1 The Definitive KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) API Documentation
2 ===================================================================
7 The kvm API is a set of ioctls that are issued to control various aspects
8 of a virtual machine. The ioctls belong to three classes
10 - System ioctls: These query and set global attributes which affect the
11 whole kvm subsystem. In addition a system ioctl is used to create
14 - VM ioctls: These query and set attributes that affect an entire virtual
15 machine, for example memory layout. In addition a VM ioctl is used to
16 create virtual cpus (vcpus).
18 Only run VM ioctls from the same process (address space) that was used
21 - vcpu ioctls: These query and set attributes that control the operation
22 of a single virtual cpu.
24 Only run vcpu ioctls from the same thread that was used to create the
31 The kvm API is centered around file descriptors. An initial
32 open("/dev/kvm") obtains a handle to the kvm subsystem; this handle
33 can be used to issue system ioctls. A KVM_CREATE_VM ioctl on this
34 handle will create a VM file descriptor which can be used to issue VM
35 ioctls. A KVM_CREATE_VCPU ioctl on a VM fd will create a virtual cpu
36 and return a file descriptor pointing to it. Finally, ioctls on a vcpu
37 fd can be used to control the vcpu, including the important task of
38 actually running guest code.
40 In general file descriptors can be migrated among processes by means
41 of fork() and the SCM_RIGHTS facility of unix domain socket. These
42 kinds of tricks are explicitly not supported by kvm. While they will
43 not cause harm to the host, their actual behavior is not guaranteed by
44 the API. The only supported use is one virtual machine per process,
45 and one vcpu per thread.
51 As of Linux 2.6.22, the KVM ABI has been stabilized: no backward
52 incompatible change are allowed. However, there is an extension
53 facility that allows backward-compatible extensions to the API to be
56 The extension mechanism is not based on the Linux version number.
57 Instead, kvm defines extension identifiers and a facility to query
58 whether a particular extension identifier is available. If it is, a
59 set of ioctls is available for application use.
65 This section describes ioctls that can be used to control kvm guests.
66 For each ioctl, the following information is provided along with a
69 Capability: which KVM extension provides this ioctl. Can be 'basic',
70 which means that is will be provided by any kernel that supports
71 API version 12 (see section 4.1), or a KVM_CAP_xyz constant, which
72 means availability needs to be checked with KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
75 Architectures: which instruction set architectures provide this ioctl.
76 x86 includes both i386 and x86_64.
78 Type: system, vm, or vcpu.
80 Parameters: what parameters are accepted by the ioctl.
82 Returns: the return value. General error numbers (EBADF, ENOMEM, EINVAL)
83 are not detailed, but errors with specific meanings are.
86 4.1 KVM_GET_API_VERSION
92 Returns: the constant KVM_API_VERSION (=12)
94 This identifies the API version as the stable kvm API. It is not
95 expected that this number will change. However, Linux 2.6.20 and
96 2.6.21 report earlier versions; these are not documented and not
97 supported. Applications should refuse to run if KVM_GET_API_VERSION
98 returns a value other than 12. If this check passes, all ioctls
99 described as 'basic' will be available.
107 Parameters: machine type identifier (KVM_VM_*)
108 Returns: a VM fd that can be used to control the new virtual machine.
110 The new VM has no virtual cpus and no memory. An mmap() of a VM fd
111 will access the virtual machine's physical address space; offset zero
112 corresponds to guest physical address zero. Use of mmap() on a VM fd
113 is discouraged if userspace memory allocation (KVM_CAP_USER_MEMORY) is
115 You most certainly want to use 0 as machine type.
117 In order to create user controlled virtual machines on S390, check
118 KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL and use the flag KVM_VM_S390_UCONTROL as
119 privileged user (CAP_SYS_ADMIN).
122 4.3 KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST
127 Parameters: struct kvm_msr_list (in/out)
128 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
130 E2BIG: the msr index list is to be to fit in the array specified by
133 struct kvm_msr_list {
134 __u32 nmsrs; /* number of msrs in entries */
138 This ioctl returns the guest msrs that are supported. The list varies
139 by kvm version and host processor, but does not change otherwise. The
140 user fills in the size of the indices array in nmsrs, and in return
141 kvm adjusts nmsrs to reflect the actual number of msrs and fills in
142 the indices array with their numbers.
144 Note: if kvm indicates supports MCE (KVM_CAP_MCE), then the MCE bank MSRs are
145 not returned in the MSR list, as different vcpus can have a different number
146 of banks, as set via the KVM_X86_SETUP_MCE ioctl.
149 4.4 KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION
151 Capability: basic, KVM_CAP_CHECK_EXTENSION_VM for vm ioctl
153 Type: system ioctl, vm ioctl
154 Parameters: extension identifier (KVM_CAP_*)
155 Returns: 0 if unsupported; 1 (or some other positive integer) if supported
157 The API allows the application to query about extensions to the core
158 kvm API. Userspace passes an extension identifier (an integer) and
159 receives an integer that describes the extension availability.
160 Generally 0 means no and 1 means yes, but some extensions may report
161 additional information in the integer return value.
163 Based on their initialization different VMs may have different capabilities.
164 It is thus encouraged to use the vm ioctl to query for capabilities (available
165 with KVM_CAP_CHECK_EXTENSION_VM on the vm fd)
167 4.5 KVM_GET_VCPU_MMAP_SIZE
173 Returns: size of vcpu mmap area, in bytes
175 The KVM_RUN ioctl (cf.) communicates with userspace via a shared
176 memory region. This ioctl returns the size of that region. See the
177 KVM_RUN documentation for details.
180 4.6 KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION
185 Parameters: struct kvm_memory_region (in)
186 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
188 This ioctl is obsolete and has been removed.
196 Parameters: vcpu id (apic id on x86)
197 Returns: vcpu fd on success, -1 on error
199 This API adds a vcpu to a virtual machine. The vcpu id is a small integer
200 in the range [0, max_vcpus).
202 The recommended max_vcpus value can be retrieved using the KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS of
203 the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl() at run-time.
204 The maximum possible value for max_vcpus can be retrieved using the
205 KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPUS of the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl() at run-time.
207 If the KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS does not exist, you should assume that max_vcpus is 4
209 If the KVM_CAP_MAX_VCPUS does not exist, you should assume that max_vcpus is
210 same as the value returned from KVM_CAP_NR_VCPUS.
212 On powerpc using book3s_hv mode, the vcpus are mapped onto virtual
213 threads in one or more virtual CPU cores. (This is because the
214 hardware requires all the hardware threads in a CPU core to be in the
215 same partition.) The KVM_CAP_PPC_SMT capability indicates the number
216 of vcpus per virtual core (vcore). The vcore id is obtained by
217 dividing the vcpu id by the number of vcpus per vcore. The vcpus in a
218 given vcore will always be in the same physical core as each other
219 (though that might be a different physical core from time to time).
220 Userspace can control the threading (SMT) mode of the guest by its
221 allocation of vcpu ids. For example, if userspace wants
222 single-threaded guest vcpus, it should make all vcpu ids be a multiple
223 of the number of vcpus per vcore.
225 For virtual cpus that have been created with S390 user controlled virtual
226 machines, the resulting vcpu fd can be memory mapped at page offset
227 KVM_S390_SIE_PAGE_OFFSET in order to obtain a memory map of the virtual
228 cpu's hardware control block.
231 4.8 KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG (vm ioctl)
236 Parameters: struct kvm_dirty_log (in/out)
237 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
239 /* for KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG */
240 struct kvm_dirty_log {
244 void __user *dirty_bitmap; /* one bit per page */
249 Given a memory slot, return a bitmap containing any pages dirtied
250 since the last call to this ioctl. Bit 0 is the first page in the
251 memory slot. Ensure the entire structure is cleared to avoid padding
255 4.9 KVM_SET_MEMORY_ALIAS
260 Parameters: struct kvm_memory_alias (in)
261 Returns: 0 (success), -1 (error)
263 This ioctl is obsolete and has been removed.
272 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
274 EINTR: an unmasked signal is pending
276 This ioctl is used to run a guest virtual cpu. While there are no
277 explicit parameters, there is an implicit parameter block that can be
278 obtained by mmap()ing the vcpu fd at offset 0, with the size given by
279 KVM_GET_VCPU_MMAP_SIZE. The parameter block is formatted as a 'struct
280 kvm_run' (see below).
286 Architectures: all except ARM, arm64
288 Parameters: struct kvm_regs (out)
289 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
291 Reads the general purpose registers from the vcpu.
295 /* out (KVM_GET_REGS) / in (KVM_SET_REGS) */
296 __u64 rax, rbx, rcx, rdx;
297 __u64 rsi, rdi, rsp, rbp;
298 __u64 r8, r9, r10, r11;
299 __u64 r12, r13, r14, r15;
305 /* out (KVM_GET_REGS) / in (KVM_SET_REGS) */
316 Architectures: all except ARM, arm64
318 Parameters: struct kvm_regs (in)
319 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
321 Writes the general purpose registers into the vcpu.
323 See KVM_GET_REGS for the data structure.
329 Architectures: x86, ppc
331 Parameters: struct kvm_sregs (out)
332 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
334 Reads special registers from the vcpu.
338 struct kvm_segment cs, ds, es, fs, gs, ss;
339 struct kvm_segment tr, ldt;
340 struct kvm_dtable gdt, idt;
341 __u64 cr0, cr2, cr3, cr4, cr8;
344 __u64 interrupt_bitmap[(KVM_NR_INTERRUPTS + 63) / 64];
347 /* ppc -- see arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h */
349 interrupt_bitmap is a bitmap of pending external interrupts. At most
350 one bit may be set. This interrupt has been acknowledged by the APIC
351 but not yet injected into the cpu core.
357 Architectures: x86, ppc
359 Parameters: struct kvm_sregs (in)
360 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
362 Writes special registers into the vcpu. See KVM_GET_SREGS for the
371 Parameters: struct kvm_translation (in/out)
372 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
374 Translates a virtual address according to the vcpu's current address
377 struct kvm_translation {
379 __u64 linear_address;
382 __u64 physical_address;
393 Architectures: x86, ppc, mips
395 Parameters: struct kvm_interrupt (in)
396 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
398 Queues a hardware interrupt vector to be injected. This is only
399 useful if in-kernel local APIC or equivalent is not used.
401 /* for KVM_INTERRUPT */
402 struct kvm_interrupt {
409 Note 'irq' is an interrupt vector, not an interrupt pin or line.
413 Queues an external interrupt to be injected. This ioctl is overleaded
414 with 3 different irq values:
418 This injects an edge type external interrupt into the guest once it's ready
419 to receive interrupts. When injected, the interrupt is done.
421 b) KVM_INTERRUPT_UNSET
423 This unsets any pending interrupt.
425 Only available with KVM_CAP_PPC_UNSET_IRQ.
427 c) KVM_INTERRUPT_SET_LEVEL
429 This injects a level type external interrupt into the guest context. The
430 interrupt stays pending until a specific ioctl with KVM_INTERRUPT_UNSET
433 Only available with KVM_CAP_PPC_IRQ_LEVEL.
435 Note that any value for 'irq' other than the ones stated above is invalid
436 and incurs unexpected behavior.
440 Queues an external interrupt to be injected into the virtual CPU. A negative
441 interrupt number dequeues the interrupt.
452 Support for this has been removed. Use KVM_SET_GUEST_DEBUG instead.
460 Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in/out)
461 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
463 Reads model-specific registers from the vcpu. Supported msr indices can
464 be obtained using KVM_GET_MSR_INDEX_LIST.
467 __u32 nmsrs; /* number of msrs in entries */
470 struct kvm_msr_entry entries[0];
473 struct kvm_msr_entry {
479 Application code should set the 'nmsrs' member (which indicates the
480 size of the entries array) and the 'index' member of each array entry.
