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authorLinus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>2009-04-03 13:07:43 -0400
committerLinus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>2009-04-03 13:07:43 -0400
commit3cc50ac0dbda5100684e570247782330155d35e0 (patch)
treef4b8f22d1725ebe65d2fe658d292dabacd7ed564 /Documentation/filesystems/caching/backend-api.txt
parentd9b9be024a6628a01d8730d1fd0b5f25658a2794 (diff)
parentb797cac7487dee6bfddeb161631c1bbc54fa3cdb (diff)
Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/dhowells/linux-2.6-fscache
* git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/dhowells/linux-2.6-fscache: (41 commits) NFS: Add mount options to enable local caching on NFS NFS: Display local caching state NFS: Store pages from an NFS inode into a local cache NFS: Read pages from FS-Cache into an NFS inode NFS: nfs_readpage_async() needs to be accessible as a fallback for local caching NFS: Add read context retention for FS-Cache to call back with NFS: FS-Cache page management NFS: Add some new I/O counters for FS-Cache doing things for NFS NFS: Invalidate FsCache page flags when cache removed NFS: Use local disk inode cache NFS: Define and create inode-level cache objects NFS: Define and create superblock-level objects NFS: Define and create server-level objects NFS: Register NFS for caching and retrieve the top-level index NFS: Permit local filesystem caching to be enabled for NFS NFS: Add FS-Cache option bit and debug bit NFS: Add comment banners to some NFS functions FS-Cache: Make kAFS use FS-Cache CacheFiles: A cache that backs onto a mounted filesystem CacheFiles: Export things for CacheFiles ...
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1 ==========================
2 FS-CACHE CACHE BACKEND API
3 ==========================
4
5The FS-Cache system provides an API by which actual caches can be supplied to
6FS-Cache for it to then serve out to network filesystems and other interested
7parties.
8
9This API is declared in <linux/fscache-cache.h>.
10
11
12====================================
13INITIALISING AND REGISTERING A CACHE
14====================================
15
16To start off, a cache definition must be initialised and registered for each
17cache the backend wants to make available. For instance, CacheFS does this in
18the fill_super() operation on mounting.
19
20The cache definition (struct fscache_cache) should be initialised by calling:
21
22 void fscache_init_cache(struct fscache_cache *cache,
23 struct fscache_cache_ops *ops,
24 const char *idfmt,
25 ...);
26
27Where:
28
29 (*) "cache" is a pointer to the cache definition;
30
31 (*) "ops" is a pointer to the table of operations that the backend supports on
32 this cache; and
33
34 (*) "idfmt" is a format and printf-style arguments for constructing a label
35 for the cache.
36
37
38The cache should then be registered with FS-Cache by passing a pointer to the
39previously initialised cache definition to:
40
41 int fscache_add_cache(struct fscache_cache *cache,
42 struct fscache_object *fsdef,
43 const char *tagname);
44
45Two extra arguments should also be supplied:
46
47 (*) "fsdef" which should point to the object representation for the FS-Cache
48 master index in this cache. Netfs primary index entries will be created
49 here. FS-Cache keeps the caller's reference to the index object if
50 successful and will release it upon withdrawal of the cache.
51
52 (*) "tagname" which, if given, should be a text string naming this cache. If
53 this is NULL, the identifier will be used instead. For CacheFS, the
54 identifier is set to name the underlying block device and the tag can be
55 supplied by mount.
56
57This function may return -ENOMEM if it ran out of memory or -EEXIST if the tag
58is already in use. 0 will be returned on success.
59
60
61=====================
62UNREGISTERING A CACHE
63=====================
64
65A cache can be withdrawn from the system by calling this function with a
66pointer to the cache definition:
67
68 void fscache_withdraw_cache(struct fscache_cache *cache);
69
70In CacheFS's case, this is called by put_super().
71
72
73========
74SECURITY
75========
76
77The cache methods are executed one of two contexts:
78
79 (1) that of the userspace process that issued the netfs operation that caused
80 the cache method to be invoked, or
81
82 (2) that of one of the processes in the FS-Cache thread pool.
83
84In either case, this may not be an appropriate context in which to access the
85cache.
86
87The calling process's fsuid, fsgid and SELinux security identities may need to
88be masqueraded for the duration of the cache driver's access to the cache.
89This is left to the cache to handle; FS-Cache makes no effort in this regard.
90
91
92===================================
93CONTROL AND STATISTICS PRESENTATION
94===================================
95
96The cache may present data to the outside world through FS-Cache's interfaces
97in sysfs and procfs - the former for control and the latter for statistics.
98
99A sysfs directory called /sys/fs/fscache/<cachetag>/ is created if CONFIG_SYSFS
100is enabled. This is accessible through the kobject struct fscache_cache::kobj
101and is for use by the cache as it sees fit.
102
103
104========================
105RELEVANT DATA STRUCTURES
106========================
107
108 (*) Index/Data file FS-Cache representation cookie:
109
110 struct fscache_cookie {
111 struct fscache_object_def *def;
112 struct fscache_netfs *netfs;
113 void *netfs_data;
114 ...
115 };
116
117 The fields that might be of use to the backend describe the object
118 definition, the netfs definition and the netfs's data for this cookie.
119 The object definition contain functions supplied by the netfs for loading
120 and matching index entries; these are required to provide some of the
121 cache operations.
122
123
124 (*) In-cache object representation:
125
126 struct fscache_object {
127 int debug_id;
128 enum {
129 FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING,
130 ...
131 } state;
132 spinlock_t lock
133 struct fscache_cache *cache;
134 struct fscache_cookie *cookie;
135 ...
