diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 70633e3bf4..160dba2e57 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -1636,6 +1636,7 @@ F: include/hw/boards.h
 F: include/hw/core/cpu.h
 F: include/hw/cpu/cluster.h
 F: include/sysemu/numa.h
+F: tests/unit/test-smp-parse.c
 T: git https://gitlab.com/ehabkost/qemu.git machine-next
 
 Xtensa Machines
diff --git a/tests/unit/meson.build b/tests/unit/meson.build
index 3e0504dd21..694a924627 100644
--- a/tests/unit/meson.build
+++ b/tests/unit/meson.build
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ tests = {
   'test-uuid': [],
   'ptimer-test': ['ptimer-test-stubs.c', meson.source_root() / 'hw/core/ptimer.c'],
   'test-qapi-util': [],
+  'test-smp-parse': [qom, meson.source_root() / 'hw/core/machine-smp.c'],
 }
 
 if have_system or have_tools
diff --git a/tests/unit/test-smp-parse.c b/tests/unit/test-smp-parse.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bc1d324c3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test-smp-parse.c
@@ -0,0 +1,1117 @@
+/*
+ * SMP parsing unit-tests
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2021, Huawei, Inc.
+ *
+ * Authors:
+ *  Yanan Wang <wangyanan55@huawei.com>
+ *
+ * This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2.1 or later.
+ * See the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
+ */
+
+#include "qemu/osdep.h"
+#include "qom/object.h"
+#include "qemu/module.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
+
+#include "hw/boards.h"
+
+#define T true
+#define F false
+
+/**
+ * SMPTestData:
+ * @config - the given SMP configuration for parsing
+ * @should_be_valid - whether the given configuration is supposed to be valid
+ * @expect - the CPU topology info expected to be parsed out
+ */
+typedef struct SMPTestData {
+    SMPConfiguration config;
+    bool should_be_valid;
+    CpuTopology expect;
+} SMPTestData;
+
+/* the specific machine type info for this test */
+static const TypeInfo smp_machine_info = {
+    .name = TYPE_MACHINE,
+    .parent = TYPE_OBJECT,
+    .class_size = sizeof(MachineClass),
+    .instance_size = sizeof(MachineState),
+};
+
+/*
+ * prefer sockets over cores over threads before 6.2.
+ * all possible SMP configurations and the corressponding expected outputs
+ * are listed for testing, including the valid and invalid ones.
+ */
+static struct SMPTestData prefer_sockets[] = {
+    {
+        /* config: no smp configuration provided
+         * expect: cpus=1,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=1 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=8,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 8, 1, 1, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=16,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 16, 1, 1, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=4,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 4, 1, 1, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=16,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 16, 1, 1, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 8, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 4, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=4,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 4, 1, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=8,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 8, 1, 1, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=2,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 2, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 8, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 4, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=4,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 4, 1, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=8,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 8, 1, 1, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,threads=1
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 1, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 0, T, 2, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 2, T, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,dies=2
+         * expect: error, multi-dies not supported */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=8
+         * expect: error, sum (16) != max_cpus (8) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=5,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: error, sum (20) != max_cpus (16) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 3, F, 0, T, 5, T, 1, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,maxcpus=12
+         * expect: error, sum (12) < smp_cpus (16) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 12 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    },
+};
+
+static struct SMPTestData prefer_sockets_support_dies[] = {
+    {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=8,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 8, 2, 1, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 2, 2, 1, 1, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 2, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 1, 2, 1, 2, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=16,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 16, 2, 1, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=4,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 4, 2, 1, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=16,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 16, 2, 1, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 2, 1, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 8, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=4,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 4, 2, 4, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=8,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 8, 2, 1, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 2, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 8, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=4,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 4, 2, 4, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=8,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 8, 2, 1, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 1, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: -smp 32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    },
+};
+
+/*
+ * prefer cores over sockets over threads since 6.2.
+ * all possible SMP configurations and the corressponding expected outputs
+ * are listed for testing, including the valid and invalid ones.
