Method and apparatus for invalidating entries within a translation control entry (TCE) cache

摘要

A method and apparatus for invalidating entries within a translation control entry (TCE) cache are disclosed. A host bridge is coupled between a group of processors and a group of adaptors. The host bridge includes a TCE cache. The TCE cache contains the most-recently use copies of TCEs in a TCE table located in a system memory. In response to a modification to a TCE in the TCE table by one of the processors, a memory mapped input/output (MMIO) Store is sent to a TCE invalidate register to specify an address of the modified TCE. The data within the TCE invalidate register is then utilized to generate a command for invalidating an entry in the TCE cache containing an unmodified copy of the modified TCE in the TCE table. The command is subsequently sent to the host bridge to invalidate the entry in the TCE cache.