Re: [Xen-devel] Paravirtualization of the "HLT" instruction (for example) on x386

[Ian Brown <ianbrn@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,
Thnks, Keir.

>The point of paravirtualizetion is that such instructions are replaced
>with explicit traps to the hypervisor in the OS.

1) Can you please give a pointer to where in code (xen 3.0) such privileged
instruction is  replaced
with a trap to the hypervisor ? (I have some assumption where it is done
but I am really not sure at all)

2) Regarding HLT - what happens if a guest OS issue "HLT" ?
I assume that without intervention in Xen code, issuing HLT from a
guest domain can stop not only the guest domain, but also the
hypervisor (and in fact the machine).
is there somewhere in code special treatment to "HLT"?
IB


On 1/12/06, Keir Fraser <Keir.Fraser@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> On 12 Jan 2006, at 09:27, Ian Brown wrote:
>
> > So I tried to find where in the Xen-3.0 code it is done.
> > I saw in vmx.c the vmx_vmexit_do_hlt() method ,which is called
> > when "HLT" is performed,  but this is relevant when running a
> > platform with VT-x.
> > I am looking for tracing where this handling or modifying of
> > the HLT instruction is done in a usual x386 (non-VTX) processor.
> >
> > Can anybody please point where in the code of Xen 3.0 this is done
> > (for x86 processors)?
>
> The point of paravirtualizetion is that such instructions are replaced
> with explicit traps to the hypervisor in the OS. Emulation of the raw
> instruction is not required.
>
> In fact we do emulate some privileged instructions, just not HLT.
>
>   -- Keir
>
>

_______________________________________________
Xen-devel mailing list
Xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-devel