[PATCH 0/6] MSI portability cleanups

Segher Boessenkool segher at kernel.crashing.org
Wed Jan 31 06:32:19 EST 2007


> I just got an answer from the hypervisor architects.  It turns out
> that the hardware _does_ prevent the device from sending MSI messages
> to another partition.  The OS _can_ write whatever it likes to the MSI
> address and data registers.  It can potentially lose interrupts (or, I
> expect, get the device isolated by EEH) but it can't disrupt another
> partition.

The OS however has to write the values the HV wants to
the device, or things won't work -- so the HV can just
as well do it itself.  Also, pulling all the work into
the HV makes for a cleaner, more generic design (who
knows what hardware will show up within the next few
years, the HV interface had better be prepared).


Segher




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