PALcode (Privileged Architecture Library code)[1][2] is the name used by DEC in theAlphainstruction set architecture (ISA) for a set of functions in theSystem Reference Manual (SRM) orAlphaBIOSfirmware, providing ahardware abstraction layer for system software, covering features such as cache management,translation lookaside buffer (TLB) miss handling, interrupt handling, and exception handling. It evolved from a feature of theDEC PRISM architecture named Epicode.[3]
PALcode is Alpha machine code, running in a special mode[4] that also allows access to internal registers specific to the particular Alpha processor implementation. Thus, it is somewhere between the role ofmicrocode and of a hardwareemulator. PALcode isoperating system-specific,[5] so different versions of PALcode are required byOpenVMS,Tru64 UNIX, andWindows NT. Tru64 UNIX PALcode is also used byNetBSD,FreeBSD,OpenBSD andLinux.
PALcode—Alpha's Very Flexible Privileged Software Library A Privileged Architecture Library (PALcode) is a set of subroutines that ...
PALcode for Alpha Microprocessors. System Design Guide. May 1996. This guide explains how to use the Privileged Architecture Library code.
PALcode is Alpha machine code, running in a special mode that allows access to internal registers specific to the particular Alpha processor
The Alpha AXP architecture uses a set of subroutines, call privileged architecture library code (PALcode). PALcode is specific to the operating system, the CPU ...
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