Re: [PATCH] KVM: VMX: Cache IA32_DEBUGCTL in memory

[Andi Kleen]

Wanpeng Li <kernellwp@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

> From: Wanpeng Li <wanpeng.li@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> MSR_IA32_DEBUGCTLMSR is zeroed on VMEXIT, so it is saved/restored 
> each time during world switch. Jim from Google pointed out that 
> when running schbench in L2, vmx_vcpu_run will occupy 4% cpu time, 
> and the 25% of vmx_vcpu_run cpu time is occupied by get_debugctlmsr(). 
> This patch caches the host IA32_DEBUGCTL MSR and saves/restores 
> the host IA32_DEBUGCTL msr when guest/host switches to avoid to 
> save/restore each time during world switch.

FWIW i've seen this too on L2 profiles.

But I haven't looked too closely, but I suspect you'll clobber global
kernel debugger state this way.

You would at least need some interface for KDB etc. to invalidate
your cache.

-Andi