Re: VMI Interface Proposal Documentation for I386, Part 2.2

[Zwane Mwaikambo]

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006, Zachary Amsden wrote:

>     One shortcut we have found most helpful is to simply disable NMI delivery
>     to the paravirtualized kernel.  There is no reason NMIs can't be
>     supported, but typical uses for them are not as productive in a
>     virtualized environment.  Watchdog NMIs are of limited use if the OS is
>     already correct and running on stable hardware; profiling NMIs are
>     similarly of less use, since this task is accomplished with more accuracy
>     in the VMM itself; and NMIs for machine check errors should be handled
>     outside of the VM.  The addition of NMI support does create additional
>     complexity for the trap handling code in the VM, and although the task is
>     surmountable, the value proposal is debatable.  Here, again, feedback
>     is desired.

A guest unmaskable (with programmable interrupt frequency) event would 
certainly be of use and would take care of the majority of NMI users.

Thanks,
	Zwane

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