[Xen-devel] [PATCH] docs: add a document about guest cpuid configuration

["Cui, Dexuan" <dexuan.cui@xxxxxxxxx>]

CPUID emulation for guest
-------------------------

When HVM guest tries to execute CPUID, or PV guest tries to execute XEN_CPUID,
the xen hypervior traps and emultes them.

For HVM guest and PV DomU guest, xen's CPUID emulation can be adjusted using
the guest configation file if necessary (e.g., to supply better support for
guest live migration). The CPUID syntax in guest configration file is
described in detail in the examples like /etc/xen/xmexample.hvm,
/etc/xen/xmexample.hvm-stubdom.

However, a user (or an administrator) must be aware that the CPUID in guest
configuration file can NOT be configured casually. The default CPUID
configuration should be safe, but illegal configuration can cause unexpected
behaviors of guest -- even can crash guest.

For example, we should not expose the MONITOR CPUID feature flag (ECX bit 3;
CPUID executed EAX = 1) to HVM guest, otherwise, on guest's attempt of
executing MWAIT, the VMExit handler in Xen would inject #UD (Invalid Opcode
Exception) into the HVM guest, and guest kernel would panic.

/* We can add more unsafe CPUID configuration here in future. */
 
Thanks,
-- Dexuan

Attachment: doc_cpuid.patch
Description: doc_cpuid.patch

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