Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!husc6!encore!pinocchio.encore.com From: jkenton@pinocchio.encore.com (Jeff Kenton) Newsgroups: comp.arch Subject: Re: Is handling off-alignment important? Message-ID: <12409@encore.Encore.COM> Date: 8 Aug 90 11:51:36 GMT References: Sender: news@Encore.COM Lines: 14 From article , by mcgrath@homer.Berkeley.EDU (Roland McGrath): > On machines that "don't handle misaligned accesses", what do they do when one > happens anyway? On the Motorola 88000 a misaligned access causes a trap into the kernel. There is a bit in the status word which can override this, in which case the CPU assumes zero for the appropriate number of low order bits. Kernels can either signal the offending process on a fault, or complete the offending access and continue. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - jeff kenton --- temporarily at jkenton@pinocchio.encore.com --- always at (617) 894-4508 --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -