Re: feature suggestion: DMAR table emulation for Xen

[Keir Fraser <keir.fraser@eu.citrix.com>]

On 14/05/2010 11:15, "Joanna Rutkowska" <joanna@invisiblethingslab.com>
wrote:

>> Yeah, actually the integrated graphics can implement all sorts of dirty
>> tricks between OS driver, video BIOS, and SMM. This can rely on fixed memory
>> areas for communication -- both for host accesses and DMA, the latter
>> requiring RMRR setup. Maybe the RMRRs are static per-chipset, but I wouldn't
>> be too sure of it.
>> 
> Hmmm... Shouldn't this affect only (and potentially) the text mode
> display? I would expect that once Dom0 Linux takes over, it would be
> using its own IGD driver that is VT-d aware and is not on the mercy of
> the evil BIOS?

Well, if you do not pass through the IGD to a domU then the issue is moot.
Dom0 gets an all-inclusive mapping below 4GB, which should be a superset of
anything the RMRRs would specify. It's when passing through to a domU that
the RMRRs matter, especially if you pass through as the primary adaptor and
hence re-execute the video BIOS in domU context.

 -- Keir

> And we can disable the (ugly) Xen debug output, and have Dom0 linux boot
> with kmodeset boot argument that would load the proper driver and switch
> to a graphics mode right at the beginning.