Advanced processor translation lookaside buffer management in a multithreaded system
Advanced processors for executing software applications on different operating system are presented including: a number of processor cores each configured to execute multiple threads, wherein each of the number of processor cores includes a data cache and an instruction cache; a data switch interconnect ring arrangement directly coupled with the data cache of each of the number of processor cores and configured to pass memory related information among the number of processor cores; a messaging network directly coupled with the instruction cache of each of the number of processor cores and a number of communication ports; and a memory management unit (MMU) coupled with each of the number of processor cores, the MMU having a first translation-lookaside buffer (TLB) portion, a second TLB portion, and a third TLB portion, wherein each TLB portion is operable in several modes, wherein each TLB portion includes a number of entries.
1. An advanced processor for executing software applications on different operating systems, comprising:
a plurality of processor cores each configured to execute multiple threads, wherein each of the plurality of processor cores includes a data cache and an instruction cache;
a data switch interconnect ring arrangement directly coupled with the data cache of each of the plurality of processor cores and configured to pass memory related information among the plurality of processor cores;
a messaging network directly coupled with the instruction cache of each of the plurality of processor cores and a plurality of communication ports; and
a memory management unit (MMU) coupled with each of the plurality of processor cores, the MMU having a first translation-lookaside buffer (TLB) portion, a second TLB portion, and a third TLB portion, wherein each TLB portion is operable in at least two modes, wherein each TLB portion includes a plurality of entries, wherein the first TLB portion is configured for instructions, the second TLB portion is configured for data, wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is tagged with a thread identification; and wherein the third TLB portion further includes a master valid bit that is visible only to a user in a virtual MIPS mode, such that an unmapped region is configured to undergo a virtual to physical mapping through the first TLB portion, the second TLB portion, and the third TLB portion while operating in the virtual MIPS mode.
2. An advanced processor for executing software applications on different operating systems, comprising:
a plurality of processor cores each configured to execute multiple threads, wherein each of the plurality of processor cores includes a data cache and an instruction cache;
a data switch interconnect ring arrangement directly coupled with the data cache of each of the plurality of processor cores and configured to pass memory related information among the plurality of processor cores;
a messaging network directly coupled with the instruction cache of each of the plurality of processor cores and a plurality of high speed communication ports; a level 2 cache coupled to the data switch interconnect and configured to store memory related information accessible to the plurality of processor cores; and
a memory management unit (MMU) coupled with each of the plurality of processor cores, the MMU having a first translation-lookaside buffer (TLB) portion, a second TLB portion, and a third TLB portion, wherein each TLB portion is operable in at least two modes, wherein each TLB portion includes a plurality of entries, wherein the first TLB portion is configured for instructions, the second TLB portion is configured for data, and wherein at least one of the plurality of entries is tagged with a thread identification; and
wherein the third TLB portion further includes a master valid bit that is visible only to a user in a virtual MIPS mode, such that an unmapped region is configured to undergo a virtual to physical mapping through the first TLB portion, the second TLB portion, and the third TLB portion while operating in the virtual MIPS mode.