What is iommu?

IOMMU stands for Input-Output Memory Management Unit, and it is a hardware component that is used to improve system performance and security by controlling the memory mappings between devices and the CPU. IOMMU is primarily used in virtualized environments to provide hardware support for memory isolation and address translation.

IOMMU enables the isolation of device memory from system memory, which helps prevent device drivers from accessing unauthorized memory locations and can improve system stability and security. It also allows for better performance by enabling direct memory access (DMA) transfers between devices and memory without involving the CPU.

Overall, IOMMU technology enhances system security, performance, and reliability by providing better control over memory mappings between devices and the CPU. It is commonly found in modern computer systems, especially those used in virtualized environments or for high-performance computing tasks.