Second-level address translation (SLAT)

SLAT is a feature of the Intel VT-x and AMD-V virtualization extensions that allows the guest operating system to directly access the underlying hardware's memory management unit (MMU). This results in a significant performance improvement over traditional approaches to virtualization, which typically involve the use of a software-based MMU.

SLAT is also known as extended page tables (EPT) on Intel VT-x systems, and nested page tables (NPT) on AMD-V systems.

How do I know if my CPU supports Second Level Address Translation SLAT?

There are a few ways to check if your CPU supports Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).

First, you can check the CPU's specification sheet. SLAT should be listed as a feature if the CPU supports it.

Second, you can check the BIOS settings. If SLAT is enabled, it should be listed in the BIOS settings.

Third, you can check the CPUID instruction. If the CPU supports SLAT, the CPUID instruction will return a non-zero value for the CPUID.01H:ECX.XCR0[6] bit.

Fourth, you can check the Windows Device Manager. If the CPU supports SLAT, the Device Manager will list an "Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)" or an "AMD-V with IOMMU" feature under the "Processors" category.

Where is second level address translation in Windows 10?

Windows 10 uses a feature called "Address Space Layout Randomization" (ASLR) which randomizes the locations of important data structures in memory in order to make it more difficult for attackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities. One of the data structures that is randomized is the location of the second level address translation table, which is used by the processor to convert virtual addresses to physical addresses. The exact location of the table is not fixed, but it is typically located somewhere in the middle of the address space. Does AMD support SLAT? Yes, AMD supports SLAT. More specifically, AMD's processors support a feature called Extended Page Tables (EPT), which provides SLAT functionality. EPT is available on all AMD processors starting with the Opteron 6100 series.

How do you find second level address translation?

In order to find second level address translation, you need to first enable virtualization on the CPU. This can be done in the BIOS settings. Once virtualization is enabled, you can then install a virtualization software such as VMware or VirtualBox. With these programs, you can create virtual machines and enable second level address translation. Can I run Hyper-V without SLAT? Yes, it is possible to run Hyper-V without SLAT. However, doing so may reduce the performance of your virtual machines and may cause other issues.