481 kvm will fill in the 'data' member.
489 Parameters: struct kvm_msrs (in)
490 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
492 Writes model-specific registers to the vcpu. See KVM_GET_MSRS for the
495 Application code should set the 'nmsrs' member (which indicates the
496 size of the entries array), and the 'index' and 'data' members of each
505 Parameters: struct kvm_cpuid (in)
506 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
508 Defines the vcpu responses to the cpuid instruction. Applications
509 should use the KVM_SET_CPUID2 ioctl if available.
512 struct kvm_cpuid_entry {
521 /* for KVM_SET_CPUID */
525 struct kvm_cpuid_entry entries[0];
529 4.21 KVM_SET_SIGNAL_MASK
534 Parameters: struct kvm_signal_mask (in)
535 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
537 Defines which signals are blocked during execution of KVM_RUN. This
538 signal mask temporarily overrides the threads signal mask. Any
539 unblocked signal received (except SIGKILL and SIGSTOP, which retain
540 their traditional behaviour) will cause KVM_RUN to return with -EINTR.
542 Note the signal will only be delivered if not blocked by the original
545 /* for KVM_SET_SIGNAL_MASK */
546 struct kvm_signal_mask {
557 Parameters: struct kvm_fpu (out)
558 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
560 Reads the floating point state from the vcpu.
562 /* for KVM_GET_FPU and KVM_SET_FPU */
567 __u8 ftwx; /* in fxsave format */
583 Parameters: struct kvm_fpu (in)
584 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
586 Writes the floating point state to the vcpu.
588 /* for KVM_GET_FPU and KVM_SET_FPU */
593 __u8 ftwx; /* in fxsave format */
604 4.24 KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP
606 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP, KVM_CAP_S390_IRQCHIP (s390)
607 Architectures: x86, ia64, ARM, arm64, s390
610 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
612 Creates an interrupt controller model in the kernel. On x86, creates a virtual
613 ioapic, a virtual PIC (two PICs, nested), and sets up future vcpus to have a
614 local APIC. IRQ routing for GSIs 0-15 is set to both PIC and IOAPIC; GSI 16-23
615 only go to the IOAPIC. On ia64, a IOSAPIC is created. On ARM/arm64, a GIC is
616 created. On s390, a dummy irq routing table is created.
618 Note that on s390 the KVM_CAP_S390_IRQCHIP vm capability needs to be enabled
619 before KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP can be used.
624 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
625 Architectures: x86, ia64, arm, arm64
627 Parameters: struct kvm_irq_level
628 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
630 Sets the level of a GSI input to the interrupt controller model in the kernel.
631 On some architectures it is required that an interrupt controller model has
632 been previously created with KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Note that edge-triggered
633 interrupts require the level to be set to 1 and then back to 0.
635 On real hardware, interrupt pins can be active-low or active-high. This
636 does not matter for the level field of struct kvm_irq_level: 1 always
637 means active (asserted), 0 means inactive (deasserted).
639 x86 allows the operating system to program the interrupt polarity
640 (active-low/active-high) for level-triggered interrupts, and KVM used
641 to consider the polarity. However, due to bitrot in the handling of
642 active-low interrupts, the above convention is now valid on x86 too.
643 This is signaled by KVM_CAP_X86_IOAPIC_POLARITY_IGNORED. Userspace
644 should not present interrupts to the guest as active-low unless this
645 capability is present (or unless it is not using the in-kernel irqchip,
649 ARM/arm64 can signal an interrupt either at the CPU level, or at the
650 in-kernel irqchip (GIC), and for in-kernel irqchip can tell the GIC to
651 use PPIs designated for specific cpus. The irq field is interpreted
654 Â bits: | 31 ... 24 | 23 ... 16 | 15 ... 0 |
655 field: | irq_type | vcpu_index | irq_id |
657 The irq_type field has the following values:
658 - irq_type[0]: out-of-kernel GIC: irq_id 0 is IRQ, irq_id 1 is FIQ
659 - irq_type[1]: in-kernel GIC: SPI, irq_id between 32 and 1019 (incl.)
660 (the vcpu_index field is ignored)
661 - irq_type[2]: in-kernel GIC: PPI, irq_id between 16 and 31 (incl.)
663 (The irq_id field thus corresponds nicely to the IRQ ID in the ARM GIC specs)
665 In both cases, level is used to assert/deassert the line.
667 struct kvm_irq_level {
670 __s32 status; /* not used for KVM_IRQ_LEVEL */
672 __u32 level; /* 0 or 1 */
678 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
679 Architectures: x86, ia64
681 Parameters: struct kvm_irqchip (in/out)
682 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
684 Reads the state of a kernel interrupt controller created with
685 KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP into a buffer provided by the caller.
688 __u32 chip_id; /* 0 = PIC1, 1 = PIC2, 2 = IOAPIC */
691 char dummy[512]; /* reserving space */
692 struct kvm_pic_state pic;
693 struct kvm_ioapic_state ioapic;
700 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
701 Architectures: x86, ia64
703 Parameters: struct kvm_irqchip (in)
704 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
706 Sets the state of a kernel interrupt controller created with
707 KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP from a buffer provided by the caller.
710 __u32 chip_id; /* 0 = PIC1, 1 = PIC2, 2 = IOAPIC */
713 char dummy[512]; /* reserving space */
714 struct kvm_pic_state pic;
715 struct kvm_ioapic_state ioapic;
720 4.28 KVM_XEN_HVM_CONFIG
722 Capability: KVM_CAP_XEN_HVM
725 Parameters: struct kvm_xen_hvm_config (in)
726 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
728 Sets the MSR that the Xen HVM guest uses to initialize its hypercall
729 page, and provides the starting address and size of the hypercall
730 blobs in userspace. When the guest writes the MSR, kvm copies one
731 page of a blob (32- or 64-bit, depending on the vcpu mode) to guest
734 struct kvm_xen_hvm_config {
747 Capability: KVM_CAP_ADJUST_CLOCK
750 Parameters: struct kvm_clock_data (out)
751 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
753 Gets the current timestamp of kvmclock as seen by the current guest. In
754 conjunction with KVM_SET_CLOCK, it is used to ensure monotonicity on scenarios
757 struct kvm_clock_data {
758 __u64 clock; /* kvmclock current value */
766 Capability: KVM_CAP_ADJUST_CLOCK
769 Parameters: struct kvm_clock_data (in)
770 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
772 Sets the current timestamp of kvmclock to the value specified in its parameter.
773 In conjunction with KVM_GET_CLOCK, it is used to ensure monotonicity on scenarios
776 struct kvm_clock_data {
777 __u64 clock; /* kvmclock current value */
783 4.31 KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS
785 Capability: KVM_CAP_VCPU_EVENTS
786 Extended by: KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW
789 Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_event (out)
790 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
792 Gets currently pending exceptions, interrupts, and NMIs as well as related
795 struct kvm_vcpu_events {
819 KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SHADOW may be set in the flags field to signal that
820 interrupt.shadow contains a valid state. Otherwise, this field is undefined.
823 4.32 KVM_SET_VCPU_EVENTS
825 Capability: KVM_CAP_VCPU_EVENTS
826 Extended by: KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW
829 Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_event (in)
830 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
832 Set pending exceptions, interrupts, and NMIs as well as related states of the
835 See KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS for the data structure.
837 Fields that may be modified asynchronously by running VCPUs can be excluded
838 from the update. These fields are nmi.pending and sipi_vector. Keep the
839 corresponding bits in the flags field cleared to suppress overwriting the
840 current in-kernel state. The bits are:
842 KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_NMI_PENDING - transfer nmi.pending to the kernel
843 KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SIPI_VECTOR - transfer sipi_vector
845 If KVM_CAP_INTR_SHADOW is available, KVM_VCPUEVENT_VALID_SHADOW can be set in
846 the flags field to signal that interrupt.shadow contains a valid state and
847 shall be written into the VCPU.
850 4.33 KVM_GET_DEBUGREGS
852 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEBUGREGS
855 Parameters: struct kvm_debugregs (out)
856 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
858 Reads debug registers from the vcpu.
860 struct kvm_debugregs {
869 4.34 KVM_SET_DEBUGREGS
871 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEBUGREGS
874 Parameters: struct kvm_debugregs (in)
875 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
877 Writes debug registers into the vcpu.
879 See KVM_GET_DEBUGREGS for the data structure. The flags field is unused
880 yet and must be cleared on entry.
883 4.35 KVM_SET_USER_MEMORY_REGION
885 Capability: KVM_CAP_USER_MEM
888 Parameters: struct kvm_userspace_memory_region (in)
889 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
891 struct kvm_userspace_memory_region {
894 __u64 guest_phys_addr;
895 __u64 memory_size; /* bytes */
896 __u64 userspace_addr; /* start of the userspace allocated memory */
899 /* for kvm_memory_region::flags */
900 #define KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES (1UL << 0)
901 #define KVM_MEM_READONLY (1UL << 1)
903 This ioctl allows the user to create or modify a guest physical memory
904 slot. When changing an existing slot, it may be moved in the guest
905 physical memory space, or its flags may be modified. It may not be
906 resized. Slots may not overlap in guest physical address space.
908 Memory for the region is taken starting at the address denoted by the
909 field userspace_addr, which must point at user addressable memory for
910 the entire memory slot size. Any object may back this memory, including
911 anonymous memory, ordinary files, and hugetlbfs.
913 It is recommended that the lower 21 bits of guest_phys_addr and userspace_addr
914 be identical. This allows large pages in the guest to be backed by large
917 The flags field supports two flags: KVM_MEM_LOG_DIRTY_PAGES and
918 KVM_MEM_READONLY. The former can be set to instruct KVM to keep track of
919 writes to memory within the slot. See KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG ioctl to know how to
920 use it. The latter can be set, if KVM_CAP_READONLY_MEM capability allows it,
921 to make a new slot read-only. In this case, writes to this memory will be
922 posted to userspace as KVM_EXIT_MMIO exits.
924 When the KVM_CAP_SYNC_MMU capability is available, changes in the backing of
925 the memory region are automatically reflected into the guest. For example, an
926 mmap() that affects the region will be made visible immediately. Another
927 example is madvise(MADV_DROP).
929 It is recommended to use this API instead of the KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION ioctl.
930 The KVM_SET_MEMORY_REGION does not allow fine grained control over memory
931 allocation and is deprecated.
934 4.36 KVM_SET_TSS_ADDR
936 Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_TSS_ADDR
939 Parameters: unsigned long tss_address (in)
940 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
942 This ioctl defines the physical address of a three-page region in the guest
943 physical address space. The region must be within the first 4GB of the
944 guest physical address space and must not conflict with any memory slot
945 or any mmio address. The guest may malfunction if it accesses this memory
948 This ioctl is required on Intel-based hosts. This is needed on Intel hardware
949 because of a quirk in the virtualization implementation (see the internals
950 documentation when it pops into existence).
955 Capability: KVM_CAP_ENABLE_CAP, KVM_CAP_ENABLE_CAP_VM
956 Architectures: ppc, s390
957 Type: vcpu ioctl, vm ioctl (with KVM_CAP_ENABLE_CAP_VM)
958 Parameters: struct kvm_enable_cap (in)
959 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
961 +Not all extensions are enabled by default. Using this ioctl the application
962 can enable an extension, making it available to the guest.
964 On systems that do not support this ioctl, it always fails. On systems that
965 do support it, it only works for extensions that are supported for enablement.
967 To check if a capability can be enabled, the KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION ioctl should
970 struct kvm_enable_cap {
974 The capability that is supposed to get enabled.
978 A bitfield indicating future enhancements. Has to be 0 for now.
982 Arguments for enabling a feature. If a feature needs initial values to
983 function properly, this is the place to put them.
