On Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:16:59 +0000
Stefan Hajnoczi <> wrote:
> The virtio vsock device is a zero-configuration socket communications
> device. It is designed as a guest<->host management channel suitable
> for communicating with guest agents.
>
> vsock is designed with the sockets API in mind and the driver is
> typically implemented as an address family (at the same level as
> AF_INET). Applications written for the sockets API can be ported with
> minimal changes (similar amount of effort as adding IPv6 support to an
> IPv4 application).
>
> Unlike the existing console device, which is also used for guest<->host
> communication, multiple clients can connect to a server at the same time
> over vsock. This limitation requires console-based users to arbitrate
> access through a single client. In vsock they can connect directly and
> do not have to synchronize with each other.
>
> Unlike network devices, no configuration is necessary because the device
> comes with its address in the configuration space.
>
> The vsock device was prototyped by Gerd Hoffmann and Asias He. I picked
> the code and design up from them.
>
> Fixes: https://github.com/oasis-tcs/virtio-spec/issues/27
> Cc: Michael S. Tsirkin <>
> Signed-off-by: Stefan Hajnoczi <>
I have not reviewed it in detail; but in general, the spec looks good
to me.
