An apparatus and method for tagged memory management. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: execution circuitry to execute instructions and process data, at least one instruction to generate a system memory access request having a first address pointer; and address translation circuitry to determine whether to translate the first address pointer with or without metadata processing, wherein if the first address pointer is to be translated with metadata processing, the address translation circuitry to: perform a lookup in a memory metadata table to identify a memory metadata value, determine a pointer metadata value associated with the first address pointer, and compare the memory metadata value with the pointer metadata value, the comparison to generate a validation of the memory access request or a fault condition, wherein if the comparison results in a validation of the memory access request, then accessing a set of one or more address translation tables to translate the first address pointer to a first physical address and to return the first physical address responsive to the memory access request.

A system, method and apparatus to facilitate data exchange via pointers. For example, in a computing system having a first processor and a second processor that is separate and independent from the first processor, the first processor can run a program configured to use a pointer identifying a virtual memory address having an ID of an object and an offset within the object. The first processor can use the virtual memory address to store data at a memory location in the computing system and/or identify a routine at the memory location for execution by the second processor. After the pointer is communicated from the first processor to the second processor, the second processor can access the same memory location identified by the virtual memory address. The second processor may operate on the data stored at the memory location or load the routine from the memory location for execution.

Methods and apparatus relating to zero-redundancy tag storage for bucketed allocators are described. In some embodiments, memory stores a memory page. The memory page includes a metadata page and a plurality of slots. The metadata page includes information corresponding to the plurality of slots. Decode circuitry decodes an instruction that includes a source operand. Execution circuitry executes the decoded instruction according to the source operand to load a first tag for a first slot of the plurality of slots in response to a memory access request directed at the first slot of the plurality of slots. The memory access request is allowed to proceed in response to a match between the first tag and a second tag of a pointer of the memory access request. The memory page stores a separate tag in proximity to each of the plurality of slots. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

An apparatus is provided for determining, for use in a tag-guarded memory, a selected tag value from a plurality of tag values. The apparatus comprises ordered list generation circuitry to receive an excluded tag vector comprising a plurality of fields, where each field is associated with a tag value and identifies whether the associated tag value is excluded from use. The ordered list generation circuitry is arranged to generate, from the excluded tag vector, an ordered list of non-excluded tag values. The apparatus further comprises count determination circuitry to determine, using the excluded tag vector and an identified start tag value, a count value indicative of a number of non-excluded tag values occurring in a region of the excluded tag vector bounded by an initial field and a field corresponding to the start tag value. The apparatus also comprises tag selection circuitry to determine the selected tag value from the ordered list based on the count value and an identified offset which indicates a required number of non-excluded tag values between the start tag value and the selected tag value.

To provide a memory protection circuit and a memory protection method suitable for quick data transfer between a plurality of virtual machines via a common memory, according to an embodiment, a memory protection circuit includes a first ID storing register that stores therein an ID of any of a plurality of virtual machines managed by a hypervisor, an access determination circuit that permits the virtual machine having the ID stored in the first ID storing register to access a memory, a second ID storing register that stores therein an ID of any of the virtual machines, and an ID update control circuit that permits the virtual machine having the ID stored in the second ID storing register to rewrite the ID stored in the first ID storing register.

Operating system deactivation of write protection for a storage block is provided absent quiescing of processors in a multi-processor computing environment. The process includes receiving an address translation protection exception interrupt resulting from an attempted write access by a processor to a storage block, and determining by the operating system whether write protection for the storage block is active. Based on write protection for the storage block not being active, the operating system issues an instruction to clear or modify translation lookaside buffer entries of the processor associated with the storage block, absent waiting for an action by another processor of multiple processors of the computing environment, to facilitate write access to the storage block proceeding at the processor.

According to a first aspect, execution logic is configured to perform a linear capability transfer operation which transfers a physical capability from a partition of a first software modules to a partition of a second of software module without retaining it in the partition of the first. According to a second, alternative or additional aspect, the execution logic is configured to perform a sharding operation whereby a physical capability is divided into at least two instances, which may later be combined.

Operating system deactivation of write protection for a storage block is provided absent quiescing of processors in a multi-processor computing environment. The process includes receiving an address translation protection exception interrupt resulting from an attempted write access by a processor to a storage block, and determining by the operating system whether write protection for the storage block is active. Based on write protection for the storage block not being active, the operating system issues an instruction to clear or modify translation lookaside buffer entries of the processor associated with the storage block, absent waiting for an action by another processor of multiple processors of the computing environment, to facilitate write access to the storage block proceeding at the processor.

A control device includes a first controller, a second controller and a storage. The first controller performs safety control for a drive device. The second controller performs standard control for the drive device. The storage is accessible by both the first and second controllers and includes a first storage area and a second storage area. The first storage area stores data involved with the safety control, and the second storage area stores data involved with the standard control. The first controller accesses both the first storage area and the second storage area, and the second controller accesses the second storage area but is restricted from accessing the first storage area.

Provided is a control method of controlling locking or unlocking of storage using a blockchain. The control method includes: determining, when first request information indicating a lock/unlock request, that is a lock request or an unlock request, is received from a terminal, whether a keyholder identified by reading keyholder information stored in the blockchain matches an owner of the terminal that has transmitted the first request information, the keyholder information indicating a person having the authority to lock or unlock the storage; performing lock/unlock processing when the keyholder is determined to match the owner, the lock/unlock processing being processing for causing the storage to lock or unlock in accordance with the first request information; and performing first storage processing after the lock/unlock processing is performed, the first storage processing being processing of storing, in the blockchain, transaction data indicating that the lock/unlock processing has been performed.