All of lore.kernel.org
 help / color / mirror / Atom feed
From: "Adalbert Lazăr" <alazar@bitdefender.com>
To: kvm@vger.kernel.org
Cc: virtualization@lists.linux-foundation.org,
	"Paolo Bonzini" <pbonzini@redhat.com>,
	"Sean Christopherson" <sean.j.christopherson@intel.com>,
	"Mihai Donțu" <mdontu@bitdefender.com>,
	"Adalbert Lazăr" <alazar@bitdefender.com>
Subject: [RFC PATCH v7 65/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE
Date: Fri,  7 Feb 2020 20:16:23 +0200	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <20200207181636.1065-66-alazar@bitdefender.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20200207181636.1065-1-alazar@bitdefender.com>

From: Mihai Donțu <mdontu@bitdefender.com>

This vCPU command is used to get the XSAVE area.

Signed-off-by: Mihai Donțu <mdontu@bitdefender.com>
Co-developed-by: Adalbert Lazăr <alazar@bitdefender.com>
Signed-off-by: Adalbert Lazăr <alazar@bitdefender.com>
---
 Documentation/virt/kvm/kvmi.rst               | 31 +++++++++++++++++++
 arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvmi.h              |  4 +++
 arch/x86/kvm/kvmi.c                           | 21 +++++++++++++
 include/uapi/linux/kvmi.h                     |  2 ++
 .../testing/selftests/kvm/x86_64/kvmi_test.c  | 21 +++++++++++++
 virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_int.h             |  4 +++
 virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_msg.c             | 17 ++++++++++
 7 files changed, 100 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/virt/kvm/kvmi.rst b/Documentation/virt/kvm/kvmi.rst
index 8b43e0f80f77..5d2b828f2159 100644
--- a/Documentation/virt/kvm/kvmi.rst
+++ b/Documentation/virt/kvm/kvmi.rst
@@ -756,6 +756,37 @@ memory slots allocated by KVM, considering all address spaces indicated
 by KVM_ADDRESS_SPACE_NUM. Stricly speaking, the returned value refers
 to the first inaccessible GFN, next to the maximum accessible GFN.
 
+17. KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE
+-----------------------
+
+:Architecture: x86
+:Versions: >= 1
+:Parameters:
+
+::
+
+	struct kvmi_vcpu_hdr;
+
+:Returns:
+
+::
+
+	struct kvmi_error_code;
+	struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply {
+		__u32 region[0];
+	};
+
+Returns a buffer containing the XSAVE area. Currently, the size of
+``kvm_xsave`` is used, but it could change. The userspace should get
+the buffer size from the message size.
+
+:Errors:
+
+* -KVM_EINVAL - the selected vCPU is invalid
+* -KVM_EINVAL - padding is not zero
+* -KVM_EAGAIN - the selected vCPU can't be introspected yet
+* -KVM_ENOMEM - not enough memory to allocate the reply
+
 Events
 ======
 
diff --git a/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvmi.h b/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvmi.h
index 06f69cfa3d79..68ad3d737d7e 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvmi.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvmi.h
@@ -97,4 +97,8 @@ struct kvmi_vcpu_inject_exception {
 	__u64 address;
 };
 
+struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply {
+	__u32 region[0];
+};
+
 #endif /* _UAPI_ASM_X86_KVMI_H */
diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/kvmi.c b/arch/x86/kvm/kvmi.c
index ac493fcebb5b..f8fd8ce140c5 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/kvmi.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/kvmi.c
@@ -616,3 +616,24 @@ void kvmi_arch_inject_pending_exception(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
 
 	kvmi_save_injected_event(vcpu);
 }
+
+int kvmi_arch_cmd_vcpu_get_xsave(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
+				 struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply **dest,
+				 size_t *dest_size)
+{
+	struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply *rpl = NULL;
+	size_t rpl_size = sizeof(*rpl) + sizeof(struct kvm_xsave);
+	struct kvm_xsave *area;
+
+	rpl = kvmi_msg_alloc_check(rpl_size);
+	if (!rpl)
+		return -KVM_ENOMEM;
+
+	area = (struct kvm_xsave *) &rpl->region[0];
+	kvm_vcpu_ioctl_x86_get_xsave(vcpu, area);
+
+	*dest = rpl;
+	*dest_size = rpl_size;
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/kvmi.h b/include/uapi/linux/kvmi.h
index 3ea4882ac469..bc63c04a543d 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/kvmi.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/kvmi.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ enum {
 
