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    Subject[PATCH 12/46] KVM: Document basic API
    Date
    Document the basic API corresponding to the 2.6.22 release.

    Signed-off-by: Avi Kivity <avi@redhat.com>
    ---
    Documentation/kvm/api.txt | 683 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    1 files changed, 683 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
    create mode 100644 Documentation/kvm/api.txt

    diff --git a/Documentation/kvm/api.txt b/Documentation/kvm/api.txt
    new file mode 100644
    index 0000000..1b1c22d
    --- /dev/null
    +++ b/Documentation/kvm/api.txt
    @@ -0,0 +1,683 @@
    +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).
    +
    + Only run VM ioctls 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.
    +
    + Only run vcpu ioctls from the same thread that was used to create the
    + vcpu.
    +
    +2. File descritpors
    +
    +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 descripror which can be used to issue VM
    +ioctls. A KVM_CREATE_VCPU ioctl on a VM fd will create a virtual cpu
    +and return a file descriptor pointing to it. Finally, ioctls on a vcpu
    +fd can be used to control the vcpu, including 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. The only supported use is one virtual machine per process,
    +and one vcpu per thread.
    +
    +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 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), or a KVM_CAP_xyz constant, which
    + means availability needs to be checked with KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
    + (see section 4.4).
    +
    + 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: none
    +Returns: a VM fd that can be used to control the new virtual machine.
    +
    +The new VM has no virtual cpus and no memory. An mmap() of a VM fd
    +will access the virtual machine's physical address space; offset zero
    +corresponds to guest physical address zero. Use of mmap() on a VM fd
    +is discouraged if userspace memory allocation (KVM_CAP_USER_MEMORY) is
    +available.
    +
    +4.3 KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +Type: system
    +Parameters: struct kvm_msr_list (in/out)
    +Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
    +Errors:
    + 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];
    +};
    +
    +This ioctl returns the guest msrs that are supported. The list varies
    +by kvm version and host processor, but does not change otherwise. 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.
    +
    +4.4 KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: all
    +Type: system 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.
    +
    +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
    +
    +struct kvm_memory_region {
    + __u32 slot;
    + __u32 flags;
    + __u64 guest_phys_addr;
    + __u64 memory_size; /* bytes */
    +};
    +
    +/* for kvm_memory_region::flags */
    +#define KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES 1UL
    +
    +This ioctl allows the user to create or modify a guest physical memory
    +slot. When changing an existing slot, it may be moved in the guest
    +physical memory space, or its flags may be modified. It may not be
    +resized. Slots may not overlap.
    +
    +The flags field supports just one flag, KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES, which
    +instructs kvm to keep track of writes to memory within the slot. See
    +the KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG ioctl.
    +
    +It is recommended to use the KVM_SET_USER_MEMORY_REGION ioctl instead
    +of this API, if available. This newer API allows placing guest memory
    +at specified locations in the host address space, yielding better
    +control and easy access.
    +
    +4.6 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. The vcpu id is a small integer
    +in the range [0, max_vcpus).
    +
    +4.7 KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG (vm ioctl)
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +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.
    +
    +4.8 KVM_SET_MEMORY_ALIAS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +Type: vm ioctl
    +Parameters: struct kvm_memory_alias (in)
    +Returns: 0 (success), -1 (error)
    +
    +struct kvm_memory_alias {
    + __u32 slot; /* this has a different namespace than memory slots */
    + __u32 flags;
    + __u64 guest_phys_addr;
    + __u64 memory_size;
    + __u64 target_phys_addr;
    +};
    +
    +Defines a guest physical address space region as an alias to another
    +region. Useful for aliased address, for example the VGA low memory
    +window. Should not be used with userspace memory.
    +
    +4.9 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).
    +
    +4.10 KVM_GET_REGS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: all
    +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;
    +};
    +
    +4.11 KVM_SET_REGS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: all
    +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.
    +
    +4.12 KVM_GET_SREGS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +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];
    +};
    +
    +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.
    +
    +4.13 KVM_SET_SREGS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +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.
    +
    +4.14 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];
    +};
    +
    +4.15 KVM_INTERRUPT
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +Type: vcpu ioctl
    +Parameters: struct kvm_interrupt (in)
    +Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
    +
    +Queues a hardware interrupt vector to be injected. This is only
    +useful if in-kernel local APIC is not used.
    +
    +/* for KVM_INTERRUPT */
    +struct kvm_interrupt {
    + /* in */
    + __u32 irq;
    +};
    +
    +Note 'irq' is an interrupt vector, not an interrupt pin or line.
    +
