The Definitive KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) API Documentation
===================================================================
1. General description
----------------------
The kvm API is a set of ioctls that are issued to control various aspects
of a virtual machine. The ioctls belong to three classes
- System ioctls: These query and set global attributes which affect the
whole kvm subsystem. In addition a system ioctl is used to create
virtual machines
- VM ioctls: These query and set attributes that affect an entire virtual
machine, for example memory layout. In addition a VM ioctl is used to
create virtual cpus (vcpus).
Only run VM ioctls from the same process (address space) that was used
to create the VM.
- vcpu ioctls: These query and set attributes that control the operation
of a single virtual cpu.
Only run vcpu ioctls from the same thread that was used to create the
vcpu.
2. File descriptors
-------------------
The kvm API is centered around file descriptors. An initial
open("/dev/kvm") obtains a handle to the kvm subsystem; this handle
can be used to issue system ioctls. A KVM_CREATE_VM ioctl on this
handle will create a VM file descriptor which can be used to issue VM
ioctls. A KVM_CREATE_VCPU ioctl on a VM fd will create a virtual cpu
and return a file descriptor pointing to it. Finally, ioctls on a vcpu
fd can be used to control the vcpu, including the important task of
actually running guest code.
In general file descriptors can be migrated among processes by means
of fork() and the SCM_RIGHTS facility of unix domain socket. These
kinds of tricks are explicitly not supported by kvm. While they will
not cause harm to the host, their actual behavior is not guaranteed by
the API. The only supported use is one virtual machine per process,
and one vcpu per thread.
3. Extensions
-------------
As of Linux 2.6.22, the KVM ABI has been stabilized: no backward
incompatible change are allowed. However, there is an extension
facility that allows backward-compatible extensions to the API to be
queried and used.
The extension mechanism is not based on on the Linux version number.
Instead, kvm defines extension identifiers and a facility to query
whether a particular extension identifier is available. If it is, a
set of ioctls is available for application use.
4. API description
------------------
This section describes ioctls that can be used to control kvm guests.
For each ioctl, the following information is provided along with a
description:
Capability: which KVM extension provides this ioctl. Can be 'basic',
which means that is will be provided by any kernel that supports
API version 12 (see section 4.1), or a KVM_CAP_xyz constant, which
means availability needs to be checked with KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
(see section 4.4).
Architectures: which instruction set architectures provide this ioctl.
x86 includes both i386 and x86_64.
Type: system, vm, or vcpu.
Parameters: what parameters are accepted by the ioctl.
Returns: the return value. General error numbers (EBADF, ENOMEM, EINVAL)
are not detailed, but errors with specific meanings are.
4.1 KVM_GET_API_VERSION
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: the constant KVM_API_VERSION (=12)
This identifies the API version as the stable kvm API. It is not
expected that this number will change. However, Linux 2.6.20 and
2.6.21 report earlier versions; these are not documented and not
supported. Applications should refuse to run if KVM_GET_API_VERSION
returns a value other than 12. If this check passes, all ioctls
described as 'basic' will be available.
4.2 KVM_CREATE_VM
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: machine type identifier (KVM_VM_*)
Returns: a VM fd that can be used to control the new virtual machine.
The new VM has no virtual cpus and no memory. An mmap() of a VM fd
will access the virtual machine's physical address space; offset zero
corresponds to guest physical address zero. Use of mmap() on a VM fd
is discouraged if userspace memory allocation (KVM_CAP_USER_MEMORY) is
available.
You most certainly want to use 0 as machine type.
In order to create user controlled virtual machines on S390, check
KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL and use the flag KVM_VM_S390_UCONTROL as
privileged user (CAP_SYS_ADMIN).
4.3 KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: system
Parameters: struct kvm_msr_list (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
Errors:
E2BIG: the msr index list is to be to fit in the array specified by
the user.
struct kvm_msr_list {
__u32 nmsrs; /* number of msrs in entries */
__u32 indices[0];
};
This ioctl returns the guest msrs that are supported. The list varies
by kvm version and host processor, but does not change otherwise. The
user fills in the size of the indices array in nmsrs, and in return
kvm adjusts nmsrs to reflect the actual number of msrs and fills in
the indices array with their numbers.
Note: if kvm indicates supports MCE (KVM_CAP_MCE), then the MCE bank MSRs are
not returned in the MSR list, as different vcpus can have a different number
of banks, as set via the KVM_X86_SETUP_MCE ioctl.
4.4 KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: extension identifier (KVM_CAP_*)
Returns: 0 if unsupported; 1 (or some other positive integer) if supported
The API allows the application to query about extensions to the core
kvm API. Userspace passes an extension identifier (an integer) and
receives an integer that describes the extension availability.
Generally 0 means no and 1 means yes, but some extensions may report
additional information in the integer return value.
4.5 KVM_GET_VCPU_MMAP_SIZE
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: size of vcpu mmap area, in bytes
The KVM_RUN ioctl (cf.) communicates with userspace via a shared
memory region. This ioctl returns the size of that region. See the
KVM_RUN documentation for details.
4.6 KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_memory_region (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This ioctl is obsolete and has been removed.
4.7 KVM_CREATE_VCPU
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: vcpu id (apic id on x86)
Returns: vcpu fd on success, -1 on error
This API adds a vcpu to a virtual machine. The vcpu id is a small integer
in the range [0, max_vcpus).
The recommended max_vcpus value can be retrieved using the KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS of
the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl() at run-time.
The maximum possible value for max_vcpus can be retrieved using the
KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPUS of the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl() at run-time.
If the KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS does not exist, you should assume that max_vcpus is 4
cpus max.
If the KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPUS does not exist, you should assume that max_vcpus is
same as the value returned from KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS.
On powerpc using book3s_hv mode, the vcpus are mapped onto virtual
threads in one or more virtual CPU cores. (This is because the
hardware requires all the hardware threads in a CPU core to be in the
same partition.) The KVM_CAP_PPC_SMT capability indicates the number
of vcpus per virtual core (vcore). The vcore id is obtained by
dividing the vcpu id by the number of vcpus per vcore. The vcpus in a
given vcore will always be in the same physical core as each other
(though that might be a different physical core from time to time).
Userspace can control the threading (SMT) mode of the guest by its
allocation of vcpu ids. For example, if userspace wants
single-threaded guest vcpus, it should make all vcpu ids be a multiple
of the number of vcpus per vcore.
On powerpc using book3s_hv mode, the vcpus are mapped onto virtual
threads in one or more virtual CPU cores. (This is because the
hardware requires all the hardware threads in a CPU core to be in the
same partition.) The KVM_CAP_PPC_SMT capability indicates the number
of vcpus per virtual core (vcore). The vcore id is obtained by
dividing the vcpu id by the number of vcpus per vcore. The vcpus in a
given vcore will always be in the same physical core as each other
(though that might be a different physical core from time to time).
Userspace can control the threading (SMT) mode of the guest by its
allocation of vcpu ids. For example, if userspace wants
single-threaded guest vcpus, it should make all vcpu ids be a multiple
of the number of vcpus per vcore.
For virtual cpus that have been created with S390 user controlled virtual
machines, the resulting vcpu fd can be memory mapped at page offset
KVM_S390_SIE_PAGE_OFFSET in order to obtain a memory map of the virtual
cpu's hardware control block.
4.8 KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG (vm ioctl)
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_dirty_log (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
/* for KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG */
struct kvm_dirty_log {
__u32 slot;
__u32 padding;
union {
void __user *dirty_bitmap; /* one bit per page */
__u64 padding;
};
};
Given a memory slot, return a bitmap containing any pages dirtied
since the last call to this ioctl. Bit 0 is the first page in the
memory slot. Ensure the entire structure is cleared to avoid padding
issues.
4.9 KVM_SET_MEMORY_ALIAS
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_memory_alias (in)
Returns: 0 (success), -1 (error)
This ioctl is obsolete and has been removed.
