linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 1/3] Loongson-2F: Flush the branch target history such as BTB and RAS

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Date:	Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:35:20 +0800
From:	Wu Zhangjin <wuzhangjin@...il.com>
To:	Shinya Kuribayashi <shinya.kuribayashi@...el.com>
Cc:	Ralf Baechle <ralf@...ux-mips.org>, Greg KH <gregkh@...e.de>,
	linux-mips@...ux-mips.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	zhangfx <zhangfx@...ote.com>, yanh <yanh@...toe.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 1/3] Loongson-2F: Flush the branch target history such
 as BTB and RAS

On Thu, 2010-03-11 at 12:27 +0900, Shinya Kuribayashi wrote:
> Wu Zhangjin wrote:
> > From: Wu Zhangjin <wuzhangjin@...il.com>
> > 
> > As the Chapter 15: "Errata: Issue of Out-of-order in loongson"[1] shows, to
> > workaround the Issue of Loongson-2F，We need to do:
> > 
> > "When switching from user model to kernel model, you should flush the branch
> > target history such as BTB and RAS."
> 
> Just wondered, model or mode?
> 

Hmm, should be mode.

> > This patch did clear BTB(branch target buffer), forbid RAS(row address strobe)
> > via Loongson-2F's 64bit diagnostic register.
> 
> Are you sure that RAS represents "Row Address Strobe", not "Return
> Address Stack?"
> 

Hi, Yanhua(from Lemote), can you help to clear this part?

> By the way, we have a similar local workaround for vr55xx processors
> when switching from kernel mode to user mode.  It's not necessarily
> related to out-of-order issues, but we need to prevent the processor
> from doing instruction prefetch beyond "eret" instruction.
> 
> In the long term, it would be appreciated that the kernel has a set
> of hooks when switching KUX-modes, so that each machine could have
> his own, processor-specific treatmens.
> 

Good idea.

Thanks!

Regards,
	Wu Zhangjin

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