Method and apparatus for preloading different default address translation attributes

A processor comprising:

• a translation look-aside buffer for translating a virtual address into a physical address;
• a translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit coupled to said translation look-aside buffer and including a translation attribute field to define an attribute when translating the virtual address to the physical address;
• a set of registers, each including a default translation attribute field;
• and
• a preload unit coupled to said set of registers and said translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit for preloading a corresponding default translation attribute field for use by said translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit for installation into said translation look-aside buffer, but having the default translation attribute field replaced if not correct for the translation of the virtual address.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor including,
• a translation look-aside buffer for translating a virtual address into a physical address,
• a translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit coupled to said translation look-aside buffer and including a translation attribute field to define an attribute when translating the virtual address to the physical address,
• a set of registers, each register including a default translation attribute field, and
• a preload unit coupled to said set of registers and said translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit for preloading a corresponding default translation attribute field for use by said translation look-aside buffer installation storage unit for installation into said translation look-aside buffer, but having he default translation attribute field replaced if not correct for the translation of the virtual address;
• and
• a memory coupled to said processor which is accessed by the physical address generated by the processor.

A method for preloading a translation attribute field for use when translating a virtual address to a physical address comprising:

• detecting if a translation for the virtual address is presently available;
• selecting one of a plurality of stored default translation attributes as a corresponding default translation attribute for the translation attribute field;
• preloading the corresponding default translation attribute when the translation of the virtual address is not presently available to generate a new translation;
• using the preloaded default translation attribute if correct, but if not, overwriting it with the correct translation attribute.