extending kexec-based live update to running VMs.
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