Re: [Xen-devel] [PATCH v5 03/21] xen/x86: Generate deep dependencies of features

["Jan Beulich" <JBeulich@xxxxxxxx>]

>>> On 08.04.16 at 01:36, <andrew.cooper3@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On 08/04/2016 00:18, Jan Beulich wrote:
>>>>> On 07.04.16 at 13:57, <andrew.cooper3@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> +    deps = {
>>> +        # FPU is taken to mean support for the x87 regisers as well as the
>>> +        # instructions.  MMX is documented to alias the %MM registers over 
>>> the
>>> +        # x87 %ST registers in hardware.
>>> +        FPU: [MMX],
>>> +
>>> +        # The PSE36 feature indicates that reserved bits in a PSE superpage
>>> +        # may be used as extra physical address bits.
>>> +        PSE: [PSE36],
>>> +
>>> +        # Entering Long Mode requires that %CR4.PAE is set.  The NX and PKU
>>> +        # pagetable bits are only representable in the 64bit PTE format
>>> +        # offered by PAE.
>>> +        PAE: [LM, NX, PKU],
>> PKU is explicitly documented to be available only in IA-32e paging,
>> so I think it should be listed as a dependent of LM.
> 
> I am not so sure.  Unlike PCID, it is not declared that setting CR4.PKE
> will result in a #GP fault out of Long Mode, and the description does
> say "If CR4.PKE = 0, or if IA-32e paging is not active, the processor
> does not associate linear addresses with protection keys".
> 
> This suggests that CR4.PKE can be set out of Long Mode, but all
> pagewalks will act as if key0 is in use.  PCID on the other hand goes to
> lengths declaring that you can't set CR4.PCIDE out of Long Mode, nor may
> you attempt to exit Long Mode if it is set.
> 
> I do have some Skylake hardware with PKU available in the office.  I
> will investigate what really happens in this case.  (I am also mindful
> of the fact that 32bit PV guests could in principle use PKU, at which
> point the dependency on LM would be counter-productive.)

With the goal of the series going in soon (today?), wouldn't putting
in the tighter variant be the better approach, allowing us to relax
things if we find they can be relaxed?

Jan


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