From: Chao Gao <chao.gao@intel.com>
To: kvm@vger.kernel.org, linux-coco@lists.linux.dev,
linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, x86@kernel.org,
linux-doc@vger.kernel.org
Cc: binbin.wu@linux.intel.com, dave.hansen@linux.intel.com,
djbw@kernel.org, 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>,
"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@zytor.com>,
Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>,
Shuah Khan <skhan@linuxfoundation.org>
Subject: [PATCH v8 21/21] x86/virt/tdx: Document TDX module update
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:28:15 -0700 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260427152854.101171-22-chao.gao@intel.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260427152854.101171-1-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>
Reviewed-by: Rick Edgecombe <rick.p.edgecombe@intel.com>
---
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 ff6b110291bc..de6b99d9afa7 100644
--- a/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst
+++ b/Documentation/arch/x86/tdx.rst
@@ -73,6 +73,42 @@ initialize::
[..] virt/tdx: 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
+not be 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
------------------------------------------
--
2.47.1
prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-04-27 15:30 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 38+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-04-27 15:27 [PATCH v8 00/21] Runtime TDX module update support Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:27 ` [PATCH v8 01/21] x86/virt/tdx: Move low level SEAMCALL helpers out of <asm/tdx.h> Chao Gao
2026-04-27 18:12 ` Vishal Annapurve
2026-04-27 15:27 ` [PATCH v8 02/21] coco/tdx-host: Introduce a "tdx_host" device Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:27 ` [PATCH v8 03/21] coco/tdx-host: Expose TDX module version Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:27 ` [PATCH v8 04/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Introduce a wrapper for P-SEAMLDR SEAMCALLs Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:27 ` [PATCH v8 05/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Add a helper to retrieve P-SEAMLDR information Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 06/21] coco/tdx-host: Expose P-SEAMLDR information via sysfs Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 07/21] coco/tdx-host: Implement firmware upload sysfs ABI for TDX module updates Chao Gao
2026-04-29 23:17 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 08/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Allocate and populate a module update request Chao Gao
2026-04-30 0:45 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-30 21:23 ` Edgecombe, Rick P
2026-04-30 21:31 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 09/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Introduce skeleton for TDX module updates Chao Gao
2026-04-30 20:03 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 10/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Shut down the current TDX module Chao Gao
2026-04-30 18:52 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 11/21] x86/virt/tdx: Reset software states during TDX module shutdown Chao Gao
2026-04-30 18:58 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 12/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Install a new TDX module Chao Gao
2026-04-30 19:00 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-30 21:48 ` Edgecombe, Rick P
2026-04-30 22:29 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 13/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Do TDX per-CPU initialization after module installation Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 14/21] x86/virt/tdx: Restore TDX module state Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 15/21] x86/virt/tdx: Refresh TDX module version after update Chao Gao
2026-04-30 19:14 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-30 21:35 ` Edgecombe, Rick P
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 16/21] x86/virt/tdx: Reject updates during concurrent TD build Chao Gao
2026-04-30 19:25 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 17/21] x86/virt/seamldr: Abort updates on failure Chao Gao
2026-04-30 20:06 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 18/21] coco/tdx-host: Don't expose P-SEAMLDR features on CPUs with erratum Chao Gao
2026-04-30 20:09 ` Dave Hansen
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 19/21] x86/virt/tdx: Enable TDX module runtime updates Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` [PATCH v8 20/21] coco/tdx-host: Document TDX module update compatibility criteria Chao Gao
2026-04-27 15:28 ` Chao Gao [this message]
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