+ */
+static struct SMPTestData prefer_cores[] = {
+    {
+        /* config: no smp configuration
+         * expect: cpus=1,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=1 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 8, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=16,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 1, 16, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 4, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=16,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 16, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 8, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 4, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=4,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 4, 1, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=8,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 1, 8, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=2,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 2, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 8, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 4, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=4,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 4, 1, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=1,cores=8,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 1, 8, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,threads=1
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 1, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, F, 0, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 2, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 1, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 0, T, 2, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,dies=1,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=0
+         * expect: error, "anything=0" is not allowed */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, T, 1, T, 4, T, 2, T, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,dies=2
+         * expect: error, multi-dies not supported */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=8
+         * expect: error, sum (16) != max_cpus (8) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 8, T, 2, F, 0, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 8,sockets=2,cores=5,threads=2,maxcpus=16
+         * expect: error, sum (20) != max_cpus (16) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 3, F, 0, T, 5, T, 1, T, 16 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,maxcpus=12
+         * expect: error, sum (12) < smp_cpus (16) */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0, T, 12 },
+        .should_be_valid = false,
+    },
+};
+
+static struct SMPTestData prefer_cores_support_dies[] = {
+    {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=2,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=2 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 8, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=1,threads=1,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 2, 2, 1, 1, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 1, 2, 4, 1, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=4,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=4 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 4, 1, 2, 1, 2, 4 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=16,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 1, 2, 16, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=16,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 16, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=8,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=1,threads=2,maxcpus=8 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 8, 2, 2, 1, 2, 8 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 8, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=4,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 4, 2, 4, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=8,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 1, 2, 8, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=2,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 2, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=8,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 8, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 4, 2, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=4,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 4, 2, 4, 1, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=1,dies=2,cores=8,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 1, 2, 8, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=1,maxcpus=16 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 1, F, 0 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 1, 16 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, F, 0, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, F, 0, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, F, 0, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: -smp 32,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { F, 0, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 32, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    }, {
+        /* config: -smp 16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32
+         * expect: cpus=16,sockets=2,dies=2,cores=4,threads=2,maxcpus=32 */
+        .config = (SMPConfiguration) { T, 16, T, 2, T, 2, T, 4, T, 2, T, 32 },
+        .should_be_valid = true,
+        .expect = (CpuTopology) { 16, 2, 2, 4, 2, 32 },
+    },
+};
+
+static char *get_config_info(SMPConfiguration *config)
+{
+    return g_strdup_printf(
