Re: cpuinfo and HVM features

[Avi Kivity]

On 07/27/2009 12:08 PM, Jan Kiszka wrote:
> > When I add feature reporting to cpuinfo, I just put highlight features there,
> > otherwise the VMX feature list would at least as long as CPU one.
> >      
>
> That could become true. But the question is always what the highlights
> are. Often this depends on the hypervisor as it may implement
> workarounds for missing features differently (or not at all). So I'm
> also for exposing feature information consistently.
>    


I'd put everything in there.  It's information that is often useful.  
Even minor features can expose bugs in the hypervisor.

> > I have also suggested another field for virtualization feature for it, but
> > some concern again userspace tools raised.
> >
> > For we got indeed quite a lot features, and would get more, would it better to
> > export the part of struct vmcs_config entries(that's pin_based_exec_ctrl,
> > cpu_based_exec_ctrl, and cpu_based_2nd_exec_ctrl) through
> > sys/module/kvm_intel/? Put every feature to cpuinfo seems not that necessary
> > for such a big list.
> >      
>
> I don't think this information should only come from KVM. Consider you
> didn't build it into some kernel but still want to find out what your
> system is able to provide.
>
> What about adding some dedicated /proc entry for CPU virtualization
> features, say /proc/hvminfo?
>    

The flags line is already very long, and already has some virt features, 
so I see no problem extending it.  If we don't want that. I'd prefer a 
virtualization  line in /proc/cpuinfo rather than a new file.

--
Do not meddle in the internals of kernels, for they are subtle and quick to panic.

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