988 The vcpu ioctl should be used for vcpu-specific capabilities, the vm ioctl
989 for vm-wide capabilities.
991 4.38 KVM_GET_MP_STATE
993 Capability: KVM_CAP_MP_STATE
994 Architectures: x86, ia64, s390
996 Parameters: struct kvm_mp_state (out)
997 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
999 struct kvm_mp_state {
1003 Returns the vcpu's current "multiprocessing state" (though also valid on
1004 uniprocessor guests).
1006 Possible values are:
1008 - KVM_MP_STATE_RUNNABLE: the vcpu is currently running [x86, ia64]
1009 - KVM_MP_STATE_UNINITIALIZED: the vcpu is an application processor (AP)
1010 which has not yet received an INIT signal [x86,
1012 - KVM_MP_STATE_INIT_RECEIVED: the vcpu has received an INIT signal, and is
1013 now ready for a SIPI [x86, ia64]
1014 - KVM_MP_STATE_HALTED: the vcpu has executed a HLT instruction and
1015 is waiting for an interrupt [x86, ia64]
1016 - KVM_MP_STATE_SIPI_RECEIVED: the vcpu has just received a SIPI (vector
1017 accessible via KVM_GET_VCPU_EVENTS) [x86, ia64]
1018 - KVM_MP_STATE_STOPPED: the vcpu is stopped [s390]
1019 - KVM_MP_STATE_CHECK_STOP: the vcpu is in a special error state [s390]
1020 - KVM_MP_STATE_OPERATING: the vcpu is operating (running or halted)
1022 - KVM_MP_STATE_LOAD: the vcpu is in a special load/startup state
1025 On x86 and ia64, this ioctl is only useful after KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Without an
1026 in-kernel irqchip, the multiprocessing state must be maintained by userspace on
1027 these architectures.
1030 4.39 KVM_SET_MP_STATE
1032 Capability: KVM_CAP_MP_STATE
1033 Architectures: x86, ia64, s390
1035 Parameters: struct kvm_mp_state (in)
1036 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
1038 Sets the vcpu's current "multiprocessing state"; see KVM_GET_MP_STATE for
1041 On x86 and ia64, this ioctl is only useful after KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. Without an
1042 in-kernel irqchip, the multiprocessing state must be maintained by userspace on
1043 these architectures.
1046 4.40 KVM_SET_IDENTITY_MAP_ADDR
1048 Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_IDENTITY_MAP_ADDR
1051 Parameters: unsigned long identity (in)
1052 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1054 This ioctl defines the physical address of a one-page region in the guest
1055 physical address space. The region must be within the first 4GB of the
1056 guest physical address space and must not conflict with any memory slot
1057 or any mmio address. The guest may malfunction if it accesses this memory
1060 This ioctl is required on Intel-based hosts. This is needed on Intel hardware
1061 because of a quirk in the virtualization implementation (see the internals
1062 documentation when it pops into existence).
1065 4.41 KVM_SET_BOOT_CPU_ID
1067 Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_BOOT_CPU_ID
1068 Architectures: x86, ia64
1070 Parameters: unsigned long vcpu_id
1071 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1073 Define which vcpu is the Bootstrap Processor (BSP). Values are the same
1074 as the vcpu id in KVM_CREATE_VCPU. If this ioctl is not called, the default
1080 Capability: KVM_CAP_XSAVE
1083 Parameters: struct kvm_xsave (out)
1084 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1090 This ioctl would copy current vcpu's xsave struct to the userspace.
1095 Capability: KVM_CAP_XSAVE
1098 Parameters: struct kvm_xsave (in)
1099 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1105 This ioctl would copy userspace's xsave struct to the kernel.
1110 Capability: KVM_CAP_XCRS
1113 Parameters: struct kvm_xcrs (out)
1114 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1125 struct kvm_xcr xcrs[KVM_MAX_XCRS];
1129 This ioctl would copy current vcpu's xcrs to the userspace.
1134 Capability: KVM_CAP_XCRS
1137 Parameters: struct kvm_xcrs (in)
1138 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1149 struct kvm_xcr xcrs[KVM_MAX_XCRS];
1153 This ioctl would set vcpu's xcr to the value userspace specified.
1156 4.46 KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID
1158 Capability: KVM_CAP_EXT_CPUID
1161 Parameters: struct kvm_cpuid2 (in/out)
1162 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1167 struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 entries[0];
1170 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX BIT(0)
1171 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC BIT(1)
1172 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT BIT(2)
1174 struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 {
1185 This ioctl returns x86 cpuid features which are supported by both the hardware
1186 and kvm. Userspace can use the information returned by this ioctl to
1187 construct cpuid information (for KVM_SET_CPUID2) that is consistent with
1188 hardware, kernel, and userspace capabilities, and with user requirements (for
1189 example, the user may wish to constrain cpuid to emulate older hardware,
1190 or for feature consistency across a cluster).
1192 Userspace invokes KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID by passing a kvm_cpuid2 structure
1193 with the 'nent' field indicating the number of entries in the variable-size
1194 array 'entries'. If the number of entries is too low to describe the cpu
1195 capabilities, an error (E2BIG) is returned. If the number is too high,
1196 the 'nent' field is adjusted and an error (ENOMEM) is returned. If the
1197 number is just right, the 'nent' field is adjusted to the number of valid
1198 entries in the 'entries' array, which is then filled.
1200 The entries returned are the host cpuid as returned by the cpuid instruction,
1201 with unknown or unsupported features masked out. Some features (for example,
1202 x2apic), may not be present in the host cpu, but are exposed by kvm if it can
1203 emulate them efficiently. The fields in each entry are defined as follows:
1205 function: the eax value used to obtain the entry
1206 index: the ecx value used to obtain the entry (for entries that are
1208 flags: an OR of zero or more of the following:
1209 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX:
1210 if the index field is valid
1211 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC:
1212 if cpuid for this function returns different values for successive
1213 invocations; there will be several entries with the same function,
1214 all with this flag set
1215 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT:
1216 for KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC entries, set if this entry is
1217 the first entry to be read by a cpu
1218 eax, ebx, ecx, edx: the values returned by the cpuid instruction for
1219 this function/index combination
1221 The TSC deadline timer feature (CPUID leaf 1, ecx[24]) is always returned
1222 as false, since the feature depends on KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP for local APIC
1223 support. Instead it is reported via
1225 ioctl(KVM_CHECK_EXTENSION, KVM_CAP_TSC_DEADLINE_TIMER)
1227 if that returns true and you use KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP, or if you emulate the
1228 feature in userspace, then you can enable the feature for KVM_SET_CPUID2.
1231 4.47 KVM_PPC_GET_PVINFO
1233 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_GET_PVINFO
1236 Parameters: struct kvm_ppc_pvinfo (out)
1237 Returns: 0 on success, !0 on error
1239 struct kvm_ppc_pvinfo {
1245 This ioctl fetches PV specific information that need to be passed to the guest
1246 using the device tree or other means from vm context.
1248 The hcall array defines 4 instructions that make up a hypercall.
1250 If any additional field gets added to this structure later on, a bit for that
1251 additional piece of information will be set in the flags bitmap.
1253 The flags bitmap is defined as:
1255 /* the host supports the ePAPR idle hcall
1256 #define KVM_PPC_PVINFO_FLAGS_EV_IDLE (1<<0)
1258 4.48 KVM_ASSIGN_PCI_DEVICE
1260 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_ASSIGNMENT
1261 Architectures: x86 ia64
1263 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
1264 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1266 Assigns a host PCI device to the VM.
1268 struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev {
1269 __u32 assigned_dev_id;
1279 The PCI device is specified by the triple segnr, busnr, and devfn.
1280 Identification in succeeding service requests is done via assigned_dev_id. The
1281 following flags are specified:
1283 /* Depends on KVM_CAP_IOMMU */
1284 #define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_ENABLE_IOMMU (1 << 0)
1285 /* The following two depend on KVM_CAP_PCI_2_3 */
1286 #define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_PCI_2_3 (1 << 1)
1287 #define KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX (1 << 2)
1289 If KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_PCI_2_3 is set, the kernel will manage legacy INTx interrupts
1290 via the PCI-2.3-compliant device-level mask, thus enable IRQ sharing with other
1291 assigned devices or host devices. KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX specifies the
1292 guest's view on the INTx mask, see KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK for details.
1294 The KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_ENABLE_IOMMU flag is a mandatory option to ensure
1295 isolation of the device. Usages not specifying this flag are deprecated.
1297 Only PCI header type 0 devices with PCI BAR resources are supported by
1298 device assignment. The user requesting this ioctl must have read/write
1299 access to the PCI sysfs resource files associated with the device.
1302 4.49 KVM_DEASSIGN_PCI_DEVICE
1304 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_DEASSIGNMENT
1305 Architectures: x86 ia64
1307 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
1308 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1310 Ends PCI device assignment, releasing all associated resources.
1312 See KVM_CAP_DEVICE_ASSIGNMENT for the data structure. Only assigned_dev_id is
1313 used in kvm_assigned_pci_dev to identify the device.
1316 4.50 KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
1318 Capability: KVM_CAP_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
1319 Architectures: x86 ia64
1321 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_irq (in)
1322 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1324 Assigns an IRQ to a passed-through device.
1326 struct kvm_assigned_irq {
1327 __u32 assigned_dev_id;
1328 __u32 host_irq; /* ignored (legacy field) */
1336 The following flags are defined:
1338 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_INTX (1 << 0)
1339 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_MSI (1 << 1)
1340 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_HOST_MSIX (1 << 2)
1342 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_INTX (1 << 8)
1343 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_MSI (1 << 9)
1344 #define KVM_DEV_IRQ_GUEST_MSIX (1 << 10)
1346 It is not valid to specify multiple types per host or guest IRQ. However, the
1347 IRQ type of host and guest can differ or can even be null.
1350 4.51 KVM_DEASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
1352 Capability: KVM_CAP_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ
1353 Architectures: x86 ia64
1355 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_irq (in)
1356 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1358 Ends an IRQ assignment to a passed-through device.
1360 See KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ for the data structure. The target device is specified
1361 by assigned_dev_id, flags must correspond to the IRQ type specified on
1362 KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ. Partial deassignment of host or guest IRQ is allowed.
1365 4.52 KVM_SET_GSI_ROUTING
1367 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQ_ROUTING
1368 Architectures: x86 ia64 s390
1370 Parameters: struct kvm_irq_routing (in)
1371 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1373 Sets the GSI routing table entries, overwriting any previously set entries.
1375 struct kvm_irq_routing {
1378 struct kvm_irq_routing_entry entries[0];
1381 No flags are specified so far, the corresponding field must be set to zero.
1383 struct kvm_irq_routing_entry {
1389 struct kvm_irq_routing_irqchip irqchip;
1390 struct kvm_irq_routing_msi msi;
1391 struct kvm_irq_routing_s390_adapter adapter;
1396 /* gsi routing entry types */
1397 #define KVM_IRQ_ROUTING_IRQCHIP 1
1398 #define KVM_IRQ_ROUTING_MSI 2
1399 #define KVM_IRQ_ROUTING_S390_ADAPTER 3
1401 No flags are specified so far, the corresponding field must be set to zero.
1403 struct kvm_irq_routing_irqchip {
1408 struct kvm_irq_routing_msi {
1415 struct kvm_irq_routing_s390_adapter {
1419 __u32 summary_offset;
1424 4.53 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_MSIX_NR
1426 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_MSIX
1427 Architectures: x86 ia64
1429 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_msix_nr (in)
1430 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1432 Set the number of MSI-X interrupts for an assigned device. The number is
1433 reset again by terminating the MSI-X assignment of the device via
1434 KVM_DEASSIGN_DEV_IRQ. Calling this service more than once at any earlier
1437 struct kvm_assigned_msix_nr {
1438 __u32 assigned_dev_id;
1443 #define KVM_MAX_MSIX_PER_DEV 256
1446 4.54 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_MSIX_ENTRY
1448 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_MSIX
1449 Architectures: x86 ia64
1451 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_msix_entry (in)
1452 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1454 Specifies the routing of an MSI-X assigned device interrupt to a GSI. Setting
1455 the GSI vector to zero means disabling the interrupt.