4.10 KVM_RUN
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Errors:
EINTR: an unmasked signal is pending
This ioctl is used to run a guest virtual cpu. While there are no
explicit parameters, there is an implicit parameter block that can be
obtained by mmap()ing the vcpu fd at offset 0, with the size given by
KVM_GET_VCPU_MMAP_SIZE. The parameter block is formatted as a 'struct
kvm_run' (see below).
4.11 KVM_GET_REGS
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_regs (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads the general purpose registers from the vcpu.
/* x86 */
struct kvm_regs {
/* out (KVM_GET_REGS) / in (KVM_SET_REGS) */
__u64 rax, rbx, rcx, rdx;
__u64 rsi, rdi, rsp, rbp;
__u64 r8, r9, r10, r11;
__u64 r12, r13, r14, r15;
__u64 rip, rflags;
};
4.12 KVM_SET_REGS
Capability: basic
Architectures: all
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_regs (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Writes the general purpose registers into the vcpu.
See KVM_GET_REGS for the data structure.
4.13 KVM_GET_SREGS
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86, ppc
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_sregs (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads special registers from the vcpu.
/* x86 */
struct kvm_sregs {
struct kvm_segment cs, ds, es, fs, gs, ss;
struct kvm_segment tr, ldt;
struct kvm_dtable gdt, idt;
__u64 cr0, cr2, cr3, cr4, cr8;
__u64 efer;
__u64 apic_base;
__u64 interrupt_bitmap[(KVM_NR_INTERRUPTS + 63) / 64];
};
/* ppc -- see arch/powerpc/include/asm/kvm.h */
interrupt_bitmap is a bitmap of pending external interrupts. At most
one bit may be set. This interrupt has been acknowledged by the APIC
but not yet injected into the cpu core.
4.14 KVM_SET_SREGS
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86, ppc
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_sregs (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Writes special registers into the vcpu. See KVM_GET_SREGS for the
data structures.
4.15 KVM_TRANSLATE
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_translation (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Translates a virtual address according to the vcpu's current address
translation mode.
struct kvm_translation {
/* in */
__u64 linear_address;
/* out */
__u64 physical_address;
__u8 valid;
__u8 writeable;
__u8 usermode;
__u8 pad[5];
};
4.16 KVM_INTERRUPT
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86, ppc
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_interrupt (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Queues a hardware interrupt vector to be injected. This is only
useful if in-kernel local APIC or equivalent is not used.
/* for KVM_INTERRUPT */
struct kvm_interrupt {
/* in */
__u32 irq;
};
X86:
Note 'irq' is an interrupt vector, not an interrupt pin or line.
PPC:
Queues an external interrupt to be injected. This ioctl is overleaded
with 3 different irq values:
a) KVM_INTERRUPT_SET
This injects an edge type external interrupt into the guest once it's ready
to receive interrupts. When injected, the interrupt is done.
b) KVM_INTERRUPT_UNSET
This unsets any pending interrupt.
Only available with KVM_CAP_PPC_UNSET_IRQ.
c) KVM_INTERRUPT_SET_LEVEL
This injects a level type external interrupt into the guest context. The
interrupt stays pending until a specific ioctl with KVM_INTERRUPT_UNSET
is triggered.
Only available with KVM_CAP_PPC_IRQ_LEVEL.
Note that any value for 'irq' other than the ones stated above is invalid
and incurs unexpected behavior.
4.17 KVM_DEBUG_GUEST
Capability: basic
Architectures: none
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: none)
Returns: -1 on error
Support for this has been removed. Use KVM_SET_GUEST_DEBUG instead.
4.18 KVM_GET_MSRS
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads model-specific registers from the vcpu. Supported msr indices can
be obtained using KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST.
struct kvm_msrs {
__u32 nmsrs; /* number of msrs in entries */
__u32 pad;
struct kvm_msr_entry entries[0];
};
struct kvm_msr_entry {
__u32 index;
__u32 reserved;
__u64 data;
};
Application code should set the 'nmsrs' member (which indicates the
size of the entries array) and the 'index' member of each array entry.
kvm will fill in the 'data' member.
4.19 KVM_SET_MSRS
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Writes model-specific registers to the vcpu. See KVM_GET_MSRS for the
data structures.
Application code should set the 'nmsrs' member (which indicates the
size of the entries array), and the 'index' and 'data' members of each
array entry.
4.20 KVM_SET_CPUID
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_cpuid (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Defines the vcpu responses to the cpuid instruction. Applications
should use the KVM_SET_CPUID2 ioctl if available.
struct kvm_cpuid_entry {
__u32 function;
__u32 eax;
__u32 ebx;
__u32 ecx;
__u32 edx;
__u32 padding;
};
/* for KVM_SET_CPUID */
struct kvm_cpuid {
__u32 nent;
__u32 padding;
struct kvm_cpuid_entry entries[0];
};
4.21 KVM_SET_SIGNAL_MASK
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_signal_mask (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Defines which signals are blocked during execution of KVM_RUN. This
signal mask temporarily overrides the threads signal mask. Any
unblocked signal received (except SIGKILL and SIGSTOP, which retain
their traditional behaviour) will cause KVM_RUN to return with -EINTR.
Note the signal will only be delivered if not blocked by the original
signal mask.
/* for KVM_SET_SIGNAL_MASK */
struct kvm_signal_mask {
__u32 len;
__u8 sigset[0];
};
4.22 KVM_GET_FPU
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_fpu (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads the floating point state from the vcpu.
/* for KVM_GET_FPU and KVM_SET_FPU */
struct kvm_fpu {
__u8 fpr[8][16];
__u16 fcw;
__u16 fsw;
__u8 ftwx; /* in fxsave format */
__u8 pad1;
__u16 last_opcode;
__u64 last_ip;
__u64 last_dp;
__u8 xmm[16][16];
__u32 mxcsr;
__u32 pad2;
};
4.23 KVM_SET_FPU
Capability: basic
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_fpu (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Writes the floating point state to the vcpu.
/* for KVM_GET_FPU and KVM_SET_FPU */
struct kvm_fpu {
__u8 fpr[8][16];
__u16 fcw;
__u16 fsw;
__u8 ftwx; /* in fxsave format */
__u8 pad1;
__u16 last_opcode;
__u64 last_ip;
__u64 last_dp;
__u8 xmm[16][16];
__u32 mxcsr;
__u32 pad2;
};
4.24 KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Creates an interrupt controller model in the kernel. On x86, creates a virtual
ioapic, a virtual PIC (two PICs, nested), and sets up future vcpus to have a
local APIC. IRQ routing for GSIs 0-15 is set to both PIC and IOAPIC; GSI 16-23
only go to the IOAPIC. On ia64, a IOSAPIC is created.
4.25 KVM_IRQ_LINE
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_irq_level
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the level of a GSI input to the interrupt controller model in the kernel.
Requires that an interrupt controller model has been previously created with
KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Note that edge-triggered interrupts require the level
to be set to 1 and then back to 0.
struct kvm_irq_level {
union {
__u32 irq; /* GSI */
__s32 status; /* not used for KVM_IRQ_LEVEL */
};
__u32 level; /* 0 or 1 */
};
4.26 KVM_GET_IRQCHIP
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_irqchip (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads the state of a kernel interrupt controller created with
KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP into a buffer provided by the caller.
struct kvm_irqchip {
__u32 chip_id; /* 0 = PIC1, 1 = PIC2, 2 = IOAPIC */
__u32 pad;
union {
char dummy[512]; /* reserving space */
struct kvm_pic_state pic;
struct kvm_ioapic_state ioapic;
} chip;
};
4.27 KVM_SET_IRQCHIP
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_irqchip (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the state of a kernel interrupt controller created with
KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP from a buffer provided by the caller.
struct kvm_irqchip {
__u32 chip_id; /* 0 = PIC1, 1 = PIC2, 2 = IOAPIC */
__u32 pad;
union {
char dummy[512]; /* reserving space */
struct kvm_pic_state pic;
struct kvm_ioapic_state ioapic;
} chip;
};
4.28 KVM_XEN_HVM_CONFIG
Capability: KVM_CAP_XEN_HVM
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_xen_hvm_config (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the MSR that the Xen HVM guest uses to initialize its hypercall
page, and provides the starting address and size of the hypercall
blobs in userspace. When the guest writes the MSR, kvm copies one
page of a blob (32- or 64-bit, depending on the vcpu mode) to guest
memory.
struct kvm_xen_hvm_config {
__u32 flags;
__u32 msr;
__u64 blob_addr_32;
__u64 blob_addr_64;
__u8 blob_size_32;
__u8 blob_size_64;
__u8 pad2[30];
};
4.29 KVM_GET_CLOCK
Capability: KVM_CAP_ADJUST_CLOCK
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_clock_data (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Gets the current timestamp of kvmclock as seen by the current guest. In
conjunction with KVM_SET_CLOCK, it is used to ensure monotonicity on scenarios
such as migration.
struct kvm_clock_data {
__u64 clock; /* kvmclock current value */
__u32 flags;
__u32 pad[9];
};
4.30 KVM_SET_CLOCK
Capability: KVM_CAP_ADJUST_CLOCK
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_clock_data (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the current timestamp of kvmclock to the value specified in its parameter.
