[PATCH] x86/mm/doc: Restore M TB notation as favoured over EB
From: Tali Vision
Date: Sat Oct 17 2026 - 19:43:54 EST
mm.rst currently contains a note about why the "16M TB" notation is
favoured over "16 EB" notation. This notation is absent from the memory
map as it was replaced by two "8 EB" sections, distinguishing between a
'user' and 'kernel' range in the 16 EB non-canonical memory hole.
Restore the notation introduced in commit 32b89760ddf4 ("x86/mm/doc:
Enhance the x86-64 virtual memory layout descriptions") and overwritten
in commit 035c5e2143f3 ("x86/mm/doc: Add missing details in virtual
memory layout"). Correct note about notation to use integer 8 instead of
integer 16.
Signed-off-by: Tali Vision <tdm@tali.vision>
---
Documentation/arch/x86/x86_64/mm.rst | 16 ++++++++--------
1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/arch/x86/x86_64/mm.rst b/Documentation/arch/x86/x86_64/mm.rst
index a6cf05d51bd8..66afcc2e595f 100644
--- a/Documentation/arch/x86/x86_64/mm.rst
+++ b/Documentation/arch/x86/x86_64/mm.rst
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ Complete virtual memory map with 4-level page tables
Note that as we get closer to the top of the address space, the notation changes
from TB to GB and then MB/KB.
- - "16M TB" might look weird at first sight, but it's an easier way to visualize size
- notation than "16 EB", which few will recognize at first sight as 16 exabytes.
+ - "8M TB" might look weird at first sight, but it's an easier way to visualize size
+ notation than "8 EB", which few will recognize at first sight as 8 exabytes.
It also shows it nicely how incredibly large 64-bit address space is.
::
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ Complete virtual memory map with 4-level page tables
00007ffffffff000 | ~128 TB | 00007fffffffffff | 4 kB | ... guard hole
__________________|____________|__________________|_________|___________________________________________________________
| | | |
- 0000800000000000 | +128 TB | 7fffffffffffffff | ~8 EB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
- | | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -8 EB
+ 0000800000000000 | +128 TB | 7fffffffffffffff | ~8M TB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
+ | | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -8M TB
| | | | starting offset of kernel mappings.
| | | |
| | | | LAM relaxes canonicallity check allowing to create aliases
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Complete virtual memory map with 4-level page tables
| Kernel-space virtual memory, shared between all processes:
__________________|____________|__________________|_________|___________________________________________________________
| | | |
- 8000000000000000 | -8 EB | ffff7fffffffffff | ~8 EB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
+ 8000000000000000 | -8M TB | ffff7fffffffffff | ~8M TB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
| | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -128 TB
| | | | starting offset of kernel mappings.
| | | |
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ Complete virtual memory map with 5-level page tables
00fffffffffff000 | ~64 PB | 00ffffffffffffff | 4 kB | ... guard hole
__________________|____________|__________________|_________|___________________________________________________________
| | | |
- 0100000000000000 | +64 PB | 7fffffffffffffff | ~8 EB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
- | | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -8EB TB
+ 0100000000000000 | +64 PB | 7fffffffffffffff | ~8M TB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
+ | | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -8M TB
| | | | starting offset of kernel mappings.
| | | |
| | | | LAM relaxes canonicallity check allowing to create aliases
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ Complete virtual memory map with 5-level page tables
|
| Kernel-space virtual memory, shared between all processes:
____________________________________________________________|___________________________________________________________
- 8000000000000000 | -8 EB | feffffffffffffff | ~8 EB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
+ 8000000000000000 | -8M TB | feffffffffffffff | ~8M TB | ... huge, almost 63 bits wide hole of non-canonical
| | | | virtual memory addresses up to the -64 PB
| | | | starting offset of kernel mappings.
| | | |
--
2.39.5 (Apple Git-154)