1457 struct kvm_assigned_msix_entry {
1458 __u32 assigned_dev_id;
1460 __u16 entry; /* The index of entry in the MSI-X table */
1465 4.55 KVM_SET_TSC_KHZ
1467 Capability: KVM_CAP_TSC_CONTROL
1470 Parameters: virtual tsc_khz
1471 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1473 Specifies the tsc frequency for the virtual machine. The unit of the
1477 4.56 KVM_GET_TSC_KHZ
1479 Capability: KVM_CAP_GET_TSC_KHZ
1483 Returns: virtual tsc-khz on success, negative value on error
1485 Returns the tsc frequency of the guest. The unit of the return value is
1486 KHz. If the host has unstable tsc this ioctl returns -EIO instead as an
1492 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
1495 Parameters: struct kvm_lapic_state (out)
1496 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1498 #define KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE 0x400
1499 struct kvm_lapic_state {
1500 char regs[KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE];
1503 Reads the Local APIC registers and copies them into the input argument. The
1504 data format and layout are the same as documented in the architecture manual.
1509 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQCHIP
1512 Parameters: struct kvm_lapic_state (in)
1513 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1515 #define KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE 0x400
1516 struct kvm_lapic_state {
1517 char regs[KVM_APIC_REG_SIZE];
1520 Copies the input argument into the Local APIC registers. The data format
1521 and layout are the same as documented in the architecture manual.
1526 Capability: KVM_CAP_IOEVENTFD
1529 Parameters: struct kvm_ioeventfd (in)
1530 Returns: 0 on success, !0 on error
1532 This ioctl attaches or detaches an ioeventfd to a legal pio/mmio address
1533 within the guest. A guest write in the registered address will signal the
1534 provided event instead of triggering an exit.
1536 struct kvm_ioeventfd {
1538 __u64 addr; /* legal pio/mmio address */
1539 __u32 len; /* 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes */
1545 For the special case of virtio-ccw devices on s390, the ioevent is matched
1546 to a subchannel/virtqueue tuple instead.
1548 The following flags are defined:
1550 #define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_DATAMATCH (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_datamatch)
1551 #define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_PIO (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_pio)
1552 #define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_deassign)
1553 #define KVM_IOEVENTFD_FLAG_VIRTIO_CCW_NOTIFY \
1554 (1 << kvm_ioeventfd_flag_nr_virtio_ccw_notify)
1556 If datamatch flag is set, the event will be signaled only if the written value
1557 to the registered address is equal to datamatch in struct kvm_ioeventfd.
1559 For virtio-ccw devices, addr contains the subchannel id and datamatch the
1565 Capability: KVM_CAP_SW_TLB
1568 Parameters: struct kvm_dirty_tlb (in)
1569 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1571 struct kvm_dirty_tlb {
1576 This must be called whenever userspace has changed an entry in the shared
1577 TLB, prior to calling KVM_RUN on the associated vcpu.
1579 The "bitmap" field is the userspace address of an array. This array
1580 consists of a number of bits, equal to the total number of TLB entries as
1581 determined by the last successful call to KVM_CONFIG_TLB, rounded up to the
1582 nearest multiple of 64.
1584 Each bit corresponds to one TLB entry, ordered the same as in the shared TLB
1587 The array is little-endian: the bit 0 is the least significant bit of the
1588 first byte, bit 8 is the least significant bit of the second byte, etc.
1589 This avoids any complications with differing word sizes.
1591 The "num_dirty" field is a performance hint for KVM to determine whether it
1592 should skip processing the bitmap and just invalidate everything. It must
1593 be set to the number of set bits in the bitmap.
1596 4.61 KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK
1598 Capability: KVM_CAP_PCI_2_3
1601 Parameters: struct kvm_assigned_pci_dev (in)
1602 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1604 Allows userspace to mask PCI INTx interrupts from the assigned device. The
1605 kernel will not deliver INTx interrupts to the guest between setting and
1606 clearing of KVM_ASSIGN_SET_INTX_MASK via this interface. This enables use of
1607 and emulation of PCI 2.3 INTx disable command register behavior.
1609 This may be used for both PCI 2.3 devices supporting INTx disable natively and
1610 older devices lacking this support. Userspace is responsible for emulating the
1611 read value of the INTx disable bit in the guest visible PCI command register.
1612 When modifying the INTx disable state, userspace should precede updating the
1613 physical device command register by calling this ioctl to inform the kernel of
1614 the new intended INTx mask state.
1616 Note that the kernel uses the device INTx disable bit to internally manage the
1617 device interrupt state for PCI 2.3 devices. Reads of this register may
1618 therefore not match the expected value. Writes should always use the guest
1619 intended INTx disable value rather than attempting to read-copy-update the
1620 current physical device state. Races between user and kernel updates to the
1621 INTx disable bit are handled lazily in the kernel. It's possible the device
1622 may generate unintended interrupts, but they will not be injected into the
1625 See KVM_ASSIGN_DEV_IRQ for the data structure. The target device is specified
1626 by assigned_dev_id. In the flags field, only KVM_DEV_ASSIGN_MASK_INTX is
1630 4.62 KVM_CREATE_SPAPR_TCE
1632 Capability: KVM_CAP_SPAPR_TCE
1633 Architectures: powerpc
1635 Parameters: struct kvm_create_spapr_tce (in)
1636 Returns: file descriptor for manipulating the created TCE table
1638 This creates a virtual TCE (translation control entry) table, which
1639 is an IOMMU for PAPR-style virtual I/O. It is used to translate
1640 logical addresses used in virtual I/O into guest physical addresses,
1641 and provides a scatter/gather capability for PAPR virtual I/O.
1643 /* for KVM_CAP_SPAPR_TCE */
1644 struct kvm_create_spapr_tce {
1649 The liobn field gives the logical IO bus number for which to create a
1650 TCE table. The window_size field specifies the size of the DMA window
1651 which this TCE table will translate - the table will contain one 64
1652 bit TCE entry for every 4kiB of the DMA window.
1654 When the guest issues an H_PUT_TCE hcall on a liobn for which a TCE
1655 table has been created using this ioctl(), the kernel will handle it
1656 in real mode, updating the TCE table. H_PUT_TCE calls for other
1657 liobns will cause a vm exit and must be handled by userspace.
1659 The return value is a file descriptor which can be passed to mmap(2)
1660 to map the created TCE table into userspace. This lets userspace read
1661 the entries written by kernel-handled H_PUT_TCE calls, and also lets
1662 userspace update the TCE table directly which is useful in some
1666 4.63 KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA
1668 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_RMA
1669 Architectures: powerpc
1671 Parameters: struct kvm_allocate_rma (out)
1672 Returns: file descriptor for mapping the allocated RMA
1674 This allocates a Real Mode Area (RMA) from the pool allocated at boot
1675 time by the kernel. An RMA is a physically-contiguous, aligned region
1676 of memory used on older POWER processors to provide the memory which
1677 will be accessed by real-mode (MMU off) accesses in a KVM guest.
1678 POWER processors support a set of sizes for the RMA that usually
1679 includes 64MB, 128MB, 256MB and some larger powers of two.
1681 /* for KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA */
1682 struct kvm_allocate_rma {
1686 The return value is a file descriptor which can be passed to mmap(2)
1687 to map the allocated RMA into userspace. The mapped area can then be
1688 passed to the KVM_SET_USER_MEMORY_REGION ioctl to establish it as the
1689 RMA for a virtual machine. The size of the RMA in bytes (which is
1690 fixed at host kernel boot time) is returned in the rma_size field of
1691 the argument structure.
1693 The KVM_CAP_PPC_RMA capability is 1 or 2 if the KVM_ALLOCATE_RMA ioctl
1694 is supported; 2 if the processor requires all virtual machines to have
1695 an RMA, or 1 if the processor can use an RMA but doesn't require it,
1696 because it supports the Virtual RMA (VRMA) facility.
1701 Capability: KVM_CAP_USER_NMI
1705 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
1707 Queues an NMI on the thread's vcpu. Note this is well defined only
1708 when KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP has not been called, since this is an interface
1709 between the virtual cpu core and virtual local APIC. After KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP
1710 has been called, this interface is completely emulated within the kernel.
1712 To use this to emulate the LINT1 input with KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP, use the
1713 following algorithm:
1716 - read the local APIC's state (KVM_GET_LAPIC)
1717 - check whether changing LINT1 will queue an NMI (see the LVT entry for LINT1)
1718 - if so, issue KVM_NMI
1721 Some guests configure the LINT1 NMI input to cause a panic, aiding in
1725 4.65 KVM_S390_UCAS_MAP
1727 Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
1730 Parameters: struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping (in)
1731 Returns: 0 in case of success
1733 The parameter is defined like this:
1734 struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping {
1740 This ioctl maps the memory at "user_addr" with the length "length" to
1741 the vcpu's address space starting at "vcpu_addr". All parameters need to
1742 be aligned by 1 megabyte.
1745 4.66 KVM_S390_UCAS_UNMAP
1747 Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
1750 Parameters: struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping (in)
1751 Returns: 0 in case of success
1753 The parameter is defined like this:
1754 struct kvm_s390_ucas_mapping {
1760 This ioctl unmaps the memory in the vcpu's address space starting at
1761 "vcpu_addr" with the length "length". The field "user_addr" is ignored.
1762 All parameters need to be aligned by 1 megabyte.
1765 4.67 KVM_S390_VCPU_FAULT
1767 Capability: KVM_CAP_S390_UCONTROL
1770 Parameters: vcpu absolute address (in)
1771 Returns: 0 in case of success
1773 This call creates a page table entry on the virtual cpu's address space
1774 (for user controlled virtual machines) or the virtual machine's address
1775 space (for regular virtual machines). This only works for minor faults,
1776 thus it's recommended to access subject memory page via the user page
1777 table upfront. This is useful to handle validity intercepts for user
1778 controlled virtual machines to fault in the virtual cpu's lowcore pages
1779 prior to calling the KVM_RUN ioctl.
