summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt')
-rw-r--r--Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt53
1 files changed, 53 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt b/Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a20a0bee268d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/virt/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+* Internal ABI between the kernel and HYP
+
+This file documents the interaction between the Linux kernel and the
+hypervisor layer when running Linux as a hypervisor (for example
+KVM). It doesn't cover the interaction of the kernel with the
+hypervisor when running as a guest (under Xen, KVM or any other
+hypervisor), or any hypervisor-specific interaction when the kernel is
+used as a host.
+
+On arm and arm64 (without VHE), the kernel doesn't run in hypervisor
+mode, but still needs to interact with it, allowing a built-in
+hypervisor to be either installed or torn down.
+
+In order to achieve this, the kernel must be booted at HYP (arm) or
+EL2 (arm64), allowing it to install a set of stubs before dropping to
+SVC/EL1. These stubs are accessible by using a 'hvc #0' instruction,
+and only act on individual CPUs.
+
+Unless specified otherwise, any built-in hypervisor must implement
+these functions (see arch/arm{,64}/include/asm/virt.h):
+
+* r0/x0 = HVC_SET_VECTORS
+ r1/x1 = vectors
+
+ Set HVBAR/VBAR_EL2 to 'vectors' to enable a hypervisor. 'vectors'
+ must be a physical address, and respect the alignment requirements
+ of the architecture. Only implemented by the initial stubs, not by
+ Linux hypervisors.
+
+* r0/x0 = HVC_RESET_VECTORS
+
+ Turn HYP/EL2 MMU off, and reset HVBAR/VBAR_EL2 to the initials
+ stubs' exception vector value. This effectively disables an existing
+ hypervisor.
+
+* r0/x0 = HVC_SOFT_RESTART
+ r1/x1 = restart address
+ x2 = x0's value when entering the next payload (arm64)
+ x3 = x1's value when entering the next payload (arm64)
+ x4 = x2's value when entering the next payload (arm64)
+
+ Mask all exceptions, disable the MMU, move the arguments into place
+ (arm64 only), and jump to the restart address while at HYP/EL2. This
+ hypercall is not expected to return to its caller.
+
+Any other value of r0/x0 triggers a hypervisor-specific handling,
+which is not documented here.
+
+The return value of a stub hypercall is held by r0/x0, and is 0 on
+success, and HVC_STUB_ERR on error. A stub hypercall is allowed to
+clobber any of the caller-saved registers (x0-x18 on arm64, r0-r3 and
+ip on arm). It is thus recommended to use a function call to perform
+the hypercall.