Preloading translation buffers

A mechanism is provided for efficiently managing the operation of a translation buffer. The mechanism is utilized to pre-load a translation buffer to prevent poor operation as a result of slow warming of a cache. A software pre-load mechanism may be provided for preloading a translation look aside buffer (TLB) via a hardware implemented controller. Following preloading of the TLB, control of accessing the TLB may be handed over to the hardware implemented controller. Upon an application context switch operation, the software preload mechanism may be utilized again to preload the TLB with new translation information for the newly active application instance.