Sharing virtual and real translations in a virtual cache

摘要

Disclosed herein is a virtual cache directory in a processor that eliminates address translations when the virtual address and the real address in the cache directory are the same. The processor is configured to support virtual memory and multiple threads. The virtual cache directory includes a plurality of directory entries, each entry is associated with a cache line. Each cache line has a tag. The tag includes a logical address, an address space identifier, a real address bit indicator, and virtual address to real address indicator. This virtual address to real address indicator indicates if the logical address and the real address are the same. When activated, address translation is not performed.