[PATCH v3 57/59] KVM: arm/arm64: GICv4: Theory of operations

[Marc Zyngier]

Yet another braindump so I can free some cells...

Signed-off-by: Marc Zyngier <marc.zyngier@xxxxxxx>
---
 virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic-v4.c | 68 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 68 insertions(+)

diff --git a/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic-v4.c b/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic-v4.c
index 0a8deefbcf1c..0c002d2be620 100644
--- a/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic-v4.c
+++ b/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic-v4.c
@@ -22,6 +22,74 @@
 
 #include "vgic.h"
 
+/*
+ * How KVM uses GICv4 (insert rude comments here):
+ *
+ * The vgic-v4 layer acts as a bridge between several entities:
+ * - The GICv4 ITS representation offered by the ITS driver
+ * - VFIO, which is in charge of the PCI endpoint
+ * - The virtual ITS, which is the only thing the guest sees
+ *
+ * The configuration of VLPIs is triggered by a callback from VFIO,
+ * instructing KVM that a PCI device has been configured to deliver
+ * MSIs to a vITS.
+ *
+ * kvm_vgic_v4_set_forwarding() is thus called with the routing entry,
+ * and this is used to find the corresponding vITS data structures
+ * (ITS instance, device, event and irq) using a process that is
+ * extremely similar to the injection of an MSI.
+ *
+ * At this stage, we can link the guest's view of an LPI (uniquely
+ * identified by the routing entry) and the host irq, using the GICv4
+ * driver mapping operation. Should the mapping succeed, we've then
+ * successfully upgraded the guest's LPI to a VLPI. We can then start
+ * with updating GICv4's view of the property table and generating an
+ * INValidation in order to kickstart the delivery of this VLPI to the
+ * guest directly, without software intervention. Well, almost.
+ *
+ * When the PCI endpoint is deconfigured, this operation is reversed
+ * with VFIO calling kvm_vgic_v4_unset_forwarding().
+ *
+ * Once the VLPI has been mapped, it needs to follow any change the
+ * guest performs on its LPI through the vITS. For that, a number of
+ * command handlers have hooks to communicate these changes to the HW:
+ * - Any invalidation triggers a call to its_prop_update_vlpi()
+ * - The INT command results in a irq_set_irqchip_state(), which
+ *   generates an INT on the corresponding VLPI.
+ * - The CLEAR command results in a irq_set_irqchip_state(), which
+ *   generates an CLEAR on the corresponding VLPI.
+ * - DISCARD translates into an unmap, similar to a call to
+ *   kvm_vgic_v4_unset_forwarding().
+ * - MOVI is translated by an update of the existing mapping, changing
+ *   the target vcpu, resulting in a VMOVI being generated.
+ * - MOVALL is translated by a string of mapping updates (similar to
+ *   the handling of MOVI). MOVALL is horrible.
+ *
+ * Note that a DISCARD/MAPTI sequence emitted from the guest without
+ * reprogramming the PCI endpoint after MAPTI does not result in a
+ * VLPI being mapped, as there is no callback from VFIO (the guest
+ * will get the interrupt via the normal SW injection). Fixing this is
+ * not trivial, and requires some horrible messing with the VFIO
+ * internals. Not fun. Don't do that.
+ *
+ * Then there is the scheduling. Each time a vcpu is about to run on a
+ * physical CPU, KVM must tell the corresponding redistributor about
+ * it. And if we've migrated our vcpu from one CPU to another, we must
+ * tell the ITS (so that the messages reach the right redistributor).
+ * This is done in two steps: first issue a irq_set_affinity() on the
+ * irq corresponding to the vcpu, then call its_schedule_vpe(). You
+ * must be in a non-preemptible context. On exit, another call to
+ * its_schedule_vpe() tells the redistributor that we're done with the
+ * vcpu.
+ *
+ * Finally, the doorbell handling: Each vcpu is allocated an interrupt
+ * which will fire each time a VLPI is made pending whilst the vcpu is
+ * not running. Each time the vcpu gets blocked, the doorbell
+ * interrupt gets enabled. When the vcpu is unblocked (for whatever
+ * reason), the doorbell interrupt is disabled. This behaviour is
+ * pretty similar to that of the backgroud timer.
+ */
+
 static irqreturn_t vgic_v4_doorbell_handler(int irq, void *info)
 {
 	struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu = info;
-- 
2.11.0