-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
/
kvm-api.txt
5296 lines (4107 loc) · 179 KB
/
kvm-api.txt
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
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) and devices.
VM ioctls must be issued 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.
vcpu ioctls should be issued from the same thread that was used to create
the vcpu, except for asynchronous vcpu ioctl that are marked as such in
the documentation. Otherwise, the first ioctl after switching threads
could see a performance impact.
- device ioctls: These query and set attributes that control the operation
of a single device.
device ioctls must be issued from the same process (address space) that
was used to create the VM.
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 or KVM_CREATE_DEVICE ioctl on a VM fd will
create a virtual cpu or device and return a file descriptor pointing to
the new resource. Finally, ioctls on a vcpu or device fd can be used
to control the vcpu or device. For vcpus, this includes 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. See "General description" for details on the ioctl usage
model that is supported by KVM.
It is important to note that althought VM ioctls may only be issued from
the process that created the VM, a VM's lifecycle is associated with its
file descriptor, not its creator (process). In other words, the VM and
its resources, *including the associated address space*, are not freed
until the last reference to the VM's file descriptor has been released.
For example, if fork() is issued after ioctl(KVM_CREATE_VM), the VM will
not be freed until both the parent (original) process and its child have
put their references to the VM's file descriptor.
Because a VM's resources are not freed until the last reference to its
file descriptor is released, creating additional references to a VM via
via fork(), dup(), etc... without careful consideration is strongly
discouraged and may have unwanted side effects, e.g. memory allocated
by and on behalf of the VM's process may not be freed/unaccounted when
the VM is shut down.
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 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), a KVM_CAP_xyz constant, which
means availability needs to be checked with KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
(see section 4.4), or 'none' which means that while not all kernels
support this ioctl, there's no capability bit to check its
availability: for kernels that don't support the ioctl,
the ioctl returns -ENOTTY.
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.
You probably 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).
To use hardware assisted virtualization on MIPS (VZ ASE) rather than
the default trap & emulate implementation (which changes the virtual
memory layout to fit in user mode), check KVM_CAP_MIPS_VZ and use the
flag KVM_VM_MIPS_VZ.
On arm64, the physical address size for a VM (IPA Size limit) is limited
to 40bits by default. The limit can be configured if the host supports the
extension KVM_CAP_ARM_VM_IPA_SIZE. When supported, use
KVM_VM_TYPE_ARM_IPA_SIZE(IPA_Bits) to set the size in the machine type
identifier, where IPA_Bits is the maximum width of any physical
address used by the VM. The IPA_Bits is encoded in bits[7-0] of the
machine type identifier.
e.g, to configure a guest to use 48bit physical address size :
vm_fd = ioctl(dev_fd, KVM_CREATE_VM, KVM_VM_TYPE_ARM_IPA_SIZE(48));
The requested size (IPA_Bits) must be :
0 - Implies default size, 40bits (for backward compatibility)
or
N - Implies N bits, where N is a positive integer such that,
32 <= N <= Host_IPA_Limit
Host_IPA_Limit is the maximum possible value for IPA_Bits on the host and
is dependent on the CPU capability and the kernel configuration. The limit can
be retrieved using KVM_CAP_ARM_VM_IPA_SIZE of the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
ioctl() at run-time.
Please note that configuring the IPA size does not affect the capability
exposed by the guest CPUs in ID_AA64MMFR0_EL1[PARange]. It only affects
size of the address translated by the stage2 level (guest physical to
host physical address translations).
4.3 KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST, KVM_GET_MSR_FEATURE_INDEX_LIST
Capability: basic, KVM_CAP_GET_MSR_FEATURES for KVM_GET_MSR_FEATURE_INDEX_LIST
Architectures: x86
Type: system ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_msr_list (in/out)
Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
Errors:
EFAULT: the msr index list cannot be read from or written to
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];
};
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.
KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST returns the guest msrs that are supported. The list
varies by kvm version and host processor, but does not change otherwise.
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.
KVM_GET_MSR_FEATURE_INDEX_LIST returns the list of MSRs that can be passed
to the KVM_GET_MSRS system ioctl. This lets userspace probe host capabilities
and processor features that are exposed via MSRs (e.g., VMX capabilities).