+        "(SMPConfiguration) {\n"
+        "    .has_cpus    = %5s, cpus    = %ld,\n"
+        "    .has_sockets = %5s, sockets = %ld,\n"
+        "    .has_dies    = %5s, dies    = %ld,\n"
+        "    .has_cores   = %5s, cores   = %ld,\n"
+        "    .has_threads = %5s, threads = %ld,\n"
+        "    .has_maxcpus = %5s, maxcpus = %ld,\n"
+        "}",
+        config->has_cpus ? "true" : "false", config->cpus,
+        config->has_sockets ? "true" : "false", config->sockets,
+        config->has_dies ? "true" : "false", config->dies,
+        config->has_cores ? "true" : "false", config->cores,
+        config->has_threads ? "true" : "false", config->threads,
+        config->has_maxcpus ? "true" : "false", config->maxcpus);
+}
+
+static char *get_topo_info(CpuTopology *topo)
+{
+    return g_strdup_printf(
+        "(CpuTopology) {\n"
+        "    .cpus     = %u,\n"
+        "    .sockets  = %u,\n"
+        "    .dies     = %u,\n"
+        "    .cores    = %u,\n"
+        "    .threads  = %u,\n"
+        "    .max_cpus = %u,\n"
+        "}",
+        topo->cpus, topo->sockets, topo->dies,
+        topo->cores, topo->threads, topo->max_cpus);
+}
+
+static void check_smp_parse(MachineState *ms, SMPTestData *data)
+{
+    SMPConfiguration *config = &data->config;
+    CpuTopology *expect = &data->expect;
+    g_autofree char *config_info = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *expect_info = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *result_info = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
+
+    /* call the generic parser smp_parse() in hw/core/machine-smp.c */
+    smp_parse(ms, config, &err);
+
+    if (data->should_be_valid) {
+        if ((err == NULL) &&
+            (ms->smp.cpus == expect->cpus) &&
+            (ms->smp.sockets == expect->sockets) &&
+            (ms->smp.dies == expect->dies) &&
+            (ms->smp.cores == expect->cores) &&
+            (ms->smp.threads == expect->threads) &&
+            (ms->smp.max_cpus == expect->max_cpus)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        config_info = get_config_info(config);
+        expect_info = get_topo_info(expect);
+
+        if (err != NULL) {
+            g_printerr("Check smp_parse failed:\n"
+                       "config: %s\n"
+                       "expect: %s\n"
+                       "should_be_valid: yes\n\n"
+                       "result_is_valid: no\n"
+                       "error_msg: %s\n",
+                       config_info, expect_info, error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_free(err);
+        } else {
+            result_info = get_topo_info(&ms->smp);
+            g_printerr("Check smp_parse failed:\n"
+                       "config: %s\n"
+                       "expect: %s\n"
+                       "should_be_valid: yes\n\n"
+                       "result_is_valid: yes\n"
+                       "result: %s\n",
+                       config_info, expect_info, result_info);
+        }
+    } else {
+        if (err != NULL) {
+            error_free(err);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        config_info = get_config_info(config);
+        result_info = get_topo_info(&ms->smp);
+
+        g_printerr("Check smp_parse failed:\n"
+                   "config: %s\n"
+                   "should_be_valid: no\n\n"
+                   "result_is_valid: yes\n"
+                   "result: %s\n",
+                   config_info, result_info);
+    }
+
+    abort();
+}
+
+static void smp_prefer_sockets_test(void)
+{
+    Object *obj = object_new(TYPE_MACHINE);
+    MachineState *ms = MACHINE(obj);
+    MachineClass *mc = MACHINE_GET_CLASS(obj);
+    int i;
+
+    /* make sure that we have created the object */
+    g_assert_nonnull(ms);
+    g_assert_nonnull(mc);
+
+    mc->smp_prefer_sockets = true;
+
+    /* test cases when multi-dies are not supported */
+    mc->smp_dies_supported = false;
+    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(prefer_sockets); i++) {
+        check_smp_parse(ms, &prefer_sockets[i]);
+    }
+
+    /* test cases when multi-dies are supported */
+    mc->smp_dies_supported = true;
+    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(prefer_sockets_support_dies); i++) {
+        check_smp_parse(ms, &prefer_sockets_support_dies[i]);
+    }
+
+    object_unref(obj);
+}
+
+static void smp_prefer_cores_test(void)
+{
+    Object *obj = object_new(TYPE_MACHINE);
+    MachineState *ms = MACHINE(obj);
+    MachineClass *mc = MACHINE_GET_CLASS(obj);
+    int i;
+
+    /* make sure that we have created the object */
+    g_assert_nonnull(ms);
+    g_assert_nonnull(mc);
+
+    mc->smp_prefer_sockets = false;
+
+    /* test cases when multi-dies are not supported */
+    mc->smp_dies_supported = false;
+    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(prefer_cores); i++) {
+        check_smp_parse(ms, &prefer_cores[i]);
+    }
+
+    /* test cases when multi-dies are supported */
+    mc->smp_dies_supported = true;
+    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(prefer_cores_support_dies); i++) {
+        check_smp_parse(ms, &prefer_cores_support_dies[i]);
+    }
+
+    object_unref(obj);
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    g_test_init(&argc, &argv, NULL);
+
+    module_call_init(MODULE_INIT_QOM);
+    type_register_static(&smp_machine_info);
+
+    g_test_add_func("/test-smp-parse/prefer_sockets", smp_prefer_sockets_test);
+    g_test_add_func("/test-smp-parse/prefer_cores", smp_prefer_cores_test);
+
+    g_test_run();
+
+    return 0;
+}