 	KVMI_VM_GET_MAX_GFN = 17,
 
+	KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE = 18,
+
 	KVMI_NUM_MESSAGES
 };
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/x86_64/kvmi_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/x86_64/kvmi_test.c
index 299f4d29d0d6..638491f33138 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/x86_64/kvmi_test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/x86_64/kvmi_test.c
@@ -1322,6 +1322,26 @@ static void test_event_xsetbv(struct kvm_vm *vm)
 	disable_vcpu_event(vm, event_id);
 }
 
+static void test_cmd_vcpu_get_xsave(struct kvm_vm *vm)
+{
+	struct kvm_cpuid_entry2 *entry;
+	struct {
+		struct kvmi_msg_hdr hdr;
+		struct kvmi_vcpu_hdr vcpu_hdr;
+	} req = {};
+	struct kvm_xsave rpl;
+
+	entry = kvm_get_supported_cpuid_entry(1);
+	if (!(entry->ecx & X86_FEATURE_XSAVE)) {
+		DEBUG("XSAVE is not supported, ecx 0x%x, skipping xsave test\n",
+			entry->ecx);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	test_vcpu0_command(vm, KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE, &req.hdr, sizeof(req),
+			   &rpl, sizeof(rpl));
+}
+
 static void test_introspection(struct kvm_vm *vm)
 {
 	setup_socket();
@@ -1347,6 +1367,7 @@ static void test_introspection(struct kvm_vm *vm)
 	test_cmd_vcpu_inject_exception(vm);
 	test_cmd_vm_get_max_gfn();
 	test_event_xsetbv(vm);
+	test_cmd_vcpu_get_xsave(vm);
 
 	unhook_introspection(vm);
 }
diff --git a/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_int.h b/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_int.h
index 5a00e38c88cc..5e1231f09440 100644
--- a/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_int.h
+++ b/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_int.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_CONTROL_EVENTS) \
 			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_GET_CPUID) \
 			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_GET_REGISTERS) \
+			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE) \
 			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_INJECT_EXCEPTION) \
 			| BIT(KVMI_VCPU_SET_REGISTERS) \
 		)
@@ -135,5 +136,8 @@ int kvmi_arch_cmd_vcpu_inject_exception(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu, u8 vector,
 					u32 error_code, u64 address);
 void kvmi_arch_trap_event(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu);
 void kvmi_arch_inject_pending_exception(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu);
+int kvmi_arch_cmd_vcpu_get_xsave(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
+				 struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply **dest,
+				 size_t *dest_size);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_msg.c b/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_msg.c
index ba2d7c6acb22..1639f5eab68b 100644
--- a/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_msg.c
+++ b/virt/kvm/introspection/kvmi_msg.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ static const char *const msg_IDs[] = {
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_CPUID]        = "KVMI_VCPU_GET_CPUID",
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_INFO]         = "KVMI_VCPU_GET_INFO",
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_REGISTERS]    = "KVMI_VCPU_GET_REGISTERS",
+	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE]        = "KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE",
 	[KVMI_VCPU_INJECT_EXCEPTION] = "KVMI_VCPU_INJECT_EXCEPTION",
 	[KVMI_VCPU_PAUSE]            = "KVMI_VCPU_PAUSE",
 	[KVMI_VCPU_SET_REGISTERS]    = "KVMI_VCPU_SET_REGISTERS",
@@ -526,6 +527,21 @@ static int handle_vcpu_inject_exception(const struct kvmi_vcpu_cmd_job *job,
 	return kvmi_msg_vcpu_reply(job, msg, ec, NULL, 0);
 }
 
