AMD Releases 'Pacifica' Specification For AMD64 Technology

May 25, 2005

AMD today announced the general availability of the full specification of its virtualization technology, "Pacifica," at the LinuxWorld Summit. "Pacifica" is designed to enhance 64-bit client and server virtualization technologies for x86-based servers, workstations, desktops and mobile computers.

“The potential benefits of virtualization for businesses of all sizes and consumers alike are significant. By taking an inclusive approach and working directly with both customers and hardware and software partners to develop ‘Pacifica,’ AMD is leading the rising tide of industry support for virtualization,” said Marty Seyer, corporate vice president and general manager, Microprocessor Solutions Sector. “We believe AMD64 provides the most flexible architecture in the industry, and ‘Pacifica’ virtualization technology will further that lead by helping commercial organizations improve the reliability and resilience of their computing platforms, increase security, and reduce total cost of ownership of computing resources.”

“Pacifica” will extend AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture to enhance virtualization for clients and servers by introducing a new model and features into the processor and memory controller. Designed to enhance and extend traditional software-only based virtualization approaches, these new features will help reduce complexity and increase security of new virtualization solutions, while protecting IT investments through backward compatibility with existing virtualization software.

“Hardware virtualization in the x86 platform opens the way for a new class of innovation, making the platform more flexible, more manageable, and more secure,” said Martin Reynolds, Gartner Fellow, Gartner, Inc. “Both home and business users will benefit from the technology, which will rapidly proliferate across the entire x86 market. It will transform the way that we use our PCs, more so than any other technology this decade.”

AMD’s continued commitment to providing the industry with superior technology to enable virtualization solutions is demonstrated through ongoing relationships with partners including Microsoft, VMware and XenSource.

“Pacifica” is scheduled to be available in both client and server processors from AMD in the first half of 2006. Feature enhancements are also planned for future single-core and dual-core AMD64 processors to further leverage the performance of 64-bit virtualization software. The “Pacifica” specification, a technology overview, and guidance to software developers who are designing virtualization solutions for 64-bit technology, can be found at http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/