Method and apparatus for implementing a page table walker that uses a sliding field in the virtual addresses to identify entries in a page table

摘要

A method and apparatus for implementing a page table walker that uses a sliding field in the virtual addresses to identify entries in a page table. According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for use in a computer system is provided that includes a page size storage area and a page table walker. The page size storage area is used to store a number of page sizes selected for translating a number of virtual addresses. The page table walker includes a selection unit coupled to the page size storage area, as well as a page entry address generator coupled to the selection unit. For each virtual address received by the selection unit, the selection unit positions a field in that virtual address based on the page size selected for translating that virtual address. In response to receiving the bits in the field identified for each of the virtual addresses, the page entry address generator identifies an entry in a page table based on those bits.