Re: [kvm-devel] Real Mode Improvement on Intel Hosts - GSoC Project

[Avi K. <av...@qu...>]

Mohammed Gamal wrote:
> Hi,
> My Project proposal "Improving and Stabilizing Real-Mode Support for
> Intel Hosts" has been accepted into Google Summer of Code under the
> Linux Foundation. You may have a look at  the proposal abstract here:
> http://code.google.com/soc/2008/linux/appinfo.html?csaid=1CC1C8B4CCC1120E
> .
>
>   

Excellent! It's an area where kvm has been lagging for a long time.

> Any pointers on where to start, what would you like to see done, and
> any other comments and suggestions would greatly be appreciated.
>   

It boils down to:

- removing the current hacks (fix_rmode_dataseg etc)
- identifying when the vcpu state does not allow using VT
(when a segment limit != 65535, or when ss.rpl != cpl in protected mode)
- can be done by intercepting vmentry failures
- or by looking at the state directly when entering real mode or 
protected mode
- trapping to the emulator in this case
- extending the emulator to support any opcodes which we will encounter 
when doing this

Guillaume Thouvenin (copied) has been working on this lately.

-- 
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