Suspending translation look-aside buffer purge execution in a multi-processor environment

US10698835B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Uwe Brandt · Eppelheim, DE
• Ute Gaertner · Schenefeld, DE
• Lisa C. Heller · Rhinebeck, US
• Markus Helms · Eppelheim, DE
• Thomas Kohler · Neuenstadt am Kocher, DE
• Frank Lehnert · Weil im Schönbuch, DE
• Jennifer A. Navarro · Poughkeepsie, US
• Rebecca S. Wisniewski · Poughkeepsie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 28, 2017
• Grant date: Jun 30, 2020
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2212/682
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for operating translation look-aside buffers, TLBs, in a multiprocessor system. A purge request is received for purging one or more entries in the TLB. When the thread doesn't require access to the entries to be purged the execution of the purge request at the TLB may start. When an address translation request is rejected due to the TLB purge, a suspension time window may be set. During the suspension time window, the execution of the purge is suspended and address translation requests of the thread are executed. After the suspension window is ended the purge execution may be resumed. When the thread requires access to the entries to be purged, it may be blocked for preventing the thread sending address translation requests to the TLB and upon ending the purge request execution, the thread may be unblocked and the address translation requests may be executed.