Re: [PATCH 1/2] KVM: Exception during emulation decode should propagate

[Takuya Yoshikawa]

(2012/01/12 18:07), Nadav Amit wrote:
> On Jan 12, 2012, at 2:26 AM, Takuya Yoshikawa wrote:
>
> > (2012/01/12 7:11), Takuya Yoshikawa wrote:
> > > On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:53:30 +0200
> > > Nadav Amit<namit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>   wrote:
> > >
> > > > An exception might occur during decode (e.g., #PF during fetch).
> > > > Currently, the exception is ignored and emulation is performed.
> >
> > Note that the decode/emulation will not be continued in such a case.
> >
> > insn_fetch() is a bit tricky macro and it contains "goto done" to outside.
> > So if an error happens during fetching the instruction, x86_decode_insn()
> > will handle the X86EMUL_* fault value and returns FAIL immediately.
>
> You got a point. Yet, a problem still exists.
> I now notice I was originally working on previous version (3.0.0)
> where the return-code of x86_decode_insn is handled differently.
> Nonetheless, I think the current implementation might report emulation
> error in such a scenario (instead of triggering #PF/#GP in the guest).

It's me who did that fix.

> > > When I cleaned up insn_fetch(), I thought that fetching the instruction
> > > which is being executed by the guest cannot cause #PF.
> > >
> > > The possibility that a meaningless userspace might similtaneously unmap
> > > the page, noted by Avi IIRC, was ignored intentionally, so we just fail
> > > in such a case.
> > >
> > > Did you see any real problem?
>
> Well, I run some research project for which I emulate instructions quite
> often. I do see a real problem with Linux 3.0.0. Please note AFAIK #GP
> might occur as well during instruction fetch. I don't think failing is the
> right behavior in such case - there is no real reason to fail.
>
> Please tell me whether you are OK with KVM failing in such a scenario.
> If not - I'll send an updated patch (in which x86_decode_insn returns
> EMULATION_OK when rc == X86EMUL_PROPAGATE_FAULT).

You need comments from maintainers.

	Takuya
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