This list also varies by kvm version and host processor, but does not change
otherwise.
4.4 KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
Capability: basic, KVM_CAP_CHECK_EXTENSION_VM for vm ioctl
Architectures: all
Type: system ioctl, vm 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.
Based on their initialization different VMs may have different capabilities.
It is thus encouraged to use the vm ioctl to query for capabilities (available
with KVM_CAP_CHECK_EXTENSION_VM on the vm fd)
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. No more than max_vcpus may be added.
The vcpu id is an integer in the range [0, max_vcpu_id).
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.
The maximum possible value for max_vcpu_id can be retrieved using the
KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPU_ID of the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl() at run-time.
If the KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPU_ID does not exist, you should assume that max_vcpu_id
is the same as the value returned from KVM_CAP_MAX_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.
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: all
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.
If KVM_CAP_MULTI_ADDRESS_SPACE is available, bits 16-31 specifies
the address space for which you want to return the dirty bitmap.
They must be less than the value that KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION returns for
the KVM_CAP_MULTI_ADDRESS_SPACE capability.
The bits in the dirty bitmap are cleared before the ioctl returns, unless
KVM_CAP_MANUAL_DIRTY_LOG_PROTECT2 is enabled. For more information,
see the description of the capability.
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 except ARM, arm64
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;
};
/* mips */
struct kvm_regs {
/* out (KVM_GET_REGS) / in (KVM_SET_REGS) */
__u64 gpr[32];
__u64 hi;
__u64 lo;
__u64 pc;
};
4.12 KVM_SET_REGS
Capability: basic
Architectures: all except ARM, arm64
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/uapi/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, mips
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_interrupt (in)
Returns: 0 on success, negative on failure.
Queues a hardware interrupt vector to be injected.
/* for KVM_INTERRUPT */
struct kvm_interrupt {
/* in */
__u32 irq;
};
X86:
Returns: 0 on success,
-EEXIST if an interrupt is already enqueued
-EINVAL the the irq number is invalid
-ENXIO if the PIC is in the kernel
-EFAULT if the pointer is invalid
Note 'irq' is an interrupt vector, not an interrupt pin or line. This
ioctl is useful if the in-kernel PIC is not used.
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.
This is an asynchronous vcpu ioctl and can be invoked from any thread.
MIPS:
Queues an external interrupt to be injected into the virtual CPU. A negative
interrupt number dequeues the interrupt.
This is an asynchronous vcpu ioctl and can be invoked from any thread.
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 (vcpu), KVM_CAP_GET_MSR_FEATURES (system)
Architectures: x86
Type: system ioctl, vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in/out)
Returns: number of msrs successfully returned;
-1 on error
When used as a system ioctl:
Reads the values of MSR-based features that are available for the VM. This
is similar to KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID, but it returns MSR indices and values.
The list of msr-based features can be obtained using KVM_GET_MSR_FEATURE_INDEX_LIST
in a system ioctl.
When used as a vcpu ioctl:
Reads model-specific registers from the vcpu. Supported msr indices can
be obtained using KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST in a system ioctl.
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: all
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, KVM_CAP_S390_IRQCHIP (s390)
Architectures: x86, ARM, arm64, s390
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 ARM/arm64, a GICv2 is created. Any other GIC versions require the usage of
KVM_CREATE_DEVICE, which also supports creating a GICv2. Using
KVM_CREATE_DEVICE is preferred over KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP for GICv2.
On s390, a dummy irq routing table is created.
Note that on s390 the KVM_CAP_S390_IRQCHIP vm capability needs to be enabled
before KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP can be used.
4.25 KVM_IRQ_LINE
Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
Architectures: x86, arm, arm64
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.
On some architectures it is required 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.
On real hardware, interrupt pins can be active-low or active-high. This
does not matter for the level field of struct kvm_irq_level: 1 always
means active (asserted), 0 means inactive (deasserted).
x86 allows the operating system to program the interrupt polarity
(active-low/active-high) for level-triggered interrupts, and KVM used
to consider the polarity. However, due to bitrot in the handling of
active-low interrupts, the above convention is now valid on x86 too.
This is signaled by KVM_CAP_X86_IOAPIC_POLARITY_IGNORED. Userspace
should not present interrupts to the guest as active-low unless this
capability is present (or unless it is not using the in-kernel irqchip,
of course).