1782 4.68 KVM_SET_ONE_REG
1784 Capability: KVM_CAP_ONE_REG
1787 Parameters: struct kvm_one_reg (in)
1788 Returns: 0 on success, negative value on failure
1790 struct kvm_one_reg {
1795 Using this ioctl, a single vcpu register can be set to a specific value
1796 defined by user space with the passed in struct kvm_one_reg, where id
1797 refers to the register identifier as described below and addr is a pointer
1798 to a variable with the respective size. There can be architecture agnostic
1799 and architecture specific registers. Each have their own range of operation
1800 and their own constants and width. To keep track of the implemented
1801 registers, find a list below:
1803 Arch | Register | Width (bits)
1805 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_HIOR | 64
1806 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC1 | 64
1807 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC2 | 64
1808 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC3 | 64
1809 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAC4 | 64
1810 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAC1 | 64
1811 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAC2 | 64
1812 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DABR | 64
1813 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DSCR | 64
1814 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PURR | 64
1815 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SPURR | 64
1816 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAR | 64
1817 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DSISR | 32
1818 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_AMR | 64
1819 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_UAMOR | 64
1820 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCR0 | 64
1821 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCR1 | 64
1822 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCRA | 64
1823 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCR2 | 64
1824 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMCRS | 64
1825 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SIAR | 64
1826 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SDAR | 64
1827 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SIER | 64
1828 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC1 | 32
1829 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC2 | 32
1830 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC3 | 32
1831 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC4 | 32
1832 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC5 | 32
1833 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC6 | 32
1834 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC7 | 32
1835 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PMC8 | 32
1836 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPR0 | 64
1838 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPR31 | 64
1839 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VR0 | 128
1841 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VR31 | 128
1842 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSR0 | 128
1844 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSR31 | 128
1845 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FPSCR | 64
1846 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VSCR | 32
1847 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_ADDR | 64
1848 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_SLB | 128
1849 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VPA_DTL | 128
1850 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EPCR | 32
1851 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EPR | 32
1852 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TCR | 32
1853 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TSR | 32
1854 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_OR_TSR | 32
1855 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_CLEAR_TSR | 32
1856 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS0 | 32
1857 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS1 | 32
1858 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS2 | 64
1859 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS7_3 | 64
1860 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS4 | 32
1861 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MAS6 | 32
1862 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_MMUCFG | 32
1863 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB0CFG | 32
1864 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB1CFG | 32
1865 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB2CFG | 32
1866 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB3CFG | 32
1867 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB0PS | 32
1868 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB1PS | 32
1869 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB2PS | 32
1870 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TLB3PS | 32
1871 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EPTCFG | 32
1872 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_ICP_STATE | 64
1873 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TB_OFFSET | 64
1874 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SPMC1 | 32
1875 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SPMC2 | 32
1876 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IAMR | 64
1877 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TFHAR | 64
1878 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TFIAR | 64
1879 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TEXASR | 64
1880 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_FSCR | 64
1881 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PSPB | 32
1882 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EBBHR | 64
1883 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_EBBRR | 64
1884 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_BESCR | 64
1885 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TAR | 64
1886 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DPDES | 64
1887 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAWR | 64
1888 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DAWRX | 64
1889 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_CIABR | 64
1890 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_IC | 64
1891 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VTB | 64
1892 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_CSIGR | 64
1893 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TACR | 64
1894 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TCSCR | 64
1895 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PID | 64
1896 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_ACOP | 64
1897 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_VRSAVE | 32
1898 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_LPCR | 32
1899 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_LPCR_64 | 64
1900 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_PPR | 64
1901 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_ARCH_COMPAT | 32
1902 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DABRX | 32
1903 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_WORT | 64
1904 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_SPRG9 | 64
1905 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_DBSR | 32
1906 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_GPR0 | 64
1908 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_GPR31 | 64
1909 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_VSR0 | 128
1911 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_VSR63 | 128
1912 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_CR | 64
1913 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_LR | 64
1914 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_CTR | 64
1915 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_FPSCR | 64
1916 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_AMR | 64
1917 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_PPR | 64
1918 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_VRSAVE | 64
1919 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_VSCR | 32
1920 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_DSCR | 64
1921 PPC | KVM_REG_PPC_TM_TAR | 64
1923 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_R0 | 64
1925 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_R31 | 64
1926 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_HI | 64
1927 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_LO | 64
1928 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_PC | 64
1929 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_INDEX | 32
1930 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONTEXT | 64
1931 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_USERLOCAL | 64
1932 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_PAGEMASK | 32
1933 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_WIRED | 32
1934 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_HWRENA | 32
1935 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_BADVADDR | 64
1936 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_COUNT | 32
1937 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_ENTRYHI | 64
1938 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_COMPARE | 32
1939 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_STATUS | 32
1940 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CAUSE | 32
1941 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_EPC | 64
1942 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONFIG | 32
1943 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONFIG1 | 32
1944 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONFIG2 | 32
1945 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONFIG3 | 32
1946 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_CONFIG7 | 32
1947 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_ERROREPC | 64
1948 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_COUNT_CTL | 64
1949 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_COUNT_RESUME | 64
1950 MIPS | KVM_REG_MIPS_COUNT_HZ | 64
1952 ARM registers are mapped using the lower 32 bits. The upper 16 of that
1953 is the register group type, or coprocessor number:
1955 ARM core registers have the following id bit patterns:
1956 0x4020 0000 0010 <index into the kvm_regs struct:16>
1958 ARM 32-bit CP15 registers have the following id bit patterns:
1959 0x4020 0000 000F <zero:1> <crn:4> <crm:4> <opc1:4> <opc2:3>
1961 ARM 64-bit CP15 registers have the following id bit patterns:
1962 0x4030 0000 000F <zero:1> <zero:4> <crm:4> <opc1:4> <zero:3>
1964 ARM CCSIDR registers are demultiplexed by CSSELR value:
1965 0x4020 0000 0011 00 <csselr:8>
1967 ARM 32-bit VFP control registers have the following id bit patterns:
1968 0x4020 0000 0012 1 <regno:12>
1970 ARM 64-bit FP registers have the following id bit patterns:
1971 0x4030 0000 0012 0 <regno:12>
1974 arm64 registers are mapped using the lower 32 bits. The upper 16 of
1975 that is the register group type, or coprocessor number:
1977 arm64 core/FP-SIMD registers have the following id bit patterns. Note
1978 that the size of the access is variable, as the kvm_regs structure
1979 contains elements ranging from 32 to 128 bits. The index is a 32bit
1980 value in the kvm_regs structure seen as a 32bit array.
1981 0x60x0 0000 0010 <index into the kvm_regs struct:16>
1983 arm64 CCSIDR registers are demultiplexed by CSSELR value:
1984 0x6020 0000 0011 00 <csselr:8>
1986 arm64 system registers have the following id bit patterns:
1987 0x6030 0000 0013 <op0:2> <op1:3> <crn:4> <crm:4> <op2:3>
1990 MIPS registers are mapped using the lower 32 bits. The upper 16 of that is
1991 the register group type:
1993 MIPS core registers (see above) have the following id bit patterns:
1994 0x7030 0000 0000 <reg:16>
1996 MIPS CP0 registers (see KVM_REG_MIPS_CP0_* above) have the following id bit
1997 patterns depending on whether they're 32-bit or 64-bit registers:
1998 0x7020 0000 0001 00 <reg:5> <sel:3> (32-bit)
1999 0x7030 0000 0001 00 <reg:5> <sel:3> (64-bit)
2001 MIPS KVM control registers (see above) have the following id bit patterns:
2002 0x7030 0000 0002 <reg:16>
2005 4.69 KVM_GET_ONE_REG
2007 Capability: KVM_CAP_ONE_REG
2010 Parameters: struct kvm_one_reg (in and out)
2011 Returns: 0 on success, negative value on failure
2013 This ioctl allows to receive the value of a single register implemented
2014 in a vcpu. The register to read is indicated by the "id" field of the
2015 kvm_one_reg struct passed in. On success, the register value can be found
2016 at the memory location pointed to by "addr".
2018 The list of registers accessible using this interface is identical to the
2022 4.70 KVM_KVMCLOCK_CTRL
2024 Capability: KVM_CAP_KVMCLOCK_CTRL
2025 Architectures: Any that implement pvclocks (currently x86 only)
2028 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2030 This signals to the host kernel that the specified guest is being paused by
2031 userspace. The host will set a flag in the pvclock structure that is checked
2032 from the soft lockup watchdog. The flag is part of the pvclock structure that
2033 is shared between guest and host, specifically the second bit of the flags
2034 field of the pvclock_vcpu_time_info structure. It will be set exclusively by
2035 the host and read/cleared exclusively by the guest. The guest operation of
2036 checking and clearing the flag must an atomic operation so
2037 load-link/store-conditional, or equivalent must be used. There are two cases
2038 where the guest will clear the flag: when the soft lockup watchdog timer resets
2039 itself or when a soft lockup is detected. This ioctl can be called any time
2040 after pausing the vcpu, but before it is resumed.
2045 Capability: KVM_CAP_SIGNAL_MSI
2048 Parameters: struct kvm_msi (in)
2049 Returns: >0 on delivery, 0 if guest blocked the MSI, and -1 on error
2051 Directly inject a MSI message. Only valid with in-kernel irqchip that handles
2062 No flags are defined so far. The corresponding field must be 0.
2065 4.71 KVM_CREATE_PIT2
2067 Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT2
2070 Parameters: struct kvm_pit_config (in)
2071 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2073 Creates an in-kernel device model for the i8254 PIT. This call is only valid
2074 after enabling in-kernel irqchip support via KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP. The following
2075 parameters have to be passed:
2077 struct kvm_pit_config {
2084 #define KVM_PIT_SPEAKER_DUMMY 1 /* emulate speaker port stub */
2086 PIT timer interrupts may use a per-VM kernel thread for injection. If it
2087 exists, this thread will have a name of the following pattern:
2089 kvm-pit/<owner-process-pid>
2091 When running a guest with elevated priorities, the scheduling parameters of
2092 this thread may have to be adjusted accordingly.
2094 This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_CREATE_PIT.
2099 Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT_STATE2
2102 Parameters: struct kvm_pit_state2 (out)
2103 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2105 Retrieves the state of the in-kernel PIT model. Only valid after
2106 KVM_CREATE_PIT2. The state is returned in the following structure:
2108 struct kvm_pit_state2 {
2109 struct kvm_pit_channel_state channels[3];
2116 /* disable PIT in HPET legacy mode */
2117 #define KVM_PIT_FLAGS_HPET_LEGACY 0x00000001
2119 This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_GET_PIT.
2124 Capability: KVM_CAP_PIT_STATE2
2127 Parameters: struct kvm_pit_state2 (in)
2128 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2130 Sets the state of the in-kernel PIT model. Only valid after KVM_CREATE_PIT2.
2131 See KVM_GET_PIT2 for details on struct kvm_pit_state2.
2133 This IOCTL replaces the obsolete KVM_SET_PIT.
2136 4.74 KVM_PPC_GET_SMMU_INFO
2138 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_GET_SMMU_INFO
2139 Architectures: powerpc
2142 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2144 This populates and returns a structure describing the features of
2145 the "Server" class MMU emulation supported by KVM.
2146 This can in turn be used by userspace to generate the appropriate
2147 device-tree properties for the guest operating system.
2149 The structure contains some global information, followed by an
2150 array of supported segment page sizes:
2152 struct kvm_ppc_smmu_info {
2156 struct kvm_ppc_one_seg_page_size sps[KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_MAX_SZ];
2159 The supported flags are:
2161 - KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_REAL:
2162 When that flag is set, guest page sizes must "fit" the backing
2163 store page sizes. When not set, any page size in the list can
2164 be used regardless of how they are backed by userspace.
2166 - KVM_PPC_1T_SEGMENTS
2167 The emulated MMU supports 1T segments in addition to the
2170 The "slb_size" field indicates how many SLB entries are supported
2172 The "sps" array contains 8 entries indicating the supported base
2173 page sizes for a segment in increasing order. Each entry is defined
2176 struct kvm_ppc_one_seg_page_size {
2177 __u32 page_shift; /* Base page shift of segment (or 0) */
2178 __u32 slb_enc; /* SLB encoding for BookS */
2179 struct kvm_ppc_one_page_size enc[KVM_PPC_PAGE_SIZES_MAX_SZ];
2182 An entry with a "page_shift" of 0 is unused. Because the array is
2183 organized in increasing order, a lookup can stop when encoutering
2186 The "slb_enc" field provides the encoding to use in the SLB for the
2187 page size. The bits are in positions such as the value can directly
2188 be OR'ed into the "vsid" argument of the slbmte instruction.
