Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes identifying two or more memory locations and referencing, by a memory access request, the two or more memory locations. The memory access request is a single action pursuant to a memory protocol. The computer-implemented method further includes sending the memory access request from one or more processors to a node and fetching, by the node, data content from each of the two or more memory locations. The computer-implemented method further includes packaging, by the node, the data content from each of the two or more memory locations into a memory package, and returning the memory package from the node to the one or more processors. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An instruction stream includes a transactional code region. The transactional code region includes a latent modification instruction (LMI), a next sequential instruction (NSI) following the LMI, and a set of target instructions following the NSI in program order. Each target instruction has an associated function, and the LMI at least partially specifies a substitute function for the associated function. A processor executes the LMI, the NSI, and at least one of the target instructions, employing the substitute function at least partially specified by the LMI. The LMI, the NSI, and the target instructions may be executed by the processor in sequential program order or out of order.

Abstract: A transaction is detected. The transaction has a begin-transaction indication and an end-transaction indication. If it is determined that the begin-transaction indication is not a no-speculation indication, then the transaction is processed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a virtual address transformation unit coupled with the processor. The virtual address transformation unit includes a register. The virtual address transformation unit is configured to receive an indication of a virtual address and read, from the register, a current page size of a plurality of available page sizes. The virtual address transformation unit is also configured to determine a shift amount based, at least in part, on the current page size and perform a bit shift of the virtual address, wherein the virtual address is bit shifted by, at least, the determined shift amount.

Abstract: Providing control over processing of a prefetch request in response to conditions in a receiver of the prefetch request and to conditions in a source of the prefetch request. A processor generates a prefetch request and a tag that dictates processing the prefect request. A processor sends the prefetch request and the tag to a second processor. A processor generates a conflict indication based on whether a concurrent processing of the prefetch request and an atomic transaction by the second processor would generate a conflict with a memory access that is associated with the atomic transaction. Based on an analysis of the conflict indication and the tag, a processor processes (i) either the prefetch request or the atomic transaction, or (ii) both the prefetch request and the atomic transaction.

Abstract: Processing prefetch memory operations and transactions. A local processor receives a write prefetch request from a remote processor. Prior to execution of a write prefetch request received from a remote processor, determining whether a priority of the write prefetch request is greater than a priority of a pending transaction of a local processor. The write prefetch request is executed in response to a determination that the priority of the write prefetch request is greater than the priority of a pending transaction. Prefetch data produced by execution of the write prefetch request is provided to the remote processor.

Abstract: In a transactional memory environment including a first processor and one or more additional processors, a computer-implemented method includes identifying a memory location and sending a probe request from the first processor to the additional processors. The probe request includes the memory location. The computer implemented method further includes generating, by each additional processor, an indication including whether the memory location is in use for a transaction by the additional processor. The computer-implemented method further includes sending the indication from each additional processor to the first processor and proceeding, by the first processor, based on the indication.

Abstract: A transaction within a computer program or computer application comprises program instructions performing multiple store operations that appear to run and complete as a single, atomic operation. The program instructions forming a current transaction comprise a transaction begin indicator, a plurality of instructions (e.g., store operations), and a transaction end indicator. A near-end of transaction indicator is triggered based on a speculative look ahead operation such that an interfering transaction requiring a halt operation may be delayed to allow the current transaction to end. A halt operation, also referred to as an abort operation, as used herein refers to an operation responsive to a condition where two transactions have been detected to interfere where at least one transaction must be aborted and the state of the processor is reset to the state at the beginning of the aborted transaction by performing a rollback.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for garbage collection is disclosed herein. The method includes performing a garbage collection process without pausing execution of a runtime environment. The method also includes executing a first CPU instruction to load a first pointer that points to a first location in a first region of memory, where the first region of memory is undergoing garbage collection. The method also includes moving a first object pointed to by the first pointer from the first location in memory to a second location in memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for garbage collection is disclosed herein. The method includes specifying a load-monitored region within a memory managed by a run-time environment, enabling a load-monitored event-based branch configured to occur responsive to executing a first type of CPU instruction to load a pointer that points to a first location in the load-monitored region, performing a garbage collection process in background without pausing executing in the run-time environment, executing a CPU instruction of the first type to load a pointer that points to the first location in the load-monitored region, and responsive to triggering a load-monitored event-based branch, moving an object pointed to by the pointer with a handler from the first location in memory to a second location in memory.

Abstract: Autonomous recovery from a transient hardware failure by executing portions of a stream of program instructions as a transaction. A start of a transaction is created in a stream of executing program instructions. A snapshot of a system state information is saved when the transaction begins. When a predefined number of program instructions in the stream are executed, the transaction ends, and store data of the transaction is committed. A new transaction then begins. If a transient hardware failure occurs, the transaction is aborted without notifying the computer software application that initiated the stream of program instructions. The transaction is re-executed, based on the saved snapshot of the system state information.

