1. A method of controlling a processor through an external control path, comprising: sending a command through said external control path to a control logic within said processor, wherein said command includes an indicator indicating whether or not said command is thread-execution-state dependent; receiving said command at said control logic and determining whether or not said command is thread-execution-state dependent; in response to determining that said command is thread execution-state-dependent, second determining whether or not a state of execution of each of one or more threads implicated by said command matches a predetermined execution state associated with said indicator.