2190 The "enc" array is a list which for each of those segment base page
2191 size provides the list of supported actual page sizes (which can be
2192 only larger or equal to the base page size), along with the
2193 corresponding encoding in the hash PTE. Similarly, the array is
2194 8 entries sorted by increasing sizes and an entry with a "0" shift
2195 is an empty entry and a terminator:
2197 struct kvm_ppc_one_page_size {
2198 __u32 page_shift; /* Page shift (or 0) */
2199 __u32 pte_enc; /* Encoding in the HPTE (>>12) */
2202 The "pte_enc" field provides a value that can OR'ed into the hash
2203 PTE's RPN field (ie, it needs to be shifted left by 12 to OR it
2204 into the hash PTE second double word).
2208 Capability: KVM_CAP_IRQFD
2209 Architectures: x86 s390
2211 Parameters: struct kvm_irqfd (in)
2212 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2214 Allows setting an eventfd to directly trigger a guest interrupt.
2215 kvm_irqfd.fd specifies the file descriptor to use as the eventfd and
2216 kvm_irqfd.gsi specifies the irqchip pin toggled by this event. When
2217 an event is triggered on the eventfd, an interrupt is injected into
2218 the guest using the specified gsi pin. The irqfd is removed using
2219 the KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN flag, specifying both kvm_irqfd.fd
2222 With KVM_CAP_IRQFD_RESAMPLE, KVM_IRQFD supports a de-assert and notify
2223 mechanism allowing emulation of level-triggered, irqfd-based
2224 interrupts. When KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_RESAMPLE is set the user must pass an
2225 additional eventfd in the kvm_irqfd.resamplefd field. When operating
2226 in resample mode, posting of an interrupt through kvm_irq.fd asserts
2227 the specified gsi in the irqchip. When the irqchip is resampled, such
2228 as from an EOI, the gsi is de-asserted and the user is notified via
2229 kvm_irqfd.resamplefd. It is the user's responsibility to re-queue
2230 the interrupt if the device making use of it still requires service.
2231 Note that closing the resamplefd is not sufficient to disable the
2232 irqfd. The KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_RESAMPLE is only necessary on assignment
2233 and need not be specified with KVM_IRQFD_FLAG_DEASSIGN.
2235 4.76 KVM_PPC_ALLOCATE_HTAB
2237 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_ALLOC_HTAB
2238 Architectures: powerpc
2240 Parameters: Pointer to u32 containing hash table order (in/out)
2241 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2243 This requests the host kernel to allocate an MMU hash table for a
2244 guest using the PAPR paravirtualization interface. This only does
2245 anything if the kernel is configured to use the Book 3S HV style of
2246 virtualization. Otherwise the capability doesn't exist and the ioctl
2247 returns an ENOTTY error. The rest of this description assumes Book 3S
2250 There must be no vcpus running when this ioctl is called; if there
2251 are, it will do nothing and return an EBUSY error.
2253 The parameter is a pointer to a 32-bit unsigned integer variable
2254 containing the order (log base 2) of the desired size of the hash
2255 table, which must be between 18 and 46. On successful return from the
2256 ioctl, it will have been updated with the order of the hash table that
2259 If no hash table has been allocated when any vcpu is asked to run
2260 (with the KVM_RUN ioctl), the host kernel will allocate a
2261 default-sized hash table (16 MB).
2263 If this ioctl is called when a hash table has already been allocated,
2264 the kernel will clear out the existing hash table (zero all HPTEs) and
2265 return the hash table order in the parameter. (If the guest is using
2266 the virtualized real-mode area (VRMA) facility, the kernel will
2267 re-create the VMRA HPTEs on the next KVM_RUN of any vcpu.)
2269 4.77 KVM_S390_INTERRUPT
2273 Type: vm ioctl, vcpu ioctl
2274 Parameters: struct kvm_s390_interrupt (in)
2275 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2277 Allows to inject an interrupt to the guest. Interrupts can be floating
2278 (vm ioctl) or per cpu (vcpu ioctl), depending on the interrupt type.
2280 Interrupt parameters are passed via kvm_s390_interrupt:
2282 struct kvm_s390_interrupt {
2288 type can be one of the following:
2290 KVM_S390_SIGP_STOP (vcpu) - sigp restart
2291 KVM_S390_PROGRAM_INT (vcpu) - program check; code in parm
2292 KVM_S390_SIGP_SET_PREFIX (vcpu) - sigp set prefix; prefix address in parm
2293 KVM_S390_RESTART (vcpu) - restart
2294 KVM_S390_INT_CLOCK_COMP (vcpu) - clock comparator interrupt
2295 KVM_S390_INT_CPU_TIMER (vcpu) - CPU timer interrupt
2296 KVM_S390_INT_VIRTIO (vm) - virtio external interrupt; external interrupt
2297 parameters in parm and parm64
2298 KVM_S390_INT_SERVICE (vm) - sclp external interrupt; sclp parameter in parm
2299 KVM_S390_INT_EMERGENCY (vcpu) - sigp emergency; source cpu in parm
2300 KVM_S390_INT_EXTERNAL_CALL (vcpu) - sigp external call; source cpu in parm
2301 KVM_S390_INT_IO(ai,cssid,ssid,schid) (vm) - compound value to indicate an
2302 I/O interrupt (ai - adapter interrupt; cssid,ssid,schid - subchannel);
2303 I/O interruption parameters in parm (subchannel) and parm64 (intparm,
2304 interruption subclass)
2305 KVM_S390_MCHK (vm, vcpu) - machine check interrupt; cr 14 bits in parm,
2306 machine check interrupt code in parm64 (note that
2307 machine checks needing further payload are not
2308 supported by this ioctl)
2310 Note that the vcpu ioctl is asynchronous to vcpu execution.
2312 4.78 KVM_PPC_GET_HTAB_FD
2314 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_HTAB_FD
2315 Architectures: powerpc
2317 Parameters: Pointer to struct kvm_get_htab_fd (in)
2318 Returns: file descriptor number (>= 0) on success, -1 on error
2320 This returns a file descriptor that can be used either to read out the
2321 entries in the guest's hashed page table (HPT), or to write entries to
2322 initialize the HPT. The returned fd can only be written to if the
2323 KVM_GET_HTAB_WRITE bit is set in the flags field of the argument, and
2324 can only be read if that bit is clear. The argument struct looks like
2327 /* For KVM_PPC_GET_HTAB_FD */
2328 struct kvm_get_htab_fd {
2334 /* Values for kvm_get_htab_fd.flags */
2335 #define KVM_GET_HTAB_BOLTED_ONLY ((__u64)0x1)
2336 #define KVM_GET_HTAB_WRITE ((__u64)0x2)
2338 The `start_index' field gives the index in the HPT of the entry at
2339 which to start reading. It is ignored when writing.
2341 Reads on the fd will initially supply information about all
2342 "interesting" HPT entries. Interesting entries are those with the
2343 bolted bit set, if the KVM_GET_HTAB_BOLTED_ONLY bit is set, otherwise
2344 all entries. When the end of the HPT is reached, the read() will
2345 return. If read() is called again on the fd, it will start again from
2346 the beginning of the HPT, but will only return HPT entries that have
2347 changed since they were last read.
2349 Data read or written is structured as a header (8 bytes) followed by a
2350 series of valid HPT entries (16 bytes) each. The header indicates how
2351 many valid HPT entries there are and how many invalid entries follow
2352 the valid entries. The invalid entries are not represented explicitly
2353 in the stream. The header format is:
2355 struct kvm_get_htab_header {
2361 Writes to the fd create HPT entries starting at the index given in the
2362 header; first `n_valid' valid entries with contents from the data
2363 written, then `n_invalid' invalid entries, invalidating any previously
2364 valid entries found.
2366 4.79 KVM_CREATE_DEVICE
2368 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_CTRL
2370 Parameters: struct kvm_create_device (in/out)
2371 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2373 ENODEV: The device type is unknown or unsupported
2374 EEXIST: Device already created, and this type of device may not
2375 be instantiated multiple times
2377 Other error conditions may be defined by individual device types or
2378 have their standard meanings.
2380 Creates an emulated device in the kernel. The file descriptor returned
2381 in fd can be used with KVM_SET/GET/HAS_DEVICE_ATTR.
2383 If the KVM_CREATE_DEVICE_TEST flag is set, only test whether the
2384 device type is supported (not necessarily whether it can be created
2387 Individual devices should not define flags. Attributes should be used
2388 for specifying any behavior that is not implied by the device type
2391 struct kvm_create_device {
2392 __u32 type; /* in: KVM_DEV_TYPE_xxx */
2393 __u32 fd; /* out: device handle */
2394 __u32 flags; /* in: KVM_CREATE_DEVICE_xxx */
2397 4.80 KVM_SET_DEVICE_ATTR/KVM_GET_DEVICE_ATTR
2399 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_CTRL, KVM_CAP_VM_ATTRIBUTES for vm device
2400 Type: device ioctl, vm ioctl
2401 Parameters: struct kvm_device_attr
2402 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2404 ENXIO: The group or attribute is unknown/unsupported for this device
2405 EPERM: The attribute cannot (currently) be accessed this way
2406 (e.g. read-only attribute, or attribute that only makes
2407 sense when the device is in a different state)
2409 Other error conditions may be defined by individual device types.
2411 Gets/sets a specified piece of device configuration and/or state. The
2412 semantics are device-specific. See individual device documentation in
2413 the "devices" directory. As with ONE_REG, the size of the data
2414 transferred is defined by the particular attribute.
2416 struct kvm_device_attr {
2417 __u32 flags; /* no flags currently defined */
2418 __u32 group; /* device-defined */
2419 __u64 attr; /* group-defined */
2420 __u64 addr; /* userspace address of attr data */
2423 4.81 KVM_HAS_DEVICE_ATTR
2425 Capability: KVM_CAP_DEVICE_CTRL, KVM_CAP_VM_ATTRIBUTES for vm device
2426 Type: device ioctl, vm ioctl
2427 Parameters: struct kvm_device_attr
2428 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2430 ENXIO: The group or attribute is unknown/unsupported for this device
2432 Tests whether a device supports a particular attribute. A successful
2433 return indicates the attribute is implemented. It does not necessarily
2434 indicate that the attribute can be read or written in the device's
2435 current state. "addr" is ignored.
2437 4.82 KVM_ARM_VCPU_INIT
2440 Architectures: arm, arm64
2442 Parameters: struct kvm_vcpu_init (in)
2443 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
2445 Â EINVAL: Â Â Â the target is unknown, or the combination of features is invalid.
2446 Â ENOENT: Â Â Â a features bit specified is unknown.
2448 This tells KVM what type of CPU to present to the guest, and what
2449 optional features it should have. Â This will cause a reset of the cpu
2450 registers to their initial values. Â If this is not called, KVM_RUN will
2451 return ENOEXEC for that vcpu.
2453 Note that because some registers reflect machine topology, all vcpus
2454 should be created before this ioctl is invoked.
2456 Userspace can call this function multiple times for a given vcpu, including
2457 after the vcpu has been run. This will reset the vcpu to its initial
2458 state. All calls to this function after the initial call must use the same
2459 target and same set of feature flags, otherwise EINVAL will be returned.
2462 - KVM_ARM_VCPU_POWER_OFF: Starts the CPU in a power-off state.
2463 Depends on KVM_CAP_ARM_PSCI. If not set, the CPU will be powered on
2464 and execute guest code when KVM_RUN is called.
2465 - KVM_ARM_VCPU_EL1_32BIT: Starts the CPU in a 32bit mode.
2466 Depends on KVM_CAP_ARM_EL1_32BIT (arm64 only).
2467 - KVM_ARM_VCPU_PSCI_0_2: Emulate PSCI v0.2 for the CPU.
2468 Depends on KVM_CAP_ARM_PSCI_0_2.
2471 4.83 KVM_ARM_PREFERRED_TARGET
2474 Architectures: arm, arm64
2476 Parameters: struct struct kvm_vcpu_init (out)
2477 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
2479 ENODEV: no preferred target available for the host
2481 This queries KVM for preferred CPU target type which can be emulated
2482 by KVM on underlying host.