In conjunction with KVM_GET_CLOCK, it is used to ensure monotonicity on scenarios
such as migration.
struct kvm_clock_data {
__u64 clock; /* kvmclock current value */
__u32 flags;
__u32 pad[9];
};
4.31 KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS
Capability: KVM_CAP_VCPU_EVENTS
Extended by: KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_event (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Gets currently pending exceptions, interrupts, and NMIs as well as related
states of the vcpu.
struct kvm_vcpu_events {
struct {
__u8 injected;
__u8 nr;
__u8 has_error_code;
__u8 pad;
__u32 error_code;
} exception;
struct {
__u8 injected;
__u8 nr;
__u8 soft;
__u8 shadow;
} interrupt;
struct {
__u8 injected;
__u8 pending;
__u8 masked;
__u8 pad;
} nmi;
__u32 sipi_vector;
__u32 flags;
};
KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SHADOW may be set in the flags field to signal that
interrupt.shadow contains a valid state. Otherwise, this field is undefined.
4.32 KVM_SET_VCPU_EVENTS
Capability: KVM_CAP_VCPU_EVENTS
Extended by: KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_event (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Set pending exceptions, interrupts, and NMIs as well as related states of the
vcpu.
See KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS for the data structure.
Fields that may be modified asynchronously by running VCPUs can be excluded
from the update. These fields are nmi.pending and sipi_vector. Keep the
corresponding bits in the flags field cleared to suppress overwriting the
current in-kernel state. The bits are:
KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_NMI_PENDING - transfer nmi.pending to the kernel
KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SIPI_VECTOR - transfer sipi_vector
If KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW is available, KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SHADOW can be set in
the flags field to signal that interrupt.shadow contains a valid state and
shall be written into the VCPU.
4.33 KVM_GET_DEBUGREGS
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEBUGREGS
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_debugregs (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Reads debug registers from the vcpu.
struct kvm_debugregs {
__u64 db[4];
__u64 dr6;
__u64 dr7;
__u64 flags;
__u64 reserved[9];
};
4.34 KVM_SET_DEBUGREGS
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEBUGREGS
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_debugregs (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Writes debug registers into the vcpu.
See KVM_GET_DEBUGREGS for the data structure. The flags field is unused
yet and must be cleared on entry.
4.35 KVM_SET_USER_MEMORY_REGION
Capability: KVM_CAP_USER_MEM
Architectures: all
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_userspace_memory_region (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_userspace_memory_region {
__u32 slot;
__u32 flags;
__u64 guest_phys_addr;
__u64 memory_size; /* bytes */
__u64 userspace_addr; /* start of the userspace allocated memory */
};
/* for kvm_memory_region::flags */
#define KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES (1UL << 0)
#define KVM_MEM_READONLY (1UL << 1)
This ioctl allows the user to create or modify a guest physical memory
slot. When changing an existing slot, it may be moved in the guest
physical memory space, or its flags may be modified. It may not be
resized. Slots may not overlap in guest physical address space.
Memory for the region is taken starting at the address denoted by the
field userspace_addr, which must point at user addressable memory for
the entire memory slot size. Any object may back this memory, including
anonymous memory, ordinary files, and hugetlbfs.
It is recommended that the lower 21 bits of guest_phys_addr and userspace_addr
be identical. This allows large pages in the guest to be backed by large
pages in the host.
The flags field supports two flag, KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES, which instructs
kvm to keep track of writes to memory within the slot. See KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG
ioctl. The KVM_CAP_READONLY_MEM capability indicates the availability of the
KVM_MEM_READONLY flag. When this flag is set for a memory region, KVM only
allows read accesses. Writes will be posted to userspace as KVM_EXIT_MMIO
exits.
When the KVM_CAP_SYNC_MMU capability is available, changes in the backing of
the memory region are automatically reflected into the guest. For example, an
mmap() that affects the region will be made visible immediately. Another
example is madvise(MADV_DROP).
It is recommended to use this API instead of the KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION ioctl.
The KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION does not allow fine grained control over memory
allocation and is deprecated.
4.36 KVM_SET_TSS_ADDR
Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_TSS_ADDR
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: unsigned long tss_address (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This ioctl defines the physical address of a three-page region in the guest
physical address space. The region must be within the first 4GB of the
guest physical address space and must not conflict with any memory slot
or any mmio address. The guest may malfunction if it accesses this memory
region.
This ioctl is required on Intel-based hosts. This is needed on Intel hardware
because of a quirk in the virtualization implementation (see the internals
documentation when it pops into existence).
4.37 KVM_ENABLE_CAP
Capability: KVM_CAP_ENABLE_CAP
Architectures: ppc
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_enable_cap (in)
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
+Not all extensions are enabled by default. Using this ioctl the application
can enable an extension, making it available to the guest.
On systems that do not support this ioctl, it always fails. On systems that
do support it, it only works for extensions that are supported for enablement.
To check if a capability can be enabled, the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl should
be used.
struct kvm_enable_cap {
/* in */
__u32 cap;
The capability that is supposed to get enabled.
__u32 flags;
A bitfield indicating future enhancements. Has to be 0 for now.
__u64 args[4];
Arguments for enabling a feature. If a feature needs initial values to
function properly, this is the place to put them.
__u8 pad[64];
};
4.38 KVM_GET_MP_STATE
Capability: KVM_CAP_MP_STATE
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_mp_state (out)
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
struct kvm_mp_state {
__u32 mp_state;
};
Returns the vcpu's current "multiprocessing state" (though also valid on
uniprocessor guests).
Possible values are:
- KVM_MP_STATE_RUNNABLE: the vcpu is currently running
- KVM_MP_STATE_UNINITIALIZED: the vcpu is an application processor (AP)
which has not yet received an INIT signal
- KVM_MP_STATE_INIT_RECEIVED: the vcpu has received an INIT signal, and is
now ready for a SIPI
- KVM_MP_STATE_HALTED: the vcpu has executed a HLT instruction and
is waiting for an interrupt
- KVM_MP_STATE_SIPI_RECEIVED: the vcpu has just received a SIPI (vector
accessible via KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS)
This ioctl is only useful after KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Without an in-kernel
irqchip, the multiprocessing state must be maintained by userspace.
4.39 KVM_SET_MP_STATE
Capability: KVM_CAP_MP_STATE
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_mp_state (in)
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
Sets the vcpu's current "multiprocessing state"; see KVM_GET_MP_STATE for
arguments.
This ioctl is only useful after KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Without an in-kernel
irqchip, the multiprocessing state must be maintained by userspace.
4.40 KVM_SET_IDENTITY_MAP_ADDR
Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_IDENTITY_MAP_ADDR
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: unsigned long identity (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This ioctl defines the physical address of a one-page region in the guest
physical address space. The region must be within the first 4GB of the
guest physical address space and must not conflict with any memory slot
or any mmio address. The guest may malfunction if it accesses this memory
region.
This ioctl is required on Intel-based hosts. This is needed on Intel hardware
because of a quirk in the virtualization implementation (see the internals
documentation when it pops into existence).
