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Postgraduate DiplomaElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Diploma in Hypervisors on ARM/x86 and I/O Virtualization

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in hypervisors on ARM/x86 and I/O virtualisation. 8 modules covering virtualisation principles, ARM and x86 hardware virtualisation, I/O virtualisation, embedded hypervisors, real-time performance in VMs and virtualisation security with OASIS VIRTIO 1.2, PCI-SIG SR-IOV 1.1 and Intel VT-d, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the principles and types of hypervisors.

02

Configure hardware-assisted virtualisation on ARM architectures.

03

Configure hardware-assisted virtualisation on x86 architectures.

04

Implement I/O virtualisation with VIRTIO, VFIO and SR-IOV.

05

Deploy partitioning hypervisors on embedded systems.

06

Optimise performance and real-time behaviour inside virtual machines.

07

Secure virtualised environments against attacks and information leakage.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Virtualisation engineers working with KVM, Xen or ACRN.
  • Embedded systems engineers consolidating workloads on a single SoC.
  • Automotive platform architects designing digital cockpits and zonal ECUs.
  • Linux kernel engineers working on KVM, VFIO or VIRTIO.
  • Cloud infrastructure engineers.
  • Systems performance engineers tuning virtualised workloads.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • OASIS VIRTIO 1.2 (virtual I/O device specification)
  • PCI-SIG Single Root I/O Virtualization and Sharing 1.1 (SR-IOV)
  • Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) Architecture Specification (IOMMU for x86)
  • Arm System Memory Management Unit Architecture Specification (SMMUv3) (IOMMU for ARM)
  • ISO 26262-6:2018 (automotive functional safety, software level)
  • ISO/IEC 15408 (Common Criteria) (IT security evaluation)
  • IEC 62443-4-2:2019 (security requirements for IACS components)
  • KVM and QEMU
  • Xen Project
  • Jailhouse
  • ACRN
  • libvirt
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Popek and Goldberg requirements
  2. 1.2Type 1 and type 2 hypervisors
  3. 1.3Full virtualisation and paravirtualisation
  4. 1.4Binary translation and hardware-assisted virtualisation
  5. 1.5Virtual machines, vCPU and vMMU
  6. 1.6Static partitioning versus consolidation
  7. 1.7Embedded and server use cases
  8. 1.8Overhead and performance metrics
  9. 1.9Security and isolation between VMs
  10. 1.10Lab: first VM with KVM and QEMU
  1. 2.1EL2 exception level and VHE
  2. 2.2Two-stage Stage-2 translation
  3. 2.3GICv3 and vGIC for virtual interrupts
  4. 2.4Virtual timers and generic counters
  5. 2.5Virtualisation on Armv8-R for real time
  6. 2.6SMMUv3 for device DMA
  7. 2.7KVM/arm64 and its architecture
  8. 2.8Xen on ARM platforms
  9. 2.9Jailhouse on embedded ARM
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: Jailhouse cell on an ARM board
  1. 3.1Intel VT-x and AMD-V
  2. 3.2VMCS, VM entry and VM exit
  3. 3.3EPT and NPT extended page tables
  4. 3.4Virtual APIC and posted interrupts
  5. 3.5Intel VT-d and AMD-Vi
  6. 3.6KVM on x86 and QEMU
  7. 3.7ACRN for embedded systems
  8. 3.8Live migration of virtual machines
  9. 3.9Mitigations against Spectre and L1TF
  10. 3.10Lab: analysing VM exits with perf kvm
  1. 4.1Device emulation in QEMU
  2. 4.2Paravirtualisation with VIRTIO
  3. 4.3virtio-net, virtio-blk and vhost
  4. 4.4vhost-user and DPDK
  5. 4.5Passthrough with VFIO
  6. 4.6SR-IOV: physical and virtual functions
  7. 4.7GPU virtualisation with mediated devices
  8. 4.8IOMMU, groups and DMA isolation
  9. 4.9Comparison of I/O performance
  10. 4.10Workshop: SR-IOV with VFIO on a NIC
  1. 5.1Static partitioning hypervisors
  2. 5.2Jailhouse, Bao and Xen dom0less
  3. 5.3Certifiable hypervisors: PikeOS and QNX Hypervisor
  4. 5.4Digital cockpit architectures in automotive
  5. 5.5Display and GPU sharing
  6. 5.6Inter-VM communication with shared memory
  7. 5.7Fast boot and determinism
  8. 5.8Hypervisors in ECUs with ASIL requirements
  9. 5.9Power consumption in embedded systems
  10. 5.10Case study: consolidating instrument cluster and infotainment
  1. 6.1Latency of virtualised interrupts
  2. 6.2vCPU pinning and core isolation
  3. 6.3KVM with PREEMPT_RT
  4. 6.4Hugepages and memory ballooning
  5. 6.5Cache contention between VMs
  6. 6.6Measuring jitter inside the VM
  7. 6.7Optimisation of paravirtualised I/O
  8. 6.8Tools: perf, kvm_stat and ftrace
  9. 6.9Reproducible benchmarking of virtualised workloads
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: real-time VM with dedicated vCPUs
  1. 7.1Hypervisor attack surface
  2. 7.2VM escapes and known cases
  3. 7.3Confidential computing: SEV-SNP, TDX and CCA
  4. 7.4Secure VM boot and vTPM
  5. 7.5Management with libvirt and orchestration
  6. 7.6Containers versus lightweight VMs
  7. 7.7Firecracker and microVMs
  8. 7.8Host auditing and hardening
  9. 7.9Hypervisor update cycle
  10. 7.10Case study: hardening a KVM host
  1. 8.1Requirements and use case
  2. 8.2Hypervisor selection
  3. 8.3Platform configuration
  4. 8.4I/O virtualisation with VIRTIO or SR-IOV
  5. 8.5Performance and latency measurements
  6. 8.6Isolation and security testing
  7. 8.7Comparative report of alternatives
  8. 8.8Deployment documentation
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is KVM and QEMU, Xen Project, Jailhouse, ACRN and libvirt, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures: measuring interrupt latency in virtual machines, device passthrough with VFIO and workload consolidation on ARM boards. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.

Standards covered: OASIS VIRTIO 1.2, PCI-SIG Single Root I/O Virtualization and Sharing 1.1, Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) Architecture Specification, Arm System Memory Management Unit Architecture Specification (SMMUv3), ISO 26262-6:2018, ISO/IEC 15408 (Common Criteria), IEC 62443-4-2:2019.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of OASIS VIRTIO 1.2, PCI-SIG SR-IOV 1.1 and the Intel VT-d specification applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:KVM and QEMU, Xen Project, Jailhouse, ACRN and libvirt, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete virtualisation platform for a real use case, with hypervisor selection, I/O virtualisation, performance and latency measurements and security testing, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Define the use case
Set requirements and select the hypervisor for the platform.
Configure the platform
Configure the hypervisor and I/O virtualisation with VIRTIO or SR-IOV.
Measure performance
Measure latency and jitter with dedicated vCPUs and perf tools.
Test isolation and security
Run isolation and security tests and compare alternatives.
Final project
A complete virtualisation platform, from use case and hypervisor selection to deployment documentation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Virtualisation engineerEmbedded systems engineerAutomotive platform architectLinux kernel engineerCloud infrastructure engineerSystems performance engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with KVM and QEMU, Xen Project, Jailhouse, ACRN and libvirt, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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