Generating multiple address space identifiers per virtual machine to switch between protected micro-contexts

Abstract

Embodiments of an invention for generating multiple address space identifiers per virtual machine to switch between protected micro-contexts are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes privileged mode logic, an interface, and memory management logic. The privileged mode logic is to transfer control of the processor among a plurality of virtual machines. The interface is to perform a transaction to fetch information from a memory. The memory management logic is to translate an untranslated address to a memory address. The memory management logic includes a storage location, a series of translation stages, determination logic, and a translation lookaside buffer. The storage location is to store an address of a data structure for the first translation stage. Each of the translation stages includes translation logic to find an entry in a data structure based on a portion of the untranslated address. Each entry is to store an address of a different data structure for the first translation stage, an address of a data structure for a successive translation stage, or the physical address. The determination logic is to determine whether an entry is storing an address of a different data structure for the first translation stage. The translation lookaside buffer is to store translations. Each translation lookaside buffer entry includes an address source identifiers. Each address source identifier is to identify a unique micro-context. Each address source identifier is based on a virtual partition identifier. At least two of the of virtual partition identifiers are associated with one of the virtual machines.