4.41 KVM_SET_BOOT_CPU_ID
Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_BOOT_CPU_ID
Architectures: x86, ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: unsigned long vcpu_id
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Define which vcpu is the Bootstrap Processor (BSP). Values are the same
as the vcpu id in KVM_CREATE_VCPU. If this ioctl is not called, the default
is vcpu 0.
4.42 KVM_GET_XSAVE
Capability: KVM_CAP_XSAVE
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_xsave (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_xsave {
__u32 region[1024];
};
This ioctl would copy current vcpu's xsave struct to the userspace.
4.43 KVM_SET_XSAVE
Capability: KVM_CAP_XSAVE
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_xsave (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_xsave {
__u32 region[1024];
};
This ioctl would copy userspace's xsave struct to the kernel.
4.44 KVM_GET_XCRS
Capability: KVM_CAP_XCRS
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_xcrs (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_xcr {
__u32 xcr;
__u32 reserved;
__u64 value;
};
struct kvm_xcrs {
__u32 nr_xcrs;
__u32 flags;
struct kvm_xcr xcrs[KVM_MAX_XCRS];
__u64 padding[16];
};
This ioctl would copy current vcpu's xcrs to the userspace.
4.45 KVM_SET_XCRS
Capability: KVM_CAP_XCRS
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_xcrs (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_xcr {
__u32 xcr;
__u32 reserved;
__u64 value;
};
struct kvm_xcrs {
__u32 nr_xcrs;
__u32 flags;
struct kvm_xcr xcrs[KVM_MAX_XCRS];
__u64 padding[16];
};
This ioctl would set vcpu's xcr to the value userspace specified.
4.46 KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID
Capability: KVM_CAP_EXT_CPUID
Architectures: x86
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_cpuid2 (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_cpuid2 {
__u32 nent;
__u32 padding;
struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 entries[0];
};
#define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX 1
#define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC 2
#define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT 4
struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 {
__u32 function;
__u32 index;
__u32 flags;
__u32 eax;
__u32 ebx;
__u32 ecx;
__u32 edx;
__u32 padding[3];
};
This ioctl returns x86 cpuid features which are supported by both the hardware
and kvm. Userspace can use the information returned by this ioctl to
construct cpuid information (for KVM_SET_CPUID2) that is consistent with
hardware, kernel, and userspace capabilities, and with user requirements (for
example, the user may wish to constrain cpuid to emulate older hardware,
or for feature consistency across a cluster).
Userspace invokes KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID by passing a kvm_cpuid2 structure
with the 'nent' field indicating the number of entries in the variable-size
array 'entries'. If the number of entries is too low to describe the cpu
capabilities, an error (E2BIG) is returned. If the number is too high,
the 'nent' field is adjusted and an error (ENOMEM) is returned. If the
number is just right, the 'nent' field is adjusted to the number of valid
entries in the 'entries' array, which is then filled.
The entries returned are the host cpuid as returned by the cpuid instruction,
with unknown or unsupported features masked out. Some features (for example,
x2apic), may not be present in the host cpu, but are exposed by kvm if it can
emulate them efficiently. The fields in each entry are defined as follows:
function: the eax value used to obtain the entry
index: the ecx value used to obtain the entry (for entries that are
affected by ecx)
flags: an OR of zero or more of the following:
KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX:
if the index field is valid
KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC:
if cpuid for this function returns different values for successive
invocations; there will be several entries with the same function,
all with this flag set
KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT:
for KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC entries, set if this entry is
the first entry to be read by a cpu
eax, ebx, ecx, edx: the values returned by the cpuid instruction for
this function/index combination
The TSC deadline timer feature (CPUID leaf 1, ecx[24]) is always returned
as false, since the feature depends on KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP for local APIC
support. Instead it is reported via
ioctl(KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION, KVM_CAP_TSC_DEADLINE_TIMER)
if that returns true and you use KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP, or if you emulate the
feature in userspace, then you can enable the feature for KVM_SET_CPUID2.
4.47 KVM_PPC_GET_PVINFO
Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_GET_PVINFO
Architectures: ppc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_ppc_pvinfo (out)
Returns: 0 on success, !0 on error
struct kvm_ppc_pvinfo {
__u32 flags;
__u32 hcall[4];
__u8 pad[108];
};
This ioctl fetches PV specific information that need to be passed to the guest
using the device tree or other means from vm context.
The hcall array defines 4 instructions that make up a hypercall.
If any additional field gets added to this structure later on, a bit for that
additional piece of information will be set in the flags bitmap.
The flags bitmap is defined as:
/* the host supports the ePAPR idle hcall
#define KVM_PPC_PVINFO_FLAGS_EV_IDLE (1<<0)
4.48 KVM_ASSIGN_PCI_DEVICE
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_ASSIGNMENT
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Assigns a host PCI device to the VM.
struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev {
__u32 assigned_dev_id;
__u32 busnr;
__u32 devfn;
__u32 flags;
__u32 segnr;
union {
__u32 reserved[11];
};
};
The PCI device is specified by the triple segnr, busnr, and devfn.
Identification in succeeding service requests is done via assigned_dev_id. The
following flags are specified:
/* Depends on KVM_CAP_IOMMU */
#define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_ENABLE_IOMMU (1 << 0)
/* The following two depend on KVM_CAP_PCI_2_3 */
#define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_PCI_2_3 (1 << 1)
#define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX (1 << 2)
If KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_PCI_2_3 is set, the kernel will manage legacy INTx interrupts
via the PCI-2.3-compliant device-level mask, thus enable IRQ sharing with other
assigned devices or host devices. KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX specifies the
guest's view on the INTx mask, see KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK for details.
The KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_ENABLE_IOMMU flag is a mandatory option to ensure
isolation of the device. Usages not specifying this flag are deprecated.
Only PCI header type 0 devices with PCI BAR resources are supported by
device assignment. The user requesting this ioctl must have read/write
access to the PCI sysfs resource files associated with the device.
4.49 KVM_DEASSIGN_PCI_DEVICE
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_DEASSIGNMENT
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Ends PCI device assignment, releasing all associated resources.
See KVM_CAP_DEVICE_ASSIGNMENT for the data structure. Only assigned_dev_id is
used in kvm_assigned_pci_dev to identify the device.
4.50 KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
Capability: KVM_CAP_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_irq (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Assigns an IRQ to a passed-through device.
struct kvm_assigned_irq {
__u32 assigned_dev_id;
__u32 host_irq; /* ignored (legacy field) */
__u32 guest_irq;
__u32 flags;
union {
__u32 reserved[12];
};
};
The following flags are defined:
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_INTX (1 << 0)
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_MSI (1 << 1)
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_MSIX (1 << 2)
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_INTX (1 << 8)
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_MSI (1 << 9)
#define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_MSIX (1 << 10)
It is not valid to specify multiple types per host or guest IRQ. However, the
IRQ type of host and guest can differ or can even be null.
4.51 KVM_DEASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
Capability: KVM_CAP_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_irq (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Ends an IRQ assignment to a passed-through device.
See KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ for the data structure. The target device is specified
by assigned_dev_id, flags must correspond to the IRQ type specified on
KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ. Partial deassignment of host or guest IRQ is allowed.
