Microsoft Corporation
Cache-based tracing for time travel debugging and analysis

Abstract:

A processor is configured to record a replay-able trace of execution of an execution entity. Based on detection of a cache miss during the execution of the execution entity, the processor records an influx of data imported into a processor cache in response to the cache miss, and sets a hardware bit on a cache line of the processor cache storing the influx of data. The hardware bit indicates that the cache line has been recorded into a trace. In addition, the processor records by recording at least one side effect of the access by the execution entity to the model-specific register.