Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a string comparison operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium may have stored thereon an instruction, which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform a method. The method may include combining a first operand of the instruction and a second operand of the instruction to produce a result. The result may be encrypted using a key in accordance with an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm to produce an encrypted result. The method may also include placing the encrypted result in a location of the first operand of the instruction.

Abstract: An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, efficient data transfer operations can be achieved by: decoding by a processor device, a single instruction specifying a transfer operation for a plurality of data elements between a first storage location and a second storage location; issuing the single instruction for execution by an execution unit in the processor; detecting an occurrence of an exception during execution of the single instruction; and in response to the exception, delivering pending traps or interrupts to an exception handler prior to delivering the exception.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a string comparison operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a string comparison operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having logic to perform a round of a cryptographic algorithm responsive to first and second round micro-operations to perform the round on first and second pairs of columns, where the logic includes dual datapaths that are half the width of the cryptographic algorithm width (or smaller). Additional logic may be used to combine the results of the first and second round micro-operations to obtain a round result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a string comparison operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, efficient data transfer operations can be achieved by: decoding by a processor device, a single instruction specifying a transfer operation for a plurality of data elements between a first storage location and a second storage location; issuing the single instruction for execution by an execution unit in the processor; detecting an occurrence of an exception during execution of the single instruction; and in response to the exception, delivering pending traps or interrupts to an exception handler prior to delivering the exception.

Abstract: Multiple initialization techniques for system and component in a point-to-point architecture are discussed. Consequently, the techniques allow for flexible system/socket layer parameters to be tailored to the needs of the platform, such as, desktop, mobile, small server, large server, etc., as well as the component types such as IA32/IPF processors, memory controllers, IO Hubs, etc. Furthermore, the techniques facilitate powering up with the correct set of POC values, hence, it avoids multiple warm resets and improves boot time. In one embodiment, registers to hold new values, such as, Configuration Values Driven during Reset (CVDR), and Configuration Values Captured during Reset (CVCR) may be eliminated. For example, the POC values could be from the following: Platform Input Clock to Core Clock Ratio, Enable/disable LT, Configurable Restart, Burn In Initialization Mode, Disable Hyper Threading, System BSP Socket Indication, and Platform Topology Index.

Abstract: Multiple initialization techniques for system and component in a point-to-point architecture are discussed. Consequently, the techniques allow for flexible system/socket layer parameters to be tailored to the needs of the platform, such as, desktop, mobile, small server, large server, etc., as well as the component types such as IA32/IPF processors, memory controllers, IO Hubs, etc. Furthermore, the techniques facilitate powering up with the correct set of POC values, hence, it avoids multiple warm resets and improves boot time. In one embodiment, registers to hold new values, such as, Configuration Values Driven during Reset (CVDR), and Configuration Values Captured during Reset (CVCR) may be eliminated. For example, the POC values could be from the following: Platform Input Clock to Core Clock Ratio, Enable/disable LT, Configurable Restart, Burn In Initialization Mode, Disable Hyper Threading, System BSP Socket Indication, and Platform Topology Index.

Abstract: Embodiments of an invention for executing an encryption instruction using stored round keys are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes instruction logic, encryption logic, a storage region, and control logic. The instruction logic is to receive an encryption instruction. The encryption logic is to perform, in response to the instruction logic receiving the encryption instruction, an encryption operation including a plurality of rounds, each round using a corresponding round key from a plurality of round keys. The storage region is to store the plurality of round keys. The control logic is to fetch, for use during each of the plurality of rounds, the corresponding round key from the storage region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having logic to perform a round of a cryptographic algorithm responsive to first and second round micro-operations to perform the round on first and second pairs of columns, where the logic includes dual datapaths that are half the width of the cryptographic algorithm width (or smaller). Additional logic may be used to combine the results of the first and second round micro-operations to obtain a round result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a shift operation on packed data elements having multiple values. One embodiment includes accessing the shift control signal of a first format from a memory. The shift control signal identifyies a first packed shift operation and whether the shift positions are byte positions or bit positions, and causes a processor to execute a set of control signals of a second format, thereby accessing the packed data, shifting the packed data by the number of shift positions according to the first packed shift operation, generating a first replacement data for one of the number of positions, and producing a shifted first packed data comprising the first replacement data.

Abstract: A flexible aes instruction set for a general purpose processor is provided. The instruction set includes instructions to perform a “one round” pass for aes encryption or decryption and also includes instructions to perform key generation. An immediate may be used to indicate round number and key size for key generation for 128/192/256 bit keys. The flexible aes instruction set enables full use of pipelining capabilities because it does not require tracking of implicit registers.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium may have stored thereon an instruction, which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform a method. The method may include combining a first operand of the instruction and a second operand of the instruction to produce a result. The result may be encrypted using a key in accordance with an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm to produce an encrypted result. The method may also include placing the encrypted result in a location of the first operand of the instruction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for assigning a first identifier to a first instruction that is to write control information into a configuration register, assigning the first identifier to a second instruction that is to read the control information written by the first instruction, and storing the second instruction in a first structure of a processor with the first identifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a string comparison operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store a result of a comparison between each data element of a first and second operand corresponding to a first and second text string, respectively.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a dot-product operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes execution resources to execute a first instruction. In response to the first instruction, said execution resources store to a storage location a result value equal to a dot-product of at least two operands.