2484 The ioctl returns struct kvm_vcpu_init instance containing information
2485 about preferred CPU target type and recommended features for it. The
2486 kvm_vcpu_init->features bitmap returned will have feature bits set if
2487 the preferred target recommends setting these features, but this is
2490 The information returned by this ioctl can be used to prepare an instance
2491 of struct kvm_vcpu_init for KVM_ARM_VCPU_INIT ioctl which will result in
2492 in VCPU matching underlying host.
2495 4.84 KVM_GET_REG_LIST
2498 Architectures: arm, arm64, mips
2500 Parameters: struct kvm_reg_list (in/out)
2501 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
2503 Â E2BIG: Â Â Â Â the reg index list is too big to fit in the array specified by
2504 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â the user (the number required will be written into n).
2506 struct kvm_reg_list {
2507 __u64 n; /* number of registers in reg[] */
2511 This ioctl returns the guest registers that are supported for the
2512 KVM_GET_ONE_REG/KVM_SET_ONE_REG calls.
2515 4.85 KVM_ARM_SET_DEVICE_ADDR (deprecated)
2517 Capability: KVM_CAP_ARM_SET_DEVICE_ADDR
2518 Architectures: arm, arm64
2520 Parameters: struct kvm_arm_device_address (in)
2521 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2523 ENODEV: The device id is unknown
2524 ENXIO: Device not supported on current system
2525 EEXIST: Address already set
2526 E2BIG: Address outside guest physical address space
2527 EBUSY: Address overlaps with other device range
2529 struct kvm_arm_device_addr {
2534 Specify a device address in the guest's physical address space where guests
2535 can access emulated or directly exposed devices, which the host kernel needs
2536 to know about. The id field is an architecture specific identifier for a
2539 ARM/arm64 divides the id field into two parts, a device id and an
2540 address type id specific to the individual device.
2542 Â bits: | 63 ... 32 | 31 ... 16 | 15 ... 0 |
2543 field: | 0x00000000 | device id | addr type id |
2545 ARM/arm64 currently only require this when using the in-kernel GIC
2546 support for the hardware VGIC features, using KVM_ARM_DEVICE_VGIC_V2
2547 as the device id. When setting the base address for the guest's
2548 mapping of the VGIC virtual CPU and distributor interface, the ioctl
2549 must be called after calling KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP, but before calling
2550 KVM_RUN on any of the VCPUs. Calling this ioctl twice for any of the
2551 base addresses will return -EEXIST.
2553 Note, this IOCTL is deprecated and the more flexible SET/GET_DEVICE_ATTR API
2554 should be used instead.
2557 4.86 KVM_PPC_RTAS_DEFINE_TOKEN
2559 Capability: KVM_CAP_PPC_RTAS
2562 Parameters: struct kvm_rtas_token_args
2563 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2565 Defines a token value for a RTAS (Run Time Abstraction Services)
2566 service in order to allow it to be handled in the kernel. The
2567 argument struct gives the name of the service, which must be the name
2568 of a service that has a kernel-side implementation. If the token
2569 value is non-zero, it will be associated with that service, and
2570 subsequent RTAS calls by the guest specifying that token will be
2571 handled by the kernel. If the token value is 0, then any token
2572 associated with the service will be forgotten, and subsequent RTAS
2573 calls by the guest for that service will be passed to userspace to be
2576 4.87 KVM_SET_GUEST_DEBUG
2578 Capability: KVM_CAP_SET_GUEST_DEBUG
2579 Architectures: x86, s390, ppc
2581 Parameters: struct kvm_guest_debug (in)
2582 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
2584 struct kvm_guest_debug {
2587 struct kvm_guest_debug_arch arch;
2590 Set up the processor specific debug registers and configure vcpu for
2591 handling guest debug events. There are two parts to the structure, the
2592 first a control bitfield indicates the type of debug events to handle
2593 when running. Common control bits are:
2595 - KVM_GUESTDBG_ENABLE: guest debugging is enabled
2596 - KVM_GUESTDBG_SINGLESTEP: the next run should single-step
2598 The top 16 bits of the control field are architecture specific control
2599 flags which can include the following:
2601 - KVM_GUESTDBG_USE_SW_BP: using software breakpoints [x86]
2602 - KVM_GUESTDBG_USE_HW_BP: using hardware breakpoints [x86, s390]
2603 - KVM_GUESTDBG_INJECT_DB: inject DB type exception [x86]
2604 - KVM_GUESTDBG_INJECT_BP: inject BP type exception [x86]
2605 - KVM_GUESTDBG_EXIT_PENDING: trigger an immediate guest exit [s390]
2607 For example KVM_GUESTDBG_USE_SW_BP indicates that software breakpoints
2608 are enabled in memory so we need to ensure breakpoint exceptions are
2609 correctly trapped and the KVM run loop exits at the breakpoint and not
2610 running off into the normal guest vector. For KVM_GUESTDBG_USE_HW_BP
2611 we need to ensure the guest vCPUs architecture specific registers are
2612 updated to the correct (supplied) values.
2614 The second part of the structure is architecture specific and
2615 typically contains a set of debug registers.
2617 When debug events exit the main run loop with the reason
2618 KVM_EXIT_DEBUG with the kvm_debug_exit_arch part of the kvm_run
2619 structure containing architecture specific debug information.
2621 4.88 KVM_GET_EMULATED_CPUID
2623 Capability: KVM_CAP_EXT_EMUL_CPUID
2626 Parameters: struct kvm_cpuid2 (in/out)
2627 Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
2632 struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 entries[0];
2635 The member 'flags' is used for passing flags from userspace.
2637 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX BIT(0)
2638 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC BIT(1)
2639 #define KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT BIT(2)
2641 struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 {
2652 This ioctl returns x86 cpuid features which are emulated by
2653 kvm.Userspace can use the information returned by this ioctl to query
2654 which features are emulated by kvm instead of being present natively.
2656 Userspace invokes KVM_GET_EMULATED_CPUID by passing a kvm_cpuid2
2657 structure with the 'nent' field indicating the number of entries in
2658 the variable-size array 'entries'. If the number of entries is too low
2659 to describe the cpu capabilities, an error (E2BIG) is returned. If the
2660 number is too high, the 'nent' field is adjusted and an error (ENOMEM)
2661 is returned. If the number is just right, the 'nent' field is adjusted
2662 to the number of valid entries in the 'entries' array, which is then
2665 The entries returned are the set CPUID bits of the respective features
2666 which kvm emulates, as returned by the CPUID instruction, with unknown
2667 or unsupported feature bits cleared.
2669 Features like x2apic, for example, may not be present in the host cpu
2670 but are exposed by kvm in KVM_GET_SUPPORTED_CPUID because they can be
2671 emulated efficiently and thus not included here.
2673 The fields in each entry are defined as follows:
2675 function: the eax value used to obtain the entry
2676 index: the ecx value used to obtain the entry (for entries that are
2678 flags: an OR of zero or more of the following:
2679 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_SIGNIFCANT_INDEX:
2680 if the index field is valid
2681 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC:
2682 if cpuid for this function returns different values for successive
2683 invocations; there will be several entries with the same function,
2684 all with this flag set
2685 KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATE_READ_NEXT:
2686 for KVM_CPUID_FLAG_STATEFUL_FUNC entries, set if this entry is
2687 the first entry to be read by a cpu
2688 eax, ebx, ecx, edx: the values returned by the cpuid instruction for
2689 this function/index combination
2691 5. The kvm_run structure
2692 ------------------------
2694 Application code obtains a pointer to the kvm_run structure by
2695 mmap()ing a vcpu fd. From that point, application code can control
2696 execution by changing fields in kvm_run prior to calling the KVM_RUN
2697 ioctl, and obtain information about the reason KVM_RUN returned by
2698 looking up structure members.
2702 __u8 request_interrupt_window;
2704 Request that KVM_RUN return when it becomes possible to inject external
2705 interrupts into the guest. Useful in conjunction with KVM_INTERRUPT.
2712 When KVM_RUN has returned successfully (return value 0), this informs
2713 application code why KVM_RUN has returned. Allowable values for this
2714 field are detailed below.
2716 __u8 ready_for_interrupt_injection;
2718 If request_interrupt_window has been specified, this field indicates
2719 an interrupt can be injected now with KVM_INTERRUPT.
2723 The value of the current interrupt flag. Only valid if in-kernel
2724 local APIC is not used.
2728 /* in (pre_kvm_run), out (post_kvm_run) */
2731 The value of the cr8 register. Only valid if in-kernel local APIC is
2732 not used. Both input and output.
2736 The value of the APIC BASE msr. Only valid if in-kernel local
2737 APIC is not used. Both input and output.
2740 /* KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN */
2742 __u64 hardware_exit_reason;
2745 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_UNKNOWN, the vcpu has exited due to unknown
2746 reasons. Further architecture-specific information is available in
2747 hardware_exit_reason.
2749 /* KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY */
2751 __u64 hardware_entry_failure_reason;
2754 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_FAIL_ENTRY, the vcpu could not be run due
2755 to unknown reasons. Further architecture-specific information is
2756 available in hardware_entry_failure_reason.
2758 /* KVM_EXIT_EXCEPTION */
2768 #define KVM_EXIT_IO_IN 0
2769 #define KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT 1
2771 __u8 size; /* bytes */
2774 __u64 data_offset; /* relative to kvm_run start */
2777 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_IO, then the vcpu has
2778 executed a port I/O instruction which could not be satisfied by kvm.
2779 data_offset describes where the data is located (KVM_EXIT_IO_OUT) or
2780 where kvm expects application code to place the data for the next
2781 KVM_RUN invocation (KVM_EXIT_IO_IN). Data format is a packed array.
2784 struct kvm_debug_exit_arch arch;
2797 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_MMIO, then the vcpu has
2798 executed a memory-mapped I/O instruction which could not be satisfied
2799 by kvm. The 'data' member contains the written data if 'is_write' is
2800 true, and should be filled by application code otherwise.
2802 The 'data' member contains, in its first 'len' bytes, the value as it would
2803 appear if the VCPU performed a load or store of the appropriate width directly
2806 NOTE: For KVM_EXIT_IO, KVM_EXIT_MMIO, KVM_EXIT_OSI, KVM_EXIT_PAPR and
2807 KVM_EXIT_EPR the corresponding
2808 operations are complete (and guest state is consistent) only after userspace
2809 has re-entered the kernel with KVM_RUN. The kernel side will first finish
2810 incomplete operations and then check for pending signals. Userspace
2811 can re-enter the guest with an unmasked signal pending to complete
2814 /* KVM_EXIT_HYPERCALL */
2823 Unused. This was once used for 'hypercall to userspace'. To implement
2824 such functionality, use KVM_EXIT_IO (x86) or KVM_EXIT_MMIO (all except s390).
2825 Note KVM_EXIT_IO is significantly faster than KVM_EXIT_MMIO.
2827 /* KVM_EXIT_TPR_ACCESS */
2834 To be documented (KVM_TPR_ACCESS_REPORTING).
2836 /* KVM_EXIT_S390_SIEIC */
2839 __u64 mask; /* psw upper half */
2840 __u64 addr; /* psw lower half */
2847 /* KVM_EXIT_S390_RESET */
2848 #define KVM_S390_RESET_POR 1
2849 #define KVM_S390_RESET_CLEAR 2
2850 #define KVM_S390_RESET_SUBSYSTEM 4
2851 #define KVM_S390_RESET_CPU_INIT 8
2852 #define KVM_S390_RESET_IPL 16
2853 __u64 s390_reset_flags;
2857 /* KVM_EXIT_S390_UCONTROL */
2859 __u64 trans_exc_code;
2863 s390 specific. A page fault has occurred for a user controlled virtual
2864 machine (KVM_VM_S390_UNCONTROL) on it's host page table that cannot be
2865 resolved by the kernel.