4.52 KVM_SET_GSI_ROUTING
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQ_ROUTING
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_irq_routing (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the GSI routing table entries, overwriting any previously set entries.
struct kvm_irq_routing {
__u32 nr;
__u32 flags;
struct kvm_irq_routing_entry entries[0];
};
No flags are specified so far, the corresponding field must be set to zero.
struct kvm_irq_routing_entry {
__u32 gsi;
__u32 type;
__u32 flags;
__u32 pad;
union {
struct kvm_irq_routing_irqchip irqchip;
struct kvm_irq_routing_msi msi;
__u32 pad[8];
} u;
};
/* gsi routing entry types */
#define KVM_IRQ_ROUTING_IRQCHIP 1
#define KVM_IRQ_ROUTING_MSI 2
No flags are specified so far, the corresponding field must be set to zero.
struct kvm_irq_routing_irqchip {
__u32 irqchip;
__u32 pin;
};
struct kvm_irq_routing_msi {
__u32 address_lo;
__u32 address_hi;
__u32 data;
__u32 pad;
};
4.53 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_MSIX_NR
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_MSIX
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_msix_nr (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Set the number of MSI-X interrupts for an assigned device. The number is
reset again by terminating the MSI-X assignment of the device via
KVM_DEASSIGN_DEV_IRQ. Calling this service more than once at any earlier
point will fail.
struct kvm_assigned_msix_nr {
__u32 assigned_dev_id;
__u16 entry_nr;
__u16 padding;
};
#define KVM_MAX_MSIX_PER_DEV 256
4.54 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_MSIX_ENTRY
Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_MSIX
Architectures: x86 ia64
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_msix_entry (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Specifies the routing of an MSI-X assigned device interrupt to a GSI. Setting
the GSI vector to zero means disabling the interrupt.
struct kvm_assigned_msix_entry {
__u32 assigned_dev_id;
__u32 gsi;
__u16 entry; /* The index of entry in the MSI-X table */
__u16 padding[3];
};
4.55 KVM_SET_TSC_KHZ
Capability: KVM_CAP_TSC_CONTROL
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: virtual tsc_khz
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Specifies the tsc frequency for the virtual machine. The unit of the
frequency is KHz.
4.56 KVM_GET_TSC_KHZ
Capability: KVM_CAP_GET_TSC_KHZ
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: virtual tsc-khz on success, negative value on error
Returns the tsc frequency of the guest. The unit of the return value is
KHz. If the host has unstable tsc this ioctl returns -EIO instead as an
error.
4.57 KVM_GET_LAPIC
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_lapic_state (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
#define KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE 0x400
struct kvm_lapic_state {
char regs[KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE];
};
Reads the Local APIC registers and copies them into the input argument. The
data format and layout are the same as documented in the architecture manual.
4.58 KVM_SET_LAPIC
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_lapic_state (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
#define KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE 0x400
struct kvm_lapic_state {
char regs[KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE];
};
Copies the input argument into the the Local APIC registers. The data format
and layout are the same as documented in the architecture manual.
4.59 KVM_IOEVENTFD
Capability: KVM_CAP_IOEVENTFD
Architectures: all
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_ioeventfd (in)
Returns: 0 on success, !0 on error
This ioctl attaches or detaches an ioeventfd to a legal pio/mmio address
within the guest. A guest write in the registered address will signal the
provided event instead of triggering an exit.
struct kvm_ioeventfd {
__u64 datamatch;
__u64 addr; /* legal pio/mmio address */
__u32 len; /* 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes */
__s32 fd;
__u32 flags;
__u8 pad[36];
};
The following flags are defined:
#define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_DATAMATCH (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_datamatch)
#define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_PIO (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_pio)
#define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_deassign)
If datamatch flag is set, the event will be signaled only if the written value
to the registered address is equal to datamatch in struct kvm_ioeventfd.
4.60 KVM_DIRTY_TLB
Capability: KVM_CAP_SW_TLB
Architectures: ppc
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_dirty_tlb (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
struct kvm_dirty_tlb {
__u64 bitmap;
__u32 num_dirty;
};
This must be called whenever userspace has changed an entry in the shared
TLB, prior to calling KVM_RUN on the associated vcpu.
The "bitmap" field is the userspace address of an array. This array
consists of a number of bits, equal to the total number of TLB entries as
determined by the last successful call to KVM_CONFIG_TLB, rounded up to the
nearest multiple of 64.
Each bit corresponds to one TLB entry, ordered the same as in the shared TLB
array.
The array is little-endian: the bit 0 is the least significant bit of the
first byte, bit 8 is the least significant bit of the second byte, etc.
This avoids any complications with differing word sizes.
The "num_dirty" field is a performance hint for KVM to determine whether it
should skip processing the bitmap and just invalidate everything. It must
be set to the number of set bits in the bitmap.
4.61 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK
Capability: KVM_CAP_PCI_2_3
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Allows userspace to mask PCI INTx interrupts from the assigned device. The
kernel will not deliver INTx interrupts to the guest between setting and
clearing of KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK via this interface. This enables use of
and emulation of PCI 2.3 INTx disable command register behavior.
This may be used for both PCI 2.3 devices supporting INTx disable natively and
older devices lacking this support. Userspace is responsible for emulating the
read value of the INTx disable bit in the guest visible PCI command register.
When modifying the INTx disable state, userspace should precede updating the
physical device command register by calling this ioctl to inform the kernel of
the new intended INTx mask state.
Note that the kernel uses the device INTx disable bit to internally manage the
device interrupt state for PCI 2.3 devices. Reads of this register may
therefore not match the expected value. Writes should always use the guest
intended INTx disable value rather than attempting to read-copy-update the
current physical device state. Races between user and kernel updates to the
INTx disable bit are handled lazily in the kernel. It's possible the device
may generate unintended interrupts, but they will not be injected into the
guest.
See KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ for the data structure. The target device is specified
by assigned_dev_id. In the flags field, only KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX is
evaluated.
4.62 KVM_CREATE_SPAPR_TCE
Capability: KVM_CAP_SPAPR_TCE
Architectures: powerpc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_create_spapr_tce (in)
Returns: file descriptor for manipulating the created TCE table
This creates a virtual TCE (translation control entry) table, which
is an IOMMU for PAPR-style virtual I/O. It is used to translate
logical addresses used in virtual I/O into guest physical addresses,
and provides a scatter/gather capability for PAPR virtual I/O.
/* for KVM_CAP_SPAPR_TCE */
struct kvm_create_spapr_tce {
__u64 liobn;
__u32 window_size;
};
The liobn field gives the logical IO bus number for which to create a
TCE table. The window_size field specifies the size of the DMA window
which this TCE table will translate - the table will contain one 64
bit TCE entry for every 4kiB of the DMA window.
When the guest issues an H_PUT_TCE hcall on a liobn for which a TCE
table has been created using this ioctl(), the kernel will handle it
in real mode, updating the TCE table. H_PUT_TCE calls for other
liobns will cause a vm exit and must be handled by userspace.
The return value is a file descriptor which can be passed to mmap(2)
to map the created TCE table into userspace. This lets userspace read
the entries written by kernel-handled H_PUT_TCE calls, and also lets
userspace update the TCE table directly which is useful in some
circumstances.
4.63 KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA
Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_RMA
Architectures: powerpc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_allocate_rma (out)
Returns: file descriptor for mapping the allocated RMA
This allocates a Real Mode Area (RMA) from the pool allocated at boot
time by the kernel. An RMA is a physically-contiguous, aligned region
of memory used on older POWER processors to provide the memory which
will be accessed by real-mode (MMU off) accesses in a KVM guest.
POWER processors support a set of sizes for the RMA that usually
includes 64MB, 128MB, 256MB and some larger powers of two.
/* for KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA */
struct kvm_allocate_rma {
__u64 rma_size;
};
The return value is a file descriptor which can be passed to mmap(2)
to map the allocated RMA into userspace. The mapped area can then be
passed to the KVM_SET_USER_MEMORY_REGION ioctl to establish it as the
RMA for a virtual machine. The size of the RMA in bytes (which is
fixed at host kernel boot time) is returned in the rma_size field of
the argument structure.
The KVM_CAP_PPC_RMA capability is 1 or 2 if the KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA ioctl
is supported; 2 if the processor requires all virtual machines to have
an RMA, or 1 if the processor can use an RMA but doesn't require it,
because it supports the Virtual RMA (VRMA) facility.
4.64 KVM_NMI
Capability: KVM_CAP_USER_NMI
Architectures: x86
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: none
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Queues an NMI on the thread's vcpu. Note this is well defined only
when KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP has not been called, since this is an interface
between the virtual cpu core and virtual local APIC. After KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP
has been called, this interface is completely emulated within the kernel.
To use this to emulate the LINT1 input with KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP, use the
following algorithm:
- pause the vpcu
- read the local APIC's state (KVM_GET_LAPIC)
- check whether changing LINT1 will queue an NMI (see the LVT entry for LINT1)
- if so, issue KVM_NMI
- resume the vcpu
Some guests configure the LINT1 NMI input to cause a panic, aiding in
debugging.