    +4.16 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.
    +
    +4.17 KVM_GET_MSRS
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +Type: vcpu ioctl
    +Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in/out)
    +Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
    +
    +Reads model-specific registers from the vcpu. Supported msr indices can
    +be obtained using KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST.
    +
    +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.
    +
    +4.18 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.
    +
    +4.19 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];
    +};
    +
    +4.20 KVM_SET_SIGNAL_MASK
    +
    +Capability: basic
    +Architectures: x86
    +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];
    +};
    +
    +4.21 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;
    +};
    +
    +4.22 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;
    +};
    +
    +5. The kvm_run structure
    +
    +Application code obtains a pointer to the kvm_run structure by
    +mmap()ing a vcpu fd. From that point, application code can control
    +execution by changing fields in kvm_run prior to calling the KVM_RUN
    +ioctl, and obtain information about the reason KVM_RUN returned by
    +looking up structure members.
    +
    +struct kvm_run {
    + /* in */
    + __u8 request_interrupt_window;
    +
    +Request that KVM_RUN return when it becomes possible to inject external
    +interrupts into the guest. Useful in conjunction with KVM_INTERRUPT.
    +
    + __u8 padding1[7];
    +
    + /* out */
    + __u32 exit_reason;
    +
    +When KVM_RUN has returned successfully (return value 0), this informs
    +application code why KVM_RUN has returned. Allowable values for this
    +field are detailed below.
    +
    + __u8 ready_for_interrupt_injection;
    +
    +If request_interrupt_window has been specified, this field indicates
    +an interrupt can be injected now with KVM_INTERRUPT.
    +
    + __u8 if_flag;
    +
    +The value of the current interrupt flag. Only valid if in-kernel
    +local APIC is not used.
    +
    + __u8 padding2[2];
    +
    + /* in (pre_kvm_run), out (post_kvm_run) */
    + __u64 cr8;
    +
    +The value of the cr8 register. Only valid if in-kernel local APIC is
    +not used. Both input and output.
    +
    + __u64 apic_base;
    +
    +The value of the APIC BASE msr. Only valid if in-kernel local
    +APIC is not used. Both input and output.
    +
    + union {
    + /* KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN */
    + struct {
    + __u64 hardware_exit_reason;
    + } hw;
    +
    +If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN, the vcpu has exited due to unknown
    +reasons. Further architecture-specific information is available in
    +hardware_exit_reason.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY */
    + struct {
    + __u64 hardware_entry_failure_reason;
    + } fail_entry;
    +
    +If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY, the vcpu could not be run due
    +to unknown reasons. Further architecture-specific information is
    +available in hardware_entry_failure_reason.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_EXCEPTION */
    + struct {
    + __u32 exception;
    + __u32 error_code;
    + } ex;
    +
    +Unused.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_IO */
    + struct {
    +#define KVM_EXIT_IO_IN 0
    +#define KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT 1
    + __u8 direction;
    + __u8 size; /* bytes */
    + __u16 port;
    + __u32 count;
    + __u64 data_offset; /* relative to kvm_run start */
    + } io;
    +
    +If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_IO_IN or KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT, then the vcpu has
    +executed a port I/O instruction which could not be satisfied by kvm.
    +data_offset describes where the data is located (KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT) or
    +where kvm expects application code to place the data for the next
    +KVM_RUN invocation (KVM_EXIT_IO_IN). Data format is a patcked array.
    +
    + struct {
    + struct kvm_debug_exit_arch arch;
    + } debug;
    +
    +Unused.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_MMIO */
    + struct {
    + __u64 phys_addr;
    + __u8 data[8];
    + __u32 len;
    + __u8 is_write;
    + } mmio;
    +
    +If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_MMIO or KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT, then the vcpu has
    +executed a memory-mapped I/O instruction which could not be satisfied
    +by kvm. The 'data' member contains the written data if 'is_write' is
    +true, and should be filled by application code otherwise.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_HYPERCALL */
    + struct {
    + __u64 nr;
    + __u64 args[6];
    + __u64 ret;
    + __u32 longmode;
    + __u32 pad;
    + } hypercall;
    +
    +Unused.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_TPR_ACCESS */
    + struct {
    + __u64 rip;
    + __u32 is_write;
    + __u32 pad;
    + } tpr_access;
    +
    +To be documented (KVM_TPR_ACCESS_REPORTING).
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_S390_SIEIC */
    + struct {
    + __u8 icptcode;
    + __u64 mask; /* psw upper half */
    + __u64 addr; /* psw lower half */
    + __u16 ipa;
    + __u32 ipb;
    + } s390_sieic;
    +
    +s390 specific.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_S390_RESET */
    +#define KVM_S390_RESET_POR 1
    +#define KVM_S390_RESET_CLEAR 2
    +#define KVM_S390_RESET_SUBSYSTEM 4
    +#define KVM_S390_RESET_CPU_INIT 8
    +#define KVM_S390_RESET_IPL 16
    + __u64 s390_reset_flags;
    +
    +s390 specific.
    +
    + /* KVM_EXIT_DCR */
    + struct {
    + __u32 dcrn;
    + __u32 data;
    + __u8 is_write;
    + } dcr;
    +
    +powerpc specific.
    +
    + /* Fix the size of the union. */
    + char padding[256];
    + };
    +};
    --
    1.6.4.1


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