+static int handle_vcpu_get_xsave(const struct kvmi_vcpu_cmd_job *job,
+				 const struct kvmi_msg_hdr *msg,
+				 const void *req)
+{
+	struct kvmi_vcpu_get_xsave_reply *rpl = NULL;
+	size_t rpl_size = 0;
+	int err, ec;
+
+	ec = kvmi_arch_cmd_vcpu_get_xsave(job->vcpu, &rpl, &rpl_size);
+
+	err = kvmi_msg_vcpu_reply(job, msg, ec, rpl, rpl_size);
+	kvmi_msg_free(rpl);
+	return err;
+}
+
 /*
  * These commands are executed on the vCPU thread. The receiving thread
  * passes the messages using a newly allocated 'struct kvmi_vcpu_cmd_job'
@@ -540,6 +556,7 @@ static int(*const msg_vcpu[])(const struct kvmi_vcpu_cmd_job *,
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_CPUID]        = handle_get_cpuid,
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_INFO]         = handle_get_vcpu_info,
 	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_REGISTERS]    = handle_get_registers,
+	[KVMI_VCPU_GET_XSAVE]        = handle_vcpu_get_xsave,
 	[KVMI_VCPU_INJECT_EXCEPTION] = handle_vcpu_inject_exception,
 	[KVMI_VCPU_SET_REGISTERS]    = handle_set_registers,
 };

