VIRTUAL MACHINE DEVICE AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20110107328A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Hohmuth, Michael P., Serebrin, Benjamin C., Christie, David S., Boleyn, Erich
• Application Number:
  US12/610,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/815 Virtual middleware or OS functionality using virtual machines to implement generic software techniques for error detection or fault masking G06F11/1484
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455

Abstract

A data processing device is configured such that, during a loop executed by a guest, the device executes a PAUSE instruction. In response to executing a PAUSE instruction, the data processing device determines a relationship between the current PAUSE instruction and a previously executed PAUSE instruction. For example, the data processing device can determine the amount of time that has elapsed between the PAUSE instructions. Based on the relationship between the current and previous pause instructions, the data processing device can reset the counter to a reset value, or adjust (i.e. increment or decrement) the counter by a defined amount.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a first occurrence of a first operation at a first virtual machine;

determining a second occurrence of the first operation at the first virtual machine;

determining a relationship between the first occurrence and the second occurrence;

adjusting a value stored at a counter in response to determining the relationship is a first relationship;

resetting the counter to a reset value in response to determining the relationship is a second relationship; and

exiting the first virtual machine in response to the value stored at the counter matching a first threshold, executing a virtual machine manager at the data processing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second occurrence comprises a first instruction, and wherein determining the relationship comprises determining the relationship during execution of the first instruction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence occurring within a first period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence not occurring within the first period of time.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first period of time is programmable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence being associated with a common instruction pointer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence being associated with different instruction pointers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence being associated with a common instruction loop.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the value stored at the counter comprises adjusting the value stored at the counter in response to determining a third relationship between the first occurrence of the first operation and the second occurrence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first relationship comprises the occurrence of the first operation and the occurrence of the second operation occurring within a first period of time and the third relationship comprises the first operation and the second operation being associated with a common instruction pointer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a third occurrence of the first operation at a second virtual machine;

determining a fourth occurrence of the first operation at the second virtual machine;

determining a relationship between the third occurrence and the second occurrence;

adjusting a value stored at a counter in response to determining the relationship is a third relationship;

resetting the counter to a reset value in response to determining the relationship is a fourth relationship; and

exiting the second virtual machine in response to the value stored at the counter matching a first threshold, executing a virtual machine manager at the data processing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence occurring within a first period of time and the third relationship comprises the third occurrence and the fourth occurrence occurring within a second period of time different than the first period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence occurring within a second period of time and the second relationship comprises the third occurrence and the fourth occurrence being associated with a common instruction pointer.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while executing the virtual machine manager, determining a third operation at the data processing device associated with the first virtual machine;

in response to determining the third operation, setting the counter to the reset value.

15. A device, comprising:

a counter;

an execution core coupled to the counter, the execution core configured to;

determine a first occurrence of a first operation at a first virtual machine;

determine a second occurrence of the first operation at the first virtual machine;

determine a relationship between the first occurrence and the second occurrence;

adjust a value stored at a counter in response to determining the relationship is a first relationship;

reset the counter to a reset value in response to determining the relationship is a second relationship; and

exit the first virtual machine in response to the value stored at the counter matching a first threshold, executing a virtual machine manager at the data processing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second occurrence comprises a first instruction, and wherein the execution core is configured to determine the relationship between the first occurrence and the second occurrence during execution of the first instruction.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence occurring within a first period of time.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first period of time is programmable.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence being associated with a common instruction pointer.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the first relationship comprises the first occurrence and the second occurrence being associated with a common instruction loop.