RE: [PATCH RFC 0/4] 5-level EPT
From: Li, Liang Z
Date: Thu Dec 29 2016 - 20:27:05 EST
> Subject: Re: [PATCH RFC 0/4] 5-level EPT
>
> On Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:25:59 +0800, Liang Li said:
> > x86-64 is currently limited physical address width to 46 bits, which
> > can support 64 TiB of memory. Some vendors require to support more for
> > some use case. Intel plans to extend the physical address width to
> > 52 bits in some of the future products.
>
> Can you explain why this patchset mentions 52 bits in some places, and 57 in
> others? Is it because there are currently in-process chipsets that will do 52,
> but you want to future-proof it by extending it to 57 so future chipsets won't
> need more work? Or is there some other reason?
The 57-bits I referred in this patch set means the virtual address width which will
be supported in the future CPU with 52-bits physical address width.
5 level EPT can support maximum 57-bits physical address width, as long as the
future CPU use no more than 57-bits physical address width, no more work is needed.
Thanks!
Liang