  parent reply	other threads:[~2020-02-07 18:17 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 79+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2020-02-07 18:15 [RFC PATCH v7 00/78] VM introspection Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 01/78] sched/swait: add swait_event_killable_exclusive() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 02/78] export kill_pid_info() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 03/78] KVM: add new error codes for VM introspection Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 04/78] KVM: add kvm_vcpu_kick_and_wait() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 05/78] KVM: add kvm_get_max_gfn() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 06/78] KVM: doc: fix the hypercall numbering Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 07/78] KVM: x86: add kvm_arch_vcpu_get_regs() and kvm_arch_vcpu_get_sregs() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 08/78] KVM: x86: add kvm_arch_vcpu_set_regs() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 09/78] KVM: x86: avoid injecting #PF when emulate the VMCALL instruction Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 10/78] KVM: x86: add .bp_intercepted() to struct kvm_x86_ops Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 11/78] KVM: x86: add .control_cr3_intercept() " Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 12/78] KVM: x86: add .cr3_write_intercepted() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 13/78] KVM: x86: add .control_desc_intercept() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 14/78] KVM: x86: add .desc_intercepted() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 15/78] KVM: x86: export .msr_write_intercepted() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 16/78] KVM: x86: use MSR_TYPE_R, MSR_TYPE_W and MSR_TYPE_RW with AMD code too Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 17/78] KVM: svm: pass struct kvm_vcpu to set_msr_interception() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 18/78] KVM: vmx: pass struct kvm_vcpu to the intercept msr related functions Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 19/78] KVM: x86: add .control_msr_intercept() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 20/78] KVM: x86: vmx: use a symbolic constant when checking the exit qualifications Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 21/78] KVM: x86: save the error code during EPT/NPF exits handling Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 22/78] KVM: x86: add .fault_gla() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 23/78] KVM: x86: add .spt_fault() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 24/78] KVM: x86: add .gpt_translation_fault() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 25/78] KVM: x86: add .control_singlestep() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 26/78] KVM: x86: export kvm_arch_vcpu_set_guest_debug() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 27/78] KVM: x86: extend kvm_mmu_gva_to_gpa_system() with the 'access' parameter Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 28/78] KVM: x86: export kvm_inject_pending_exception() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 29/78] KVM: x86: export kvm_vcpu_ioctl_x86_get_xsave() Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 30/78] KVM: x86: page track: provide all page tracking hooks with the guest virtual address Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 31/78] KVM: x86: page track: add track_create_slot() callback Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 32/78] KVM: x86: page_track: add support for preread, prewrite and preexec Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 33/78] KVM: x86: wire in the preread/prewrite/preexec page trackers Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 34/78] KVM: x86: intercept the write access on sidt and other emulated instructions Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 35/78] KVM: x86: disable gpa_available optimization for fetch and page-walk NPF/EPT violations Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 36/78] KVM: introduce VM introspection Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 37/78] KVM: introspection: add hook/unhook ioctls Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 38/78] KVM: introspection: add permission access ioctls Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 39/78] KVM: introspection: add the read/dispatch message function Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 40/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_GET_VERSION Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:15 ` [RFC PATCH v7 41/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_CHECK_COMMAND and KVMI_VM_CHECK_EVENT Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 42/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_GET_INFO Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 43/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_UNHOOK Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 44/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_CONTROL_EVENTS Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 45/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_READ_PHYSICAL/KVMI_VM_WRITE_PHYSICAL Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 46/78] KVM: introspection: add vCPU related data Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 47/78] KVM: introspection: add a jobs list to every introspected vCPU Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 48/78] KVM: introspection: handle vCPU introspection requests Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 49/78] KVM: introspection: handle vCPU commands Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 50/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_GET_INFO Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 51/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_PAUSE Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 52/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_PAUSE_VCPU Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 53/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_CONTROL_EVENTS Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 54/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_GET_REGISTERS Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 55/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_SET_REGISTERS Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 56/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_GET_CPUID Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 57/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_HYPERCALL Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 58/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_BREAKPOINT Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 59/78] KVM: introspection: restore the state of #BP interception on unhook Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 60/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_CONTROL_CR and KVMI_EVENT_CR Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 61/78] KVM: introspection: restore the state of CR3 interception on unhook Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 62/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_INJECT_EXCEPTION + KVMI_EVENT_TRAP Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 63/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_GET_MAX_GFN Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 64/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_XSETBV Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` Adalbert Lazăr [this message]
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 66/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_GET_MTRR_TYPE Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 67/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_DESCRIPTOR Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 68/78] KVM: introspection: restore the state of descriptor interception on unhook Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 69/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_CONTROL_MSR and KVMI_EVENT_MSR Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 70/78] KVM: introspection: restore the state of MSR interception on unhook Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 71/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VM_SET_PAGE_ACCESS Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 72/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_PF Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 73/78] KVM: introspection: extend KVMI_GET_VERSION with struct kvmi_features Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 74/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_CONTROL_SINGLESTEP Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 75/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_EVENT_SINGLESTEP Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 76/78] KVM: introspection: add KVMI_VCPU_TRANSLATE_GVA Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 77/78] KVM: introspection: emulate a guest page table walk on SPT violations due to A/D bit updates Adalbert Lazăr
2020-02-07 18:16 ` [RFC PATCH v7 78/78] KVM: x86: call the page tracking code on emulation failure Adalbert Lazăr

Reply instructions:

You may reply publicly to this message via plain-text email
using any one of the following methods:

* Save the following mbox file, import it into your mail client,
  and reply-to-all from there: mbox

  Avoid top-posting and favor interleaved quoting:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style#Interleaved_style

* Reply using the --to, --cc, and --in-reply-to
  switches of git-send-email(1):

  git send-email \
    --in-reply-to=20200207181636.1065-66-alazar@bitdefender.com \
    --to=alazar@bitdefender.com \
    --cc=kvm@vger.kernel.org \
    --cc=mdontu@bitdefender.com \
    --cc=pbonzini@redhat.com \
    --cc=sean.j.christopherson@intel.com \
    --cc=virtualization@lists.linux-foundation.org \
    /path/to/YOUR_REPLY

  https://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-send-email.html

* If your mail client supports setting the In-Reply-To header
  via mailto: links, try the mailto: link
Be sure your reply has a Subject: header at the top and a blank line before the message body.
This is an external index of several public inboxes,
see mirroring instructions on how to clone and mirror
all data and code used by this external index.