Data Processing System and Computer Program Product to Allow PCI Host Bridge (PHB) to Handle Pre-Fetch Read Transactions on the PCI Bus Which Access System Memory Through Translation Control Entry (TCE) Table

A data processing system for providing valid translation entries in a translation control entry table for all supported direct memory addresses, comprising:

• reserving means for reserving a page in system memory to form a reserved page;
• writing means for writing the reserved page;
• selecting means for selecting a region in the system memory for the translation control entry table;
• initializing means for initializing all entries in the translation control entry table, wherein all entries are initialized to be valid and contain an address of the reserved page;
• and
• updating means for updating an entry in the translation control entry table, wherein a physical memory page replaces the reserved page when the entry is used by an operating system's device driver.

A computer program product in a recordable-type medium for providing valid translation entries in a translation control entry table for all supported direct memory addresses, comprising:

• first instructions for reserving a page in system memory to form a reserved page;
• second instructions for writing the reserved page;
• third instructions for selecting a region in the system memory for the translation control entry table;
• fourth instructions for initializing all entries in the translation control entry table, wherein all entries are initialized to be valid and contain an address of the reserved page;
• and
• fifth instructions for updating an entry in the translation control entry table, wherein a physical memory page replaces the reserved page when the entry is used by an operating system's device driver.