4.65 KVM_S390_UCAS_MAP
Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
Architectures: s390
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping (in)
Returns: 0 in case of success
The parameter is defined like this:
struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping {
__u64 user_addr;
__u64 vcpu_addr;
__u64 length;
};
This ioctl maps the memory at "user_addr" with the length "length" to
the vcpu's address space starting at "vcpu_addr". All parameters need to
be alligned by 1 megabyte.
4.66 KVM_S390_UCAS_UNMAP
Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
Architectures: s390
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping (in)
Returns: 0 in case of success
The parameter is defined like this:
struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping {
__u64 user_addr;
__u64 vcpu_addr;
__u64 length;
};
This ioctl unmaps the memory in the vcpu's address space starting at
"vcpu_addr" with the length "length". The field "user_addr" is ignored.
All parameters need to be alligned by 1 megabyte.
4.67 KVM_S390_VCPU_FAULT
Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
Architectures: s390
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: vcpu absolute address (in)
Returns: 0 in case of success
This call creates a page table entry on the virtual cpu's address space
(for user controlled virtual machines) or the virtual machine's address
space (for regular virtual machines). This only works for minor faults,
thus it's recommended to access subject memory page via the user page
table upfront. This is useful to handle validity intercepts for user
controlled virtual machines to fault in the virtual cpu's lowcore pages
prior to calling the KVM_RUN ioctl.
4.68 KVM_SET_ONE_REG
Capability: KVM_CAP_ONE_REG
Architectures: all
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_one_reg (in)
Returns: 0 on success, negative value on failure
struct kvm_one_reg {
__u64 id;
__u64 addr;
};
Using this ioctl, a single vcpu register can be set to a specific value
defined by user space with the passed in struct kvm_one_reg, where id
refers to the register identifier as described below and addr is a pointer
to a variable with the respective size. There can be architecture agnostic
and architecture specific registers. Each have their own range of operation
and their own constants and width. To keep track of the implemented
registers, find a list below:
Arch | Register | Width (bits)
| |
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_HIOR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC1 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC2 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC3 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC4 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAC1 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAC2 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DABR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DSCR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PURR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SPURR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DSISR | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_AMR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_UAMOR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCR0 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCR1 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCRA | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC1 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC2 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC3 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC4 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC5 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC6 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC7 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC8 | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPR0 | 64
...
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPR31 | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VR0 | 128
...
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VR31 | 128
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSR0 | 128
...
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSR31 | 128
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPSCR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSCR | 32
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_ADDR | 64
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_SLB | 128
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_DTL | 128
PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EPCR | 32
4.69 KVM_GET_ONE_REG
Capability: KVM_CAP_ONE_REG
Architectures: all
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_one_reg (in and out)
Returns: 0 on success, negative value on failure
This ioctl allows to receive the value of a single register implemented
in a vcpu. The register to read is indicated by the "id" field of the
kvm_one_reg struct passed in. On success, the register value can be found
at the memory location pointed to by "addr".
The list of registers accessible using this interface is identical to the
list in 4.68.
4.70 KVM_KVMCLOCK_CTRL
Capability: KVM_CAP_KVMCLOCK_CTRL
Architectures: Any that implement pvclocks (currently x86 only)
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: None
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This signals to the host kernel that the specified guest is being paused by
userspace. The host will set a flag in the pvclock structure that is checked
from the soft lockup watchdog. The flag is part of the pvclock structure that
is shared between guest and host, specifically the second bit of the flags
field of the pvclock_vcpu_time_info structure. It will be set exclusively by
the host and read/cleared exclusively by the guest. The guest operation of
checking and clearing the flag must an atomic operation so
load-link/store-conditional, or equivalent must be used. There are two cases
where the guest will clear the flag: when the soft lockup watchdog timer resets
itself or when a soft lockup is detected. This ioctl can be called any time
after pausing the vcpu, but before it is resumed.
4.71 KVM_SIGNAL_MSI
Capability: KVM_CAP_SIGNAL_MSI
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_msi (in)
Returns: >0 on delivery, 0 if guest blocked the MSI, and -1 on error
Directly inject a MSI message. Only valid with in-kernel irqchip that handles
MSI messages.
struct kvm_msi {
__u32 address_lo;
__u32 address_hi;
__u32 data;
__u32 flags;
__u8 pad[16];
};
No flags are defined so far. The corresponding field must be 0.
4.71 KVM_CREATE_PIT2
Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT2
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_pit_config (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Creates an in-kernel device model for the i8254 PIT. This call is only valid
after enabling in-kernel irqchip support via KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. The following
parameters have to be passed:
struct kvm_pit_config {
__u32 flags;
__u32 pad[15];
};
Valid flags are:
#define KVM_PIT_SPEAKER_DUMMY 1 /* emulate speaker port stub */
PIT timer interrupts may use a per-VM kernel thread for injection. If it
exists, this thread will have a name of the following pattern:
kvm-pit/
When running a guest with elevated priorities, the scheduling parameters of
this thread may have to be adjusted accordingly.
This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_CREATE_PIT.
4.72 KVM_GET_PIT2
Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT_STATE2
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_pit_state2 (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Retrieves the state of the in-kernel PIT model. Only valid after
KVM_CREATE_PIT2. The state is returned in the following structure:
struct kvm_pit_state2 {
struct kvm_pit_channel_state channels[3];
__u32 flags;
__u32 reserved[9];
};
Valid flags are:
/* disable PIT in HPET legacy mode */
#define KVM_PIT_FLAGS_HPET_LEGACY 0x00000001
This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_GET_PIT.
4.73 KVM_SET_PIT2
Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT_STATE2
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_pit_state2 (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Sets the state of the in-kernel PIT model. Only valid after KVM_CREATE_PIT2.
See KVM_GET_PIT2 for details on struct kvm_pit_state2.
This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_SET_PIT.
4.74 KVM_PPC_GET_SMMU_INFO
Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_GET_SMMU_INFO
Architectures: powerpc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: None
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This populates and returns a structure describing the features of
the "Server" class MMU emulation supported by KVM.
This can in turn be used by userspace to generate the appropariate
device-tree properties for the guest operating system.
The structure contains some global informations, followed by an
array of supported segment page sizes:
struct kvm_ppc_smmu_info {
__u64 flags;
__u32 slb_size;
__u32 pad;
struct kvm_ppc_one_seg_page_size sps[KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_MAX_SZ];
};
The supported flags are:
- KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_REAL:
When that flag is set, guest page sizes must "fit" the backing
store page sizes. When not set, any page size in the list can
be used regardless of how they are backed by userspace.
- KVM_PPC_1T_SEGMENTS
The emulated MMU supports 1T segments in addition to the
standard 256M ones.
The "slb_size" field indicates how many SLB entries are supported
The "sps" array contains 8 entries indicating the supported base
page sizes for a segment in increasing order. Each entry is defined
as follow:
struct kvm_ppc_one_seg_page_size {
__u32 page_shift; /* Base page shift of segment (or 0) */
__u32 slb_enc; /* SLB encoding for BookS */
struct kvm_ppc_one_page_size enc[KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_MAX_SZ];
};
An entry with a "page_shift" of 0 is unused. Because the array is
organized in increasing order, a lookup can stop when encoutering
such an entry.
The "slb_enc" field provides the encoding to use in the SLB for the
page size. The bits are in positions such as the value can directly
be OR'ed into the "vsid" argument of the slbmte instruction.
The "enc" array is a list which for each of those segment base page
size provides the list of supported actual page sizes (which can be
only larger or equal to the base page size), along with the
corresponding encoding in the hash PTE. Similarily, the array is
8 entries sorted by increasing sizes and an entry with a "0" shift
is an empty entry and a terminator:
struct kvm_ppc_one_page_size {
__u32 page_shift; /* Page shift (or 0) */
__u32 pte_enc; /* Encoding in the HPTE (>>12) */
};
The "pte_enc" field provides a value that can OR'ed into the hash
PTE's RPN field (ie, it needs to be shifted left by 12 to OR it
into the hash PTE second double word).