2866 The program code and the translation exception code that were placed
2867 in the cpu's lowcore are presented here as defined by the z Architecture
2868 Principles of Operation Book in the Chapter for Dynamic Address Translation
2878 Deprecated - was used for 440 KVM.
2885 MOL uses a special hypercall interface it calls 'OSI'. To enable it, we catch
2886 hypercalls and exit with this exit struct that contains all the guest gprs.
2888 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_OSI, then the vcpu has triggered such a hypercall.
2889 Userspace can now handle the hypercall and when it's done modify the gprs as
2890 necessary. Upon guest entry all guest GPRs will then be replaced by the values
2893 /* KVM_EXIT_PAPR_HCALL */
2900 This is used on 64-bit PowerPC when emulating a pSeries partition,
2901 e.g. with the 'pseries' machine type in qemu. It occurs when the
2902 guest does a hypercall using the 'sc 1' instruction. The 'nr' field
2903 contains the hypercall number (from the guest R3), and 'args' contains
2904 the arguments (from the guest R4 - R12). Userspace should put the
2905 return code in 'ret' and any extra returned values in args[].
2906 The possible hypercalls are defined in the Power Architecture Platform
2907 Requirements (PAPR) document available from www.power.org (free
2908 developer registration required to access it).
2910 /* KVM_EXIT_S390_TSCH */
2912 __u16 subchannel_id;
2913 __u16 subchannel_nr;
2920 s390 specific. This exit occurs when KVM_CAP_S390_CSS_SUPPORT has been enabled
2921 and TEST SUBCHANNEL was intercepted. If dequeued is set, a pending I/O
2922 interrupt for the target subchannel has been dequeued and subchannel_id,
2923 subchannel_nr, io_int_parm and io_int_word contain the parameters for that
2924 interrupt. ipb is needed for instruction parameter decoding.
2931 On FSL BookE PowerPC chips, the interrupt controller has a fast patch
2932 interrupt acknowledge path to the core. When the core successfully
2933 delivers an interrupt, it automatically populates the EPR register with
2934 the interrupt vector number and acknowledges the interrupt inside
2935 the interrupt controller.
2937 In case the interrupt controller lives in user space, we need to do
2938 the interrupt acknowledge cycle through it to fetch the next to be
2939 delivered interrupt vector using this exit.
2941 It gets triggered whenever both KVM_CAP_PPC_EPR are enabled and an
2942 external interrupt has just been delivered into the guest. User space
2943 should put the acknowledged interrupt vector into the 'epr' field.
2945 /* KVM_EXIT_SYSTEM_EVENT */
2947 #define KVM_SYSTEM_EVENT_SHUTDOWN 1
2948 #define KVM_SYSTEM_EVENT_RESET 2
2953 If exit_reason is KVM_EXIT_SYSTEM_EVENT then the vcpu has triggered
2954 a system-level event using some architecture specific mechanism (hypercall
2955 or some special instruction). In case of ARM/ARM64, this is triggered using
2956 HVC instruction based PSCI call from the vcpu. The 'type' field describes
2957 the system-level event type. The 'flags' field describes architecture
2958 specific flags for the system-level event.
2960 Valid values for 'type' are:
2961 KVM_SYSTEM_EVENT_SHUTDOWN -- the guest has requested a shutdown of the
2962 VM. Userspace is not obliged to honour this, and if it does honour
2963 this does not need to destroy the VM synchronously (ie it may call
2964 KVM_RUN again before shutdown finally occurs).
2965 KVM_SYSTEM_EVENT_RESET -- the guest has requested a reset of the VM.
2966 As with SHUTDOWN, userspace can choose to ignore the request, or
2967 to schedule the reset to occur in the future and may call KVM_RUN again.
2969 /* Fix the size of the union. */
2974 * shared registers between kvm and userspace.
2975 * kvm_valid_regs specifies the register classes set by the host
2976 * kvm_dirty_regs specified the register classes dirtied by userspace
2977 * struct kvm_sync_regs is architecture specific, as well as the
2978 * bits for kvm_valid_regs and kvm_dirty_regs
2980 __u64 kvm_valid_regs;
2981 __u64 kvm_dirty_regs;
2983 struct kvm_sync_regs regs;
2987 If KVM_CAP_SYNC_REGS is defined, these fields allow userspace to access
2988 certain guest registers without having to call SET/GET_*REGS. Thus we can
2989 avoid some system call overhead if userspace has to handle the exit.
2990 Userspace can query the validity of the structure by checking
2991 kvm_valid_regs for specific bits. These bits are architecture specific
2992 and usually define the validity of a groups of registers. (e.g. one bit
2993 for general purpose registers)
2995 Please note that the kernel is allowed to use the kvm_run structure as the
2996 primary storage for certain register types. Therefore, the kernel may use the
2997 values in kvm_run even if the corresponding bit in kvm_dirty_regs is not set.
3003 6. Capabilities that can be enabled on vCPUs
3004 --------------------------------------------
3006 There are certain capabilities that change the behavior of the virtual CPU or
3007 the virtual machine when enabled. To enable them, please see section 4.37.
3008 Below you can find a list of capabilities and what their effect on the vCPU or
3009 the virtual machine is when enabling them.
3011 The following information is provided along with the description:
3013 Architectures: which instruction set architectures provide this ioctl.
3014 x86 includes both i386 and x86_64.
3016 Target: whether this is a per-vcpu or per-vm capability.
3018 Parameters: what parameters are accepted by the capability.
3020 Returns: the return value. General error numbers (EBADF, ENOMEM, EINVAL)
3021 are not detailed, but errors with specific meanings are.
3029 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
3031 This capability enables interception of OSI hypercalls that otherwise would
3032 be treated as normal system calls to be injected into the guest. OSI hypercalls
3033 were invented by Mac-on-Linux to have a standardized communication mechanism
3034 between the guest and the host.
3036 When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_OSI can occur.
3039 6.2 KVM_CAP_PPC_PAPR
3044 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
3046 This capability enables interception of PAPR hypercalls. PAPR hypercalls are
3047 done using the hypercall instruction "sc 1".
3049 It also sets the guest privilege level to "supervisor" mode. Usually the guest
3050 runs in "hypervisor" privilege mode with a few missing features.
3052 In addition to the above, it changes the semantics of SDR1. In this mode, the
3053 HTAB address part of SDR1 contains an HVA instead of a GPA, as PAPR keeps the
3054 HTAB invisible to the guest.
3056 When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_PAPR_HCALL can occur.
3063 Parameters: args[0] is the address of a struct kvm_config_tlb
3064 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
3066 struct kvm_config_tlb {
3073 Configures the virtual CPU's TLB array, establishing a shared memory area
3074 between userspace and KVM. The "params" and "array" fields are userspace
3075 addresses of mmu-type-specific data structures. The "array_len" field is an
3076 safety mechanism, and should be set to the size in bytes of the memory that
3077 userspace has reserved for the array. It must be at least the size dictated
3078 by "mmu_type" and "params".
3080 While KVM_RUN is active, the shared region is under control of KVM. Its
3081 contents are undefined, and any modification by userspace results in
3082 boundedly undefined behavior.
3084 On return from KVM_RUN, the shared region will reflect the current state of
3085 the guest's TLB. If userspace makes any changes, it must call KVM_DIRTY_TLB
3086 to tell KVM which entries have been changed, prior to calling KVM_RUN again
3089 For mmu types KVM_MMU_FSL_BOOKE_NOHV and KVM_MMU_FSL_BOOKE_HV:
3090 - The "params" field is of type "struct kvm_book3e_206_tlb_params".
3091 - The "array" field points to an array of type "struct
3092 kvm_book3e_206_tlb_entry".
3093 - The array consists of all entries in the first TLB, followed by all
3094 entries in the second TLB.
3095 - Within a TLB, entries are ordered first by increasing set number. Within a
3096 set, entries are ordered by way (increasing ESEL).
3097 - The hash for determining set number in TLB0 is: (MAS2 >> 12) & (num_sets - 1)
3098 where "num_sets" is the tlb_sizes[] value divided by the tlb_ways[] value.
3099 - The tsize field of mas1 shall be set to 4K on TLB0, even though the
3100 hardware ignores this value for TLB0.
3102 6.4 KVM_CAP_S390_CSS_SUPPORT
3107 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
3109 This capability enables support for handling of channel I/O instructions.
3111 TEST PENDING INTERRUPTION and the interrupt portion of TEST SUBCHANNEL are
3112 handled in-kernel, while the other I/O instructions are passed to userspace.
3114 When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_S390_TSCH will occur on TEST
3115 SUBCHANNEL intercepts.
3117 Note that even though this capability is enabled per-vcpu, the complete
3118 virtual machine is affected.
3124 Parameters: args[0] defines whether the proxy facility is active
3125 Returns: 0 on success; -1 on error
3127 This capability enables or disables the delivery of interrupts through the
3128 external proxy facility.
3130 When enabled (args[0] != 0), every time the guest gets an external interrupt
3131 delivered, it automatically exits into user space with a KVM_EXIT_EPR exit
3132 to receive the topmost interrupt vector.
3134 When disabled (args[0] == 0), behavior is as if this facility is unsupported.
3136 When this capability is enabled, KVM_EXIT_EPR can occur.
3138 6.6 KVM_CAP_IRQ_MPIC
3141 Parameters: args[0] is the MPIC device fd
3142 args[1] is the MPIC CPU number for this vcpu
3144 This capability connects the vcpu to an in-kernel MPIC device.
3146 6.7 KVM_CAP_IRQ_XICS
3150 Parameters: args[0] is the XICS device fd
3151 args[1] is the XICS CPU number (server ID) for this vcpu
3153 This capability connects the vcpu to an in-kernel XICS device.
3155 6.8 KVM_CAP_S390_IRQCHIP
3161 This capability enables the in-kernel irqchip for s390. Please refer to
3162 "4.24 KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP" for details.
3164 7. Capabilities that can be enabled on VMs
3165 ------------------------------------------
3167 There are certain capabilities that change the behavior of the virtual
3168 machine when enabled. To enable them, please see section 4.37. Below
3169 you can find a list of capabilities and what their effect on the VM
3170 is when enabling them.
3172 The following information is provided along with the description:
3174 Architectures: which instruction set architectures provide this ioctl.
3175 x86 includes both i386 and x86_64.
3177 Parameters: what parameters are accepted by the capability.
3179 Returns: the return value. General error numbers (EBADF, ENOMEM, EINVAL)
3180 are not detailed, but errors with specific meanings are.
3183 7.1 KVM_CAP_PPC_ENABLE_HCALL
3186 Parameters: args[0] is the sPAPR hcall number
3187 args[1] is 0 to disable, 1 to enable in-kernel handling
3189 This capability controls whether individual sPAPR hypercalls (hcalls)
3190 get handled by the kernel or not. Enabling or disabling in-kernel
3191 handling of an hcall is effective across the VM. On creation, an
3192 initial set of hcalls are enabled for in-kernel handling, which
3193 consists of those hcalls for which in-kernel handlers were implemented
3194 before this capability was implemented. If disabled, the kernel will
3195 not to attempt to handle the hcall, but will always exit to userspace
3196 to handle it. Note that it may not make sense to enable some and
3197 disable others of a group of related hcalls, but KVM does not prevent
3198 userspace from doing that.
3200 If the hcall number specified is not one that has an in-kernel
3201 implementation, the KVM_ENABLE_CAP ioctl will fail with an EINVAL