Re: __rcu_process_callbacks() in Linux 2.6

["Paul E. McKenney" <paulmck@linux.vnet.ibm.com>]

On Tue, Nov 27, 2007 at 05:49:15PM -0800, Paul E. McKenney wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 26, 2007 at 06:39:58PM -0800, Paul E. McKenney wrote:
> > On Mon, Nov 26, 2007 at 02:48:08PM -0800, James Huang wrote:
> > > > From: James Huang [mailto:jamesclhuang@yahoo.com]
> > > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 2:21 PM
> > > > To: James Huang
> > > > Subject: Fw: __rcu_process_callbacks() in Linux 2.6
> > > > 
> > > > ----- Forwarded Message ----
> > > > From: Manfred Spraul <manfred@colorfullife.com>
> > > > To: James Huang <jamesclhuang@yahoo.com>
> > > > Cc: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@linux.vnet.ibm.com>; linux-
> > > > kernel@vger.kernel.org
> > > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:28:37 AM
> > > > Subject: __rcu_process_callbacks() in Linux 2.6
> > > > 
> > > > Hi James,
> > > > 
> > > > If I understand the issue correctly, then the race is:
> > > > 
> > > > step 1: cpu 1: starts a new rcu batch (i.e. rcp->cur++, smb_mb)
> > > > 
> > > > step 2: cpu 2: completes the quiet state
> > > > step 3: cpu 2: reads pointer 0x123 (ptr to a rcu protected struct)
> > > > 
> > > > step 4: cpu 3: call_rcu(0x123): rcu protected struct added to
> > > rdp->nxtlist
> > > > step 5: cpu 3: moves a new batch into rdp->curlist, rdp->batch = rcp-
> > > > >cur+1.
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Problem: where is the smp_rmb() that guarantees that
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  update to rcp->cur from step 1 is seen by cpu 3?
> > > > step 6: cpu 3: completes quiet state
> > > > step 7: cpu 3: struct 0x123 destroyed
> > > > 
> > > > step 8: cpu 2: accesses pointer 0x123, but the struct is already
> > > destroyed
> > > > 
> > > > James: Is that the race?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > [James Huang] 
> > > 
> > > Yes, this is the race condition that I am concerned about.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > > I agree with Paul, there are smb_rmb's on cpu 3 between Step 1 and
> > > Step 5:
> > > > Either the test_and_set_bit in tasklet_action for rcu_process_callback
> > > > if step 4 happens before the tasklet or somewhere in the irq handler
> > > > path if step 4 happens in an irq handler that interrupted
> > > > rcu_process_callback.
> > > > 
> > > > Thus theoretically no additional smb_rmb() should be necessary.
> > > > What is missing is proper documentation.
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > [James Huang] 
> > > 
> > > Is it true that a smb_rmb() before a read operation (say from variable
> > > X) will guarantee that the read will always retrieve the most "current"
> > > value of X?   I can not find such a guarantee in atomic_ops.txt or
> > > memory-barriers.txt under Linux's documentation directory.  What is
> > > described in both documents is relative ordering, e.g.
> > > 
> > >             CPU1                       CPU2
> > >            ------                     ------
> > >           write X = x1
> > >           smp_wmb()  
> > >           write Y = y1 
> > > 
> > >                                       read Y
> > >                                       smp_rmb()
> > >                                       read X
> > > 
> > > Then CPU2 will read X with a value of x1 if it reads Y with a value of
> > > y1.
> > > 
> > > Please point me to the right section in the document if smp_rmb() does
> > > provide such a guarantee.
> > 
> > You are correct, smp_rmb() is about ordering rather than about any sort
> > of immediacy.  For one thing, it can be quite difficult to say exactly what
> > the most "current" version of X might be at a given point in time from
> > the viewpoint of a given CPU -- the different CPUs might well disagree as
> > to what the "current" version is for awhile (though they are guaranteed
> > to come to agreement).
> > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > -- James Huang
> > > 
> > > > I'm analyzing the code right now:
> > > > Is it really true that typically a cpu only completes data in every
> > > other
> > > > rcu
> > > > cycle? I.e. that most structures are stored in the rcu callback list
> > > until
> > > > two
> > > > quiet states happened?
> > 
> > That is correct.  This does mean that we should be able to leverage
> > locking primitives and memory barriers executed from the scheduling
> > clock interrupt.
> 
> And I managed to get some time on a 64-CPU POWER5+ system.  Been running
> rcutorture for about 2.5 hours without a failure (128 reader processes)
> running through not quite 1.5M RCU updates.  Of course, this is not
> proof that the Classic RCU implementation works, but is should provide
> some reassurance.
> 
> I will keep it running until I get kicked off (probably rather soon).

More than seven hours, more than 4M RCU updates without failure.
Someone else's turn for the machine.

Again, not proof, but at least some reassurance.

						Thanx, Paul
> 
> > > > I've tried to track the values of rcp->cur and rdp->batch.
> > > > If next_pending is set, then cpu_quiet() immetiately starts
> > > > the next rcu cycle and a cpu cannot both complete the currently
> > > > pending rcu callbacks and add new callbacks to the next cycle,
> > > > thus a cpu only takes part in every other rcu cycle.
> > > > 
> > > > The oocalc file is at
> > > > http://www.colorfullife.com/~manfred/rcu.ods
> > > > http://www.colorfullife.com/~manfred/rcu.pdf
> > > > 
> > > > Is that analysis correct? Perhaps the whole code should be rewritten?
> > 
> > I believe that the sequencing in spreadsheet is correct (and thank
> > you very much for going through it!!!), but it seems to be silent on
> > memory-barrier issues.
> > 
> > I also believe that Gautham's new CPU-hotplug setup will make
> > it possible to simplify the code quite a bit.  And given that the
> > grace-period-detection code is not on any sort of hot code path, it should
> > be possible to use a less-aggressive design, perhaps one using straight
> > locking to guard the shared structures.  Also, we are working in the
> > -rt implementation on a scheme that allows CPUs to stay asleep through
> > a grace period without the heavy overhead that is otherwise required to
> > interact with them.  The trick is to maintain a per-CPU counter that is
> > incremented on each entry and exit to low-power state.  But I would like
> > to get this right in -rt before trying it in Classic RCU.  ;-)
> > 
> > 						Thanx, Paul
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