4.75 KVM_IRQFD
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQFD
Architectures: x86
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_irqfd (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Allows setting an eventfd to directly trigger a guest interrupt.
kvm_irqfd.fd specifies the file descriptor to use as the eventfd and
kvm_irqfd.gsi specifies the irqchip pin toggled by this event. When
an event is tiggered on the eventfd, an interrupt is injected into
the guest using the specified gsi pin. The irqfd is removed using
the KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN flag, specifying both kvm_irqfd.fd
and kvm_irqfd.gsi.
With KVM_CAP_IRQFD_RESAMPLE, KVM_IRQFD supports a de-assert and notify
mechanism allowing emulation of level-triggered, irqfd-based
interrupts. When KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_RESAMPLE is set the user must pass an
additional eventfd in the kvm_irqfd.resamplefd field. When operating
in resample mode, posting of an interrupt through kvm_irq.fd asserts
the specified gsi in the irqchip. When the irqchip is resampled, such
as from an EOI, the gsi is de-asserted and the user is notifed via
kvm_irqfd.resamplefd. It is the user's responsibility to re-queue
the interrupt if the device making use of it still requires service.
Note that closing the resamplefd is not sufficient to disable the
irqfd. The KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_RESAMPLE is only necessary on assignment
and need not be specified with KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN.
4.76 KVM_PPC_ALLOCATE_HTAB
Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_ALLOC_HTAB
Architectures: powerpc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: Pointer to u32 containing hash table order (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
This requests the host kernel to allocate an MMU hash table for a
guest using the PAPR paravirtualization interface. This only does
anything if the kernel is configured to use the Book 3S HV style of
virtualization. Otherwise the capability doesn't exist and the ioctl
returns an ENOTTY error. The rest of this description assumes Book 3S
HV.
There must be no vcpus running when this ioctl is called; if there
are, it will do nothing and return an EBUSY error.
The parameter is a pointer to a 32-bit unsigned integer variable
containing the order (log base 2) of the desired size of the hash
table, which must be between 18 and 46. On successful return from the
ioctl, it will have been updated with the order of the hash table that
was allocated.
If no hash table has been allocated when any vcpu is asked to run
(with the KVM_RUN ioctl), the host kernel will allocate a
default-sized hash table (16 MB).
If this ioctl is called when a hash table has already been allocated,
the kernel will clear out the existing hash table (zero all HPTEs) and
return the hash table order in the parameter. (If the guest is using
the virtualized real-mode area (VRMA) facility, the kernel will
re-create the VMRA HPTEs on the next KVM_RUN of any vcpu.)
4.77 KVM_S390_INTERRUPT
Capability: basic
Architectures: s390
Type: vm ioctl, vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_s390_interrupt (in)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
Allows to inject an interrupt to the guest. Interrupts can be floating
(vm ioctl) or per cpu (vcpu ioctl), depending on the interrupt type.
Interrupt parameters are passed via kvm_s390_interrupt:
struct kvm_s390_interrupt {
__u32 type;
__u32 parm;
__u64 parm64;
};
type can be one of the following:
KVM_S390_SIGP_STOP (vcpu) - sigp restart
KVM_S390_PROGRAM_INT (vcpu) - program check; code in parm
KVM_S390_SIGP_SET_PREFIX (vcpu) - sigp set prefix; prefix address in parm
KVM_S390_RESTART (vcpu) - restart
KVM_S390_INT_VIRTIO (vm) - virtio external interrupt; external interrupt
parameters in parm and parm64
KVM_S390_INT_SERVICE (vm) - sclp external interrupt; sclp parameter in parm
KVM_S390_INT_EMERGENCY (vcpu) - sigp emergency; source cpu in parm
KVM_S390_INT_EXTERNAL_CALL (vcpu) - sigp external call; source cpu in parm
Note that the vcpu ioctl is asynchronous to vcpu execution.
4.78 KVM_PPC_GET_HTAB_FD
Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_HTAB_FD
Architectures: powerpc
Type: vm ioctl
Parameters: Pointer to struct kvm_get_htab_fd (in)
Returns: file descriptor number (>= 0) on success, -1 on error
This returns a file descriptor that can be used either to read out the
entries in the guest's hashed page table (HPT), or to write entries to
initialize the HPT. The returned fd can only be written to if the
KVM_GET_HTAB_WRITE bit is set in the flags field of the argument, and
can only be read if that bit is clear. The argument struct looks like
this:
/* For KVM_PPC_GET_HTAB_FD */
struct kvm_get_htab_fd {
__u64 flags;
__u64 start_index;
__u64 reserved[2];
};
/* Values for kvm_get_htab_fd.flags */
#define KVM_GET_HTAB_BOLTED_ONLY ((__u64)0x1)
#define KVM_GET_HTAB_WRITE ((__u64)0x2)
The `start_index' field gives the index in the HPT of the entry at
which to start reading. It is ignored when writing.
Reads on the fd will initially supply information about all
"interesting" HPT entries. Interesting entries are those with the
bolted bit set, if the KVM_GET_HTAB_BOLTED_ONLY bit is set, otherwise
all entries. When the end of the HPT is reached, the read() will
return. If read() is called again on the fd, it will start again from
the beginning of the HPT, but will only return HPT entries that have
changed since they were last read.
Data read or written is structured as a header (8 bytes) followed by a
series of valid HPT entries (16 bytes) each. The header indicates how
many valid HPT entries there are and how many invalid entries follow
the valid entries. The invalid entries are not represented explicitly
in the stream. The header format is:
struct kvm_get_htab_header {
__u32 index;
__u16 n_valid;
__u16 n_invalid;
};
Writes to the fd create HPT entries starting at the index given in the
header; first `n_valid' valid entries with contents from the data
written, then `n_invalid' invalid entries, invalidating any previously
valid entries found.
5. The kvm_run structure
------------------------
Application code obtains a pointer to the kvm_run structure by
mmap()ing a vcpu fd. From that point, application code can control
execution by changing fields in kvm_run prior to calling the KVM_RUN
ioctl, and obtain information about the reason KVM_RUN returned by
looking up structure members.
struct kvm_run {
/* in */
__u8 request_interrupt_window;
Request that KVM_RUN return when it becomes possible to inject external
interrupts into the guest. Useful in conjunction with KVM_INTERRUPT.
__u8 padding1[7];
/* out */
__u32 exit_reason;
When KVM_RUN has returned successfully (return value 0), this informs
application code why KVM_RUN has returned. Allowable values for this
field are detailed below.
__u8 ready_for_interrupt_injection;
If request_interrupt_window has been specified, this field indicates
an interrupt can be injected now with KVM_INTERRUPT.
__u8 if_flag;
The value of the current interrupt flag. Only valid if in-kernel
local APIC is not used.
__u8 padding2[2];
/* in (pre_kvm_run), out (post_kvm_run) */
__u64 cr8;
The value of the cr8 register. Only valid if in-kernel local APIC is
not used. Both input and output.
__u64 apic_base;
The value of the APIC BASE msr. Only valid if in-kernel local
APIC is not used. Both input and output.
union {
/* KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN */
struct {
__u64 hardware_exit_reason;
} hw;
If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN, the vcpu has exited due to unknown
reasons. Further architecture-specific information is available in
hardware_exit_reason.
/* KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY */
struct {
__u64 hardware_entry_failure_reason;
} fail_entry;
If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY, the vcpu could not be run due
to unknown reasons. Further architecture-specific information is
available in hardware_entry_failure_reason.
/* KVM_EXIT_EXCEPTION */
struct {
__u32 exception;
__u32 error_code;
} ex;
Unused.
/* KVM_EXIT_IO */
struct {
#define KVM_EXIT_IO_IN 0
#define KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT 1
__u8 direction;
__u8 size; /* bytes */
__u16 port;
__u32 count;
__u64 data_offset; /* relative to kvm_run start */
} io;
If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_IO, then the vcpu has
executed a port I/O instruction which could not be satisfied by kvm.
data_offset describes where the data is located (KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT) or
where kvm expects application code to place the data for the next
KVM_RUN invocation (KVM_EXIT_IO_IN). Data format is a packed array.
struct {
struct kvm_debug_exit_arch arch;
} debug;
Unused.