Abstract: A method and associated computer program product are disclosed for generating an object file for subsequent linking by a linker. The method comprises inserting at least one save instruction before a function call instruction and at least one restore instruction after the function call instruction, the at least one save instruction and the least one restore instruction corresponding to one or more call-clobbered registers. The method further comprises generating a first list of registers that are referenced by the function. The function call instruction includes a first annotation referencing the restore instruction, and the restore instruction includes a second annotation referencing the save instruction. The first and second annotations configure the linker to determine whether to eliminate the save instruction and the restore instruction corresponding to at least one of the one or more call-clobbered registers.

Abstract: Autonomous recovery from a transient hardware failure by executing portions of a stream of program instructions as a transaction. A start of a transaction is created in a stream of program instructions executing on a first processor of a multi-processor computer. A snapshot of a system state information is saved when the transaction begins. When the transaction ends, store data of the transaction is committed. If a transient hardware failure occurs, the transaction is aborted without notifying the computer software application that initiated the stream of program instructions. The transaction is re-executed on a second processor of the multi-processors, based on the saved snapshot of the system state information.

Abstract: A transactional memory system determines whether a hardware transaction can be salvaged. A processor of the transactional memory system begins execution of a transaction in a transactional memory environment. Based on detection that an amount of available resource for transactional execution is below a predetermined threshold level, the processor determines whether the transaction can be salvaged. Based on determining that the transaction can not be salvaged, the processor aborts the transaction. Based on determining the transaction can be salvaged, the processor performs a salvage operation, wherein the salvage operation comprises one or more of: determining that the transaction can be brought to a stable state without exceeding the amount of available resource for transactional execution, and bringing the transaction to a stable state; and determining that a resource can be made available, and making the resource available.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for storing vector data into memory with a processor. The method includes obtaining, by the processor, a variable-length vector store instruction. The method also includes determining that the vector store instruction specifies a vector register for a source, a memory address, and a length, where the memory address and the length are each specified in at least a general purpose register. The method also includes determining whether data should be stored into memory at the memory address using big endian byte-ordering or little endian byte-ordering. The method further includes storing data from the vector register into memory, where if the length is less than a length of the vector register, storing only the data from the vector register specified by the length.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for loading a vector with a processor. The method includes obtaining, by the processor, a variable-length vector load instruction. The method also includes determining that the vector load instruction specifies a vector register for a target, a memory address, and a length, wherein the memory address and the length are each specified in at least a general purpose register. The method also includes determining whether data should be loaded into the vector register using big endian byte-ordering or little endian byte-ordering. The method further includes loading data from memory into the vector register, wherein if the length is less than a length of the vector register, setting one or more residue bytes in the vector register to a pad value, wherein the residue bytes are determined based on the determined byte-ordering.

Abstract: A method and associated computer program product are disclosed for generating an executable file from an object file, the object file being associated with an architecture having a predefined calling convention designating one or more call-clobbered registers. The method comprises identifying, from a first annotation included in the object file with a function call instruction, at least one restore instruction that follows the function call instruction, the function call instruction associated with a predefined function of the object file. The at least one restore instruction corresponds to at least one of the one or more call-clobbered registers. The method further comprises determining, based on at least a first list of registers that are referenced by the predefined function, the first list being included in the object file, whether to eliminate the at least one restore instruction.

Abstract: An optimizing compiler includes a vector optimization mechanism that optimizes vector operations that are reformatting-resistant, such as source instructions that do not have a corresponding reformatting operation, sink instructions that do not have a corresponding reformatting operation, a source instruction that is a scalar value, a sink instruction that may produce a scalar value, and an internal operation that depends on lanes being in a specified order. The ability to optimize vector instructions that are reformatting-resistant reduces the number of operations to improve the run-time performance of the code.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to using a local entry point with an indirect call function. More specifically, a linker is provided to generate at application modules that at least partially defines an indirect function call configuration. The linker loads a first address of a function by using a first symbolic reference, and determines that the function pointer value of the first symbolic reference is solely used to perform indirect calls in the same application module, e.g. local-use-only. The linker indicates that the first symbolic reference can be resolved using the local entry point associated with the function, and performs that indirect function call exclusively through the first symbolic reference, thereby reducing execution of operations.

Abstract: A transaction is detected. The transaction has a begin-transaction indication and an end-transaction indication. If it is determined that the begin-transaction indication is not a no-speculation indication, then the transaction is processed.