Translate and Verify Instruction for Processor Address Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In processor virtualization, ensuring accurate address translation and attribute matching is challenging, particularly in nested page table schemes, where software must manually verify translations, leading to inefficiencies and potential security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a 'translate and verify' instruction (XlateV) that takes a virtual address and specified translation attributes, allowing the processor to translate the address and verify if the attributes match those in the page table entry, faulting if they do not, thereby ensuring secure and efficient translation operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If software manually verifies translations in nested page table schemes, then translation accuracy can be ensured, but processing efficiency deteriorates and software overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual software verification process with a hardware-based translation circuit that automatically verifies address translations. The translation circuit includes verification logic that checks translated addresses against expected values, eliminating the need for software to manually verify translations while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The translation circuit performs self-verification by automatically checking its own translation outputs. The verification logic within the hardware circuit compares translated addresses against stored expected values, allowing the system to self-correct and self-validate without external software intervention.
2Reliability
If software manually verifies translations, then security vulnerabilities may be detected, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads expected translation values into the hardware translation circuit before address translation occurs. The verification logic is pre-configured with correct translation mappings, allowing immediate verification during address translation without requiring time-consuming software lookups or comparisons.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware translation circuit replaces software-based security verification, providing constant-time security checks that cannot be bypassed. The circuit automatically detects and blocks invalid address translations, ensuring security without adding software processing time.
3Measurement precision
If attribute verification is implemented in software, then translation correctness can be ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the attribute verification function with the address translation function in a single hardware circuit. The translation circuit simultaneously performs address translation and attribute verification in one operation, eliminating the need for separate software verification routines and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The translation circuit is designed as a multi-functional hardware unit that performs both address translation and attribute verification. This universal circuit handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate software routines, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a first instruction is defined that comprises at least a first operand from which the execution core is configured to determine a virtual address and a second operand that specifies one or more translation attributes that exist in a page table entry that defines a translation for the virtual address. A processor executing the instruction translates the virtual address, verifies whether or not the translation attributes in the page table entry match the specified translation attributes, faults the first instruction responsive to failing to locate a translation for the virtual address, and responsive to locating a translation for the virtual address in the page table entry but with the translation attributes in the entry failing to match the specified translation attributes.