ARM/arm64 can signal an interrupt either at the CPU level, or at the
in-kernel irqchip (GIC), and for in-kernel irqchip can tell the GIC to
use PPIs designated for specific cpus. The irq field is interpreted
like this:
bits: | 31 ... 24 | 23 ... 16 | 15 ... 0 |
field: | irq_type | vcpu_index | irq_id |
The irq_type field has the following values:
- irq_type[0]: out-of-kernel GIC: irq_id 0 is IRQ, irq_id 1 is FIQ
- irq_type[1]: in-kernel GIC: SPI, irq_id between 32 and 1019 (incl.)
(the vcpu_index field is ignored)
- irq_type[2]: in-kernel GIC: PPI, irq_id between 16 and 31 (incl.)
(The irq_id field thus corresponds nicely to the IRQ ID in the ARM GIC specs)
In both cases, level is used to assert/deassert the line.
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
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
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.
When KVM_CAP_ADJUST_CLOCK is passed to KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION, it returns the
set of bits that KVM can return in struct kvm_clock_data's flag member.
The only flag defined now is KVM_CLOCK_TSC_STABLE. If set, the returned
value is the exact kvmclock value seen by all VCPUs at the instant
when KVM_GET_CLOCK was called. If clear, the returned value is simply
CLOCK_MONOTONIC plus a constant offset; the offset can be modified
with KVM_SET_CLOCK. KVM will try to make all VCPUs follow this clock,
but the exact value read by each VCPU could differ, because the host
TSC is not stable.
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, arm, arm64
Type: vcpu ioctl
Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_event (out)
Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
X86:
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 pending;
__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;
struct {
__u8 smm;
__u8 pending;
__u8 smm_inside_nmi;
__u8 latched_init;
} smi;
__u8 reserved[27];
__u8 exception_has_payload;
__u64 exception_payload;
};
The following bits are defined in the flags field:
- KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SHADOW may be set to signal that
interrupt.shadow contains a valid state.
- KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SMM may be set to signal that smi contains a
valid state.
- KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_PAYLOAD may be set to signal that the
exception_has_payload, exception_payload, and exception.pending
fields contain a valid state. This bit will be set whenever
KVM_CAP_EXCEPTION_PAYLOAD is enabled.
ARM/ARM64:
If the guest accesses a device that is being emulated by the host kernel in
such a way that a real device would generate a physical SError, KVM may make
a virtual SError pending for that VCPU. This system error interrupt remains
pending until the guest takes the exception by unmasking PSTATE.A.
Running the VCPU may cause it to take a pending SError, or make an access that
causes an SError to become pending. The event's description is only valid while
the VPCU is not running.
This API provides a way to read and write the pending 'event' state that is not
visible to the guest. To save, restore or migrate a VCPU the struct representing
the state can be read then written using this GET/SET API, along with the other
guest-visible registers. It is not possible to 'cancel' an SError that has been
made pending.
A device being emulated in user-space may also wish to generate an SError. To do
this the events structure can be populated by user-space. The current state
should be read first, to ensure no existing SError is pending. If an existing
SError is pending, the architecture's 'Multiple SError interrupts' rules should
be followed. (2.5.3 of DDI0587.a "ARM Reliability, Availability, and
Serviceability (RAS) Specification").
SError exceptions always have an ESR value. Some CPUs have the ability to
specify what the virtual SError's ESR value should be. These systems will
advertise KVM_CAP_ARM_INJECT_SERROR_ESR. In this case exception.has_esr will
always have a non-zero value when read, and the agent making an SError pending
should specify the ISS field in the lower 24 bits of exception.serror_esr. If
the system supports KVM_CAP_ARM_INJECT_SERROR_ESR, but user-space sets the events
with exception.has_esr as zero, KVM will choose an ESR.
Specifying exception.has_esr on a system that does not support it will return
-EINVAL. Setting anything other than the lower 24bits of exception.serror_esr
will return -EINVAL.
struct kvm_vcpu_events {
struct {
__u8 serror_pending;
__u8 serror_has_esr;
/* Align it to 8 bytes */
__u8 pad[6];
__u64 serror_esr;
} exception;
__u32 reserved[12];