[PATCH v4 28/28] arm/arm64: Add hyp-stub API documentation

Marc Zyngier
2017-03-21T19:20:58Z

In order to help people understanding the hyp-stub API that exists
between the host kernel and the hypervisor mode (whether a hypervisor
has been installed or not), let's document said API.

As with any form of documentation, I expect it to become obsolete
and completely misleading within 20 minutes after having being merged.

Acked-by: Russell King <rmk+kernel@armlinux.org.uk>
Signed-off-by: Marc Zyngier <marc.zyngier@arm.com>
---
Documentation/virtual/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt | 45 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 45 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/virtual/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt

diff --git a/Documentation/virtual/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt b/Documentation/virtual/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a1e0314d2249
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/virtual/kvm/arm/hyp-abi.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+* 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.
+
+* r0/x0 = HVC_RESET_VECTORS
+
+ Turn HYP/EL2 MMU off, and reset HVBAR/VBAR_EL2 to the default
+ 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.
--
2.11.0