From: Chao Gao <chao.gao@intel.com>
To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, linux-doc@vger.kernel.org,
linux-coco@lists.linux.dev, kvm@vger.kernel.org
Cc: binbin.wu@linux.intel.com, dan.j.williams@intel.com,
dave.hansen@linux.intel.com, ira.weiny@intel.com,
kai.huang@intel.com, kas@kernel.org, nik.borisov@suse.com,
paulmck@kernel.org, pbonzini@redhat.com,
reinette.chatre@intel.com, rick.p.edgecombe@intel.com,
sagis@google.com, seanjc@google.com,
tony.lindgren@linux.intel.com, vannapurve@google.com,
vishal.l.verma@intel.com, yilun.xu@linux.intel.com,
xiaoyao.li@intel.com, yan.y.zhao@intel.com,
Chao Gao <chao.gao@intel.com>, Thomas Gleixner <tglx@kernel.org>,
Ingo Molnar <mingo@redhat.com>, Borislav Petkov <bp@alien8.de>,
x86@kernel.org, "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@zytor.com>,
Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>,
Shuah Khan <skhan@linuxfoundation.org>
Subject: [PATCH v6 21/22] x86/virt/tdx: Document TDX module update
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:44:12 -0700 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260326084448.29947-22-chao.gao@intel.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260326084448.29947-1-chao.gao@intel.com>
Document TDX module update as a subsection of "TDX Host Kernel Support" to
provide background information and cover key points that developers and
users may need to know, for example:
- update is done in stop_machine() context
- update instructions and results
- update policy and tooling
Signed-off-by: Chao Gao <chao.gao@intel.com>
Reviewed-by: Kai Huang <kai.huang@intel.com>
Reviewed-by: Kiryl Shutsemau (Meta) <kas@kernel.org>
---
v5:
- use "update" when refer to the update feature/concept [Kai]
---
Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst | 36 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 36 insertions(+)
diff --git a/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst b/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst
index 61670e7df2f7..d4e257542d4c 100644
--- a/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst
+++ b/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst
@@ -99,6 +99,42 @@ initialize::
[..] virt/tdx: module initialization failed ...
+TDX module Runtime Update
+-------------------------
+
+The TDX architecture includes a persistent SEAM loader (P-SEAMLDR) that
+runs in SEAM mode separately from the TDX module. The kernel can
+communicate with P-SEAMLDR to perform runtime updates of the TDX module.
+
+During update, the TDX module becomes unresponsive to other TDX operations.
+To prevent components using TDX (such as KVM) from experiencing unexpected
+errors during updates, updates are performed in stop_machine() context.
+
+TDX module update has complex compatibility requirements; the new module
+must be compatible with the current CPU, P-SEAMLDR, and running TDX module.
+Rather than implementing complex module selection and policy enforcement
+logic in the kernel, userspace is responsible for auditing and selecting
+appropriate updates.
+
+Updates use the standard firmware upload interface. See
+Documentation/driver-api/firmware/fw_upload.rst for detailed instructions
+
+Successful updates are logged in dmesg:
+ [..] virt/tdx: version 1.5.20 -> 1.5.24
+
+If updates failed, running TDs may be killed and further TDX operations may
+be not possible until reboot. For detailed error information, see
+Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-devices-faux-tdx-host.
+
+Given the risk of losing existing TDs, userspace should verify that the
+update is compatible with the current system and properly validated before
+applying it.
+
+A reference userspace tool that implements necessary checks is available
+at:
+
+ https://github.com/intel/tdx-module-binaries
+
TDX Interaction to Other Kernel Components
------------------------------------------
--
2.47.3
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-03-26 8:45 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 27+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-03-26 8:43 [PATCH v6 00/22] Runtime TDX module update support Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 01/22] x86/virt/tdx: Move low level SEAMCALL helpers out of <asm/tdx.h> Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 02/22] coco/tdx-host: Introduce a "tdx_host" device Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 03/22] coco/tdx-host: Expose TDX module version Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 04/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Introduce a wrapper for P-SEAMLDR SEAMCALLs Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 05/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Add a helper to retrieve P-SEAMLDR information Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 06/22] coco/tdx-host: Expose P-SEAMLDR information via sysfs Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 07/22] coco/tdx-host: Implement firmware upload sysfs ABI for TDX module updates Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:43 ` [PATCH v6 08/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Allocate and populate a module update request Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 09/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Introduce skeleton for TDX module updates Chao Gao
2026-03-26 11:47 ` Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 10/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Abort updates if errors occurred midway Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 11/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Shut down the current TDX module Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 12/22] x86/virt/tdx: Reset software states during TDX module shutdown Chao Gao
2026-03-26 12:35 ` Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 13/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Install a new TDX module Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 14/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Do TDX per-CPU initialization after updates Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 15/22] x86/virt/tdx: Restore TDX module state Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 16/22] x86/virt/tdx: Update tdx_sysinfo and check features post-update Chao Gao
2026-03-26 13:03 ` Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 17/22] x86/virt/tdx: Avoid updates during update-sensitive operations Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 18/22] coco/tdx-host: Don't expose P-SEAMLDR features on CPUs with erratum Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 19/22] x86/virt/tdx: Enable TDX module runtime updates Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 20/22] coco/tdx-host: Document TDX module update compatibility criteria Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:44 ` Chao Gao [this message]
2026-03-26 8:44 ` [PATCH v6 22/22] x86/virt/seamldr: Log TDX module update failures Chao Gao
2026-03-26 8:52 ` [PATCH v6 00/22] Runtime TDX module update support Chao Gao
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