Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the overhead associated with switching the context of an address space. SOLUTION: This method includes: a step of switching the context between the first address space and the second address space by the processor of a system; a step of determining whether the second address space exists in a list of address spaces stored in a scratch pad memory of the processor; a step of allocating a new entry of the second address space that is different from the current entry of the first address space after switching the context to the second address space if the second address space does not exist in the list of address spaces; and a step of maintaining the current entry of the first address space to a conversion buffer of the processor after switching the context to the second address space if the second address space exists in the list of address space. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce flush of a TLB (Translation Lookaside Buffer) and another pipeline to be the cause of generating overhead in a context switch in a virtual machine (VM) environment or another environment. SOLUTION: Switching is made between guest software and a virtual machine monitor, whether storage in a protected location causes the switching is determined, and at least one entry of processor resources corresponding to the protected location is selectively flushed while maintaining another entry of processor resources corresponding to the guest software. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of flushes of pipeline resources on context switches and effectively maintain the pipeline resources, in consideration that context switches in a VM or other environment needs flushes of TLBs and the pipeline resources, and overhead can adversely impact performance, especially in systems with many active contexts.SOLUTION: The method includes steps of: determining whether a predetermined command changes a selected value or not; performing operations with the processor resources if the selected value is not changed; and flushing all entries in all address spaces of the processor resources if the selected value has been changed.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce overhead associated with switching the context of an address space. SOLUTION: A processor includes: a control register which stores an address based on a page directory corresponding to the address space; a conversion look-aside buffer which includes an entry containing a field of an address space identifier; and an execution logic which executes an "MOV to control register" command in order to switch between the address spaces without flashing the conversion look-aside buffer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for allowing execution of a system management mode (SMM) code during secure operations in a microprocessor system. SOLUTION: In one embodiment, a system management interruption (SMI) may be first directed to a handler in a secured virtual machine monitor (SVMM). The SMI may then be re-directed to an SMM code located in a virtual machine (VM) that is under the security control of the SVMM. This redirection can be accomplished by allowing reading from and writing to the system management (SM) base register in the processor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes switching between a first address space and a second address space, determining if the second address space exists in a list of address spaces; and maintaining entries of the first address space in a translation buffer after the switching. In such manner, overhead associated with such a context switch may be reduced.
Abstract:
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes switching between a first address space and a second address space, determining if the second address space exists in a list of address spaces; and maintaining entries of the first address space in a translation buffer after the switching. In such manner, overhead associated with such a context switch may be reduced.
Abstract:
Apparatus having a cache memory including cache lines configured to cache data sent from an input/output device and an eviction mechanism configured to evict data stored in one of the cache lines based on validity state information associated with the data stored in the one cache line. Each cache line has multiple portions, and validity bits are used to track the validity of respective portions of the cache line. The validity bits are set to predefined values responsive to the number of bytes written into the respective portions in one write transaction. The cache line is evicted by the eviction mechanism when the validity bits corresponding to the cache line all have the predefined values. The eviction mechanism is configured to evict the data even if the cache memory is not full.
Abstract:
Prozessor (401), aufweisend:einen Übersetzungspuffer, TLB, (403); undein Adressraumidentifizier-, ASID, -Register (405) zum Speichern eines ersten ASID-Wertes, der mit einem ersten Adressraum (30) assoziiert ist;wobei der TLB (403) einen ersten Eintrag (300), aufweisend eine erste virtuelle Adresse, eine erste physikalische Adresse und den ersten ASID-Wert, speichert, und wobei der TLB (403) auch einen zweiten Eintrag (300), aufweisend eine zweite virtuelle Adresse, eine zweite physikalische Adresse, und einen zweiten ASID-Wert, speichert, der mit einem zweiten Adressraum (40) assoziiert ist; undwobei der Prozessor (401) den zweiten ASID-Wert im ASID-Register während einer Kontextumschaltung (55) vom ersten Adressraum (30) zum zweiten Adressraum (40) ohne ein Entleeren des ersten Eintrags (300) aus dem TLB (403) speichert.
Abstract:
Techniques for handling certain virtualization events occurring within a virtual machine environment. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to handling events related to the sub-operating system mode using a dedicated virtual machine monitor (VMM) called the system management mode VMM (SVMM), which exists in a separate portion of memory from a main virtual machine monitor (MVMM) used to handle virtualization events other than those related to the sub-operating system mode. In at least one embodiment, a technique for initializing and managing transitions to and from the SVMM is disclosed.