Microprocessor memory management units

Abstract

This tutorial describes the current crop of commercial memory management units (MMUs) for 32-bit microprocessors. The discussion includes both complex- and reduced-instruction-set computers (CISCs and RISCs). The rationale, principles, and issues related to hardware support for memory management and virtual memory are reviewed. The design and features of high-end microprocessor MMUs are reviewed and compared with respect to a common set of criteria. Special attention is paid to Unix requirements and multiprocessor, multiple MMU considerations. The MMUs covered are Intel 80386, i486, and i860; Motorola's 68851 (MMU for the 68020), 68030, 68040, and 88200 (MMU for the 88000 series); the Fujitsu MB86920 (Sparc MMU); and the MIPS R2000/R3000.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>