[PATCH v4 5/6] arm64/boot: Enable EL2 requirements for FEAT_Debugv8p9

From: Rob Herring (Arm)

Date: Tue Apr 07 2026 - 10:33:09 EST


From: Anshuman Khandual <anshuman.khandual@xxxxxxx>

Fine grained trap control for MDSELR_EL1 register needs to be configured in
HDFGRTR2_EL2, and HDFGWTR2_EL2 registers when kernel enters at EL1, but EL2
is also present.

MDCR_EL2.EBWE needs to be enabled for additional (beyond 16) breakpoint and
watchpoint exceptions when kernel enters at EL1, but EL2 is also present.

While here, also update booting.rst with MDCR_EL3 and SCR_EL3 requirements.

Cc: Marc Zyngier <maz@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Oliver Upton <oliver.upton@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: kvmarm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Signed-off-by: Anshuman Khandual <anshuman.khandual@xxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Rob Herring (Arm) <robh@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
v4:
- Add that the requirements only apply when there are >16
breakpoints/watchpoints
- Adapt to changes in v7.0-rc1
---
Documentation/arch/arm64/booting.rst | 13 +++++++++++++
arch/arm64/include/asm/el2_setup.h | 14 ++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 27 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/arch/arm64/booting.rst b/Documentation/arch/arm64/booting.rst
index 13ef311dace8..00ba91bbd278 100644
--- a/Documentation/arch/arm64/booting.rst
+++ b/Documentation/arch/arm64/booting.rst
@@ -369,6 +369,19 @@ Before jumping into the kernel, the following conditions must be met:
- ZCR_EL2.LEN must be initialised to the same value for all CPUs the
kernel will execute on.

+ For CPUs with FEAT_Debugv8p9 extension present and >16 breakpoints or
+ watchpoints:
+
+ - If the kernel is entered at EL1 and EL2 is present:
+
+ - HDFGRTR2_EL2.nMDSELR_EL1 (bit 5) must be initialized to 0b1
+ - HDFGWTR2_EL2.nMDSELR_EL1 (bit 5) must be initialized to 0b1
+ - MDCR_EL2.EBWE (bit 43) must be initialized to 0b1
+
+ - If EL3 is present:
+
+ - MDCR_EL3.EBWE (bit 43) must be initialized to 0b1
+
For CPUs with the Scalable Matrix Extension (FEAT_SME):

- If EL3 is present:
diff --git a/arch/arm64/include/asm/el2_setup.h b/arch/arm64/include/asm/el2_setup.h
index 85f4c1615472..b51a280c18c0 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/include/asm/el2_setup.h
+++ b/arch/arm64/include/asm/el2_setup.h
@@ -174,6 +174,13 @@
// to own it.

.Lskip_trace_\@:
+ mrs x1, id_aa64dfr0_el1
+ ubfx x1, x1, #ID_AA64DFR0_EL1_DebugVer_SHIFT, #4
+ cmp x1, #ID_AA64DFR0_EL1_DebugVer_V8P9
+ b.lt .Lskip_dbg_v8p9_\@
+
+ orr x2, x2, #MDCR_EL2_EBWE
+.Lskip_dbg_v8p9_\@:
msr mdcr_el2, x2 // Configure debug traps
.endm

@@ -438,6 +445,13 @@
orr x0, x0, #HDFGRTR2_EL2_nPMSDSFR_EL1

.Lskip_spefds_\@:
+ mrs x1, id_aa64dfr0_el1
+ ubfx x1, x1, #ID_AA64DFR0_EL1_DebugVer_SHIFT, #4
+ cmp x1, #ID_AA64DFR0_EL1_DebugVer_V8P9
+ b.lt .Lskip_dbg_v8p9_\@
+
+ mov_q x0, HDFGWTR2_EL2_nMDSELR_EL1
+.Lskip_dbg_v8p9_\@:
msr_s SYS_HDFGRTR2_EL2, x0
msr_s SYS_HDFGWTR2_EL2, x0
msr_s SYS_HFGRTR2_EL2, xzr

--
2.53.0