/* KVM_EXIT_MMIO */
struct {
__u64 phys_addr;
__u8 data[8];
__u32 len;
__u8 is_write;
} mmio;
If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_MMIO, then the vcpu has
executed a memory-mapped I/O instruction which could not be satisfied
by kvm. The 'data' member contains the written data if 'is_write' is
true, and should be filled by application code otherwise.
NOTE: For KVM_EXIT_IO, KVM_EXIT_MMIO, KVM_EXIT_OSI, KVM_EXIT_DCR
and KVM_EXIT_PAPR the corresponding
operations are complete (and guest state is consistent) only after userspace
has re-entered the kernel with KVM_RUN. The kernel side will first finish
incomplete operations and then check for pending signals. Userspace
can re-enter the guest with an unmasked signal pending to complete
pending operations.
/* KVM_EXIT_HYPERCALL */
struct {
__u64 nr;
__u64 args[6];
__u64 ret;
__u32 longmode;
__u32 pad;
} hypercall;
Unused. This was once used for 'hypercall to userspace'. To implement
such functionality, use KVM_EXIT_IO (x86) or KVM_EXIT_MMIO (all except s390).
Note KVM_EXIT_IO is significantly faster than KVM_EXIT_MMIO.
/* KVM_EXIT_TPR_ACCESS */
struct {
__u64 rip;
__u32 is_write;
__u32 pad;
} tpr_access;
To be documented (KVM_TPR_ACCESS_REPORTING).
/* KVM_EXIT_S390_SIEIC */
struct {
__u8 icptcode;
__u64 mask; /* psw upper half */
__u64 addr; /* psw lower half */
__u16 ipa;
__u32 ipb;
} s390_sieic;
s390 specific.
/* KVM_EXIT_S390_RESET */
#define KVM_S390_RESET_POR 1
#define KVM_S390_RESET_CLEAR 2
#define KVM_S390_RESET_SUBSYSTEM 4
#define KVM_S390_RESET_CPU_INIT 8
#define KVM_S390_RESET_IPL 16
__u64 s390_reset_flags;
s390 specific.
/* KVM_EXIT_S390_UCONTROL */
struct {
__u64 trans_exc_code;
__u32 pgm_code;
} s390_ucontrol;
s390 specific. A page fault has occurred for a user controlled virtual
machine (KVM_VM_S390_UNCONTROL) on it's host page table that cannot be
resolved by the kernel.
The program code and the translation exception code that were placed
in the cpu's lowcore are presented here as defined by the z Architecture
Principles of Operation Book in the Chapter for Dynamic Address Translation
(DAT)
/* KVM_EXIT_DCR */
struct {
__u32 dcrn;
__u32 data;
__u8 is_write;
} dcr;
powerpc specific.
/* KVM_EXIT_OSI */
struct {
__u64 gprs[32];
} osi;
MOL uses a special hypercall interface it calls 'OSI'. To enable it, we catch
hypercalls and exit with this exit struct that contains all the guest gprs.
If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_OSI, then the vcpu has triggered such a hypercall.
Userspace can now handle the hypercall and when it's done modify the gprs as
necessary. Upon guest entry all guest GPRs will then be replaced by the values
in this struct.
/* KVM_EXIT_PAPR_HCALL */
struct {
__u64 nr;
__u64 ret;
__u64 args[9];
} papr_hcall;
This is used on 64-bit PowerPC when emulating a pSeries partition,
e.g. with the 'pseries' machine type in qemu. It occurs when the
guest does a hypercall using the 'sc 1' instruction. The 'nr' field
contains the hypercall number (from the guest R3), and 'args' contains
the arguments (from the guest R4 - R12). Userspace should put the
return code in 'ret' and any extra returned values in args[].
The possible hypercalls are defined in the Power Architecture Platform
Requirements (PAPR) document available from www.power.org (free
developer registration required to access it).
/* Fix the size of the union. */
char padding[256];
};
/*
* shared registers between kvm and userspace.
* kvm_valid_regs specifies the register classes set by the host
* kvm_dirty_regs specified the register classes dirtied by userspace
* struct kvm_sync_regs is architecture specific, as well as the
* bits for kvm_valid_regs and kvm_dirty_regs
*/
__u64 kvm_valid_regs;
__u64 kvm_dirty_regs;
union {
struct kvm_sync_regs regs;
char padding[1024];
} s;
If KVM_CAP_SYNC_REGS is defined, these fields allow userspace to access
certain guest registers without having to call SET/GET_*REGS. Thus we can
avoid some system call overhead if userspace has to handle the exit.
Userspace can query the validity of the structure by checking
kvm_valid_regs for specific bits. These bits are architecture specific
and usually define the validity of a groups of registers. (e.g. one bit
for general purpose registers)
};
6. Capabilities that can be enabled
-----------------------------------
There are certain capabilities that change the behavior of the virtual CPU when
enabled. To enable them, please see section 4.37. Below you can find a list of
capabilities and what their effect on the vCPU is when enabling them.
The following information is provided along with the description:
Architectures: which instruction set architectures provide this ioctl.
x86 includes both i386 and x86_64.
Parameters: what parameters are accepted by the capability.
Returns: the return value. General error numbers (EBADF, ENOMEM, EINVAL)
are not detailed, but errors with specific meanings are.
6.1 KVM_CAP_PPC_OSI
Architectures: ppc
Parameters: none
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
This capability enables interception of OSI hypercalls that otherwise would
be treated as normal system calls to be injected into the guest. OSI hypercalls
were invented by Mac-on-Linux to have a standardized communication mechanism
between the guest and the host.
When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_OSI can occur.
6.2 KVM_CAP_PPC_PAPR
Architectures: ppc
Parameters: none
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
This capability enables interception of PAPR hypercalls. PAPR hypercalls are
done using the hypercall instruction "sc 1".
It also sets the guest privilege level to "supervisor" mode. Usually the guest
runs in "hypervisor" privilege mode with a few missing features.
In addition to the above, it changes the semantics of SDR1. In this mode, the
HTAB address part of SDR1 contains an HVA instead of a GPA, as PAPR keeps the
HTAB invisible to the guest.
When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_PAPR_HCALL can occur.
6.3 KVM_CAP_SW_TLB
Architectures: ppc
Parameters: args[0] is the address of a struct kvm_config_tlb
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
struct kvm_config_tlb {
__u64 params;
__u64 array;
__u32 mmu_type;
__u32 array_len;
};
Configures the virtual CPU's TLB array, establishing a shared memory area
between userspace and KVM. The "params" and "array" fields are userspace
addresses of mmu-type-specific data structures. The "array_len" field is an
safety mechanism, and should be set to the size in bytes of the memory that
userspace has reserved for the array. It must be at least the size dictated
by "mmu_type" and "params".
While KVM_RUN is active, the shared region is under control of KVM. Its
contents are undefined, and any modification by userspace results in
boundedly undefined behavior.
On return from KVM_RUN, the shared region will reflect the current state of
the guest's TLB. If userspace makes any changes, it must call KVM_DIRTY_TLB
to tell KVM which entries have been changed, prior to calling KVM_RUN again
on this vcpu.
For mmu types KVM_MMU_FSL_BOOKE_NOHV and KVM_MMU_FSL_BOOKE_HV:
- The "params" field is of type "struct kvm_book3e_206_tlb_params".
- The "array" field points to an array of type "struct
kvm_book3e_206_tlb_entry".
- The array consists of all entries in the first TLB, followed by all
entries in the second TLB.
- Within a TLB, entries are ordered first by increasing set number. Within a
set, entries are ordered by way (increasing ESEL).
- The hash for determining set number in TLB0 is: (MAS2 >> 12) & (num_sets - 1)
where "num_sets" is the tlb_sizes[] value divided by the tlb_ways[] value.
- The tsize field of mas1 shall be set to 4K on TLB0, even though the
hardware ignores this value for TLB0.