136 };
137
138 Structures of this type should be allocated by the cache backend and
139 passed to FS-Cache when requested by the appropriate cache operation. In
140 the case of CacheFS, they're embedded in CacheFS's internal object
141 structures.
142
143 The debug_id is a simple integer that can be used in debugging messages
144 that refer to a particular object. In such a case it should be printed
145 using "OBJ%x" to be consistent with FS-Cache.
146
147 Each object contains a pointer to the cookie that represents the object it
148 is backing. An object should retired when put_object() is called if it is
149 in state FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING. The fscache_object struct should be
150 initialised by calling fscache_object_init(object).
151
152
153 (*) FS-Cache operation record:
154
155 struct fscache_operation {
156 atomic_t usage;
157 struct fscache_object *object;
158 unsigned long flags;
159 #define FSCACHE_OP_EXCLUSIVE
160 void (*processor)(struct fscache_operation *op);
161 void (*release)(struct fscache_operation *op);
162 ...
163 };
164
165 FS-Cache has a pool of threads that it uses to give CPU time to the
166 various asynchronous operations that need to be done as part of driving
167 the cache. These are represented by the above structure. The processor
168 method is called to give the op CPU time, and the release method to get
169 rid of it when its usage count reaches 0.
170
171 An operation can be made exclusive upon an object by setting the
172 appropriate flag before enqueuing it with fscache_enqueue_operation(). If
173 an operation needs more processing time, it should be enqueued again.
174
175
176 (*) FS-Cache retrieval operation record:
177
178 struct fscache_retrieval {
179 struct fscache_operation op;
180 struct address_space *mapping;
181 struct list_head *to_do;
182 ...
183 };
184
185 A structure of this type is allocated by FS-Cache to record retrieval and
186 allocation requests made by the netfs. This struct is then passed to the
187 backend to do the operation. The backend may get extra refs to it by
188 calling fscache_get_retrieval() and refs may be discarded by calling
189 fscache_put_retrieval().
190
191 A retrieval operation can be used by the backend to do retrieval work. To
192 do this, the retrieval->op.processor method pointer should be set
193 appropriately by the backend and fscache_enqueue_retrieval() called to
194 submit it to the thread pool. CacheFiles, for example, uses this to queue
195 page examination when it detects PG_lock being cleared.
196
197 The to_do field is an empty list available for the cache backend to use as
198 it sees fit.
199
200
201 (*) FS-Cache storage operation record:
202
203 struct fscache_storage {
204 struct fscache_operation op;
205 pgoff_t store_limit;
206 ...
207 };
208
209 A structure of this type is allocated by FS-Cache to record outstanding
210 writes to be made. FS-Cache itself enqueues this operation and invokes
211 the write_page() method on the object at appropriate times to effect
212 storage.
213
214
215================
216CACHE OPERATIONS
217================
218
219The cache backend provides FS-Cache with a table of operations that can be
220performed on the denizens of the cache. These are held in a structure of type:
221
222 struct fscache_cache_ops
223
224 (*) Name of cache provider [mandatory]:
225
226 const char *name
227
228 This isn't strictly an operation, but should be pointed at a string naming
229 the backend.
230
231
232 (*) Allocate a new object [mandatory]:
233
234 struct fscache_object *(*alloc_object)(struct fscache_cache *cache,
235 struct fscache_cookie *cookie)
236
237 This method is used to allocate a cache object representation to back a
238 cookie in a particular cache. fscache_object_init() should be called on
239 the object to initialise it prior to returning.
240
241 This function may also be used to parse the index key to be used for
242 multiple lookup calls to turn it into a more convenient form. FS-Cache
243 will call the lookup_complete() method to allow the cache to release the
244 form once lookup is complete or aborted.
245
246
247 (*) Look up and create object [mandatory]:
248
249 void (*lookup_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
250
251 This method is used to look up an object, given that the object is already
252 allocated and attached to the cookie. This should instantiate that object
253 in the cache if it can.
254
255 The method should call fscache_object_lookup_negative() as soon as
256 possible if it determines the object doesn't exist in the cache. If the
257 object is found to exist and the netfs indicates that it is valid then
258 fscache_obtained_object() should be called once the object is in a
259 position to have data stored in it. Similarly, fscache_obtained_object()
260 should also be called once a non-present object has been created.
261
262 If a lookup error occurs, fscache_object_lookup_error() should be called
263 to abort the lookup of that object.
264
265
266 (*) Release lookup data [mandatory]:
267
268 void (*lookup_complete)(struct fscache_object *object)
269
270 This method is called to ask the cache to release any resources it was
271 using to perform a lookup.
272
273
274 (*) Increment object refcount [mandatory]:
275
276 struct fscache_object *(*grab_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
277
278 This method is called to increment the reference count on an object. It
279 may fail (for instance if the cache is being withdrawn) by returning NULL.
280 It should return the object pointer if successful.
281
282
283 (*) Lock/Unlock object [mandatory]:
284
285 void (*lock_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
286 void (*unlock_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
287
288 These methods are used to exclusively lock an object. It must be possible
289 to schedule with the lock held, so a spinlock isn't sufficient.
290
291
292 (*) Pin/Unpin object [optional]:
293
294 int (*pin_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
295 void (*unpin_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
296
297 These methods are used to pin an object into the cache. Once pinned an
298 object cannot be reclaimed to make space. Return -ENOSPC if there's not
299 enough space in the cache to permit this.
300
301
302 (*) Update object [mandatory]:
303
304 int (*update_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
305
306 This is called to update the index entry for the specified object. The
307 new information should be in object->cookie->netfs_data. This can be
308 obtained by calling object->cookie->def->get_aux()/get_attr().
309
310
311 (*) Discard object [mandatory]:
312
313 void (*drop_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
314
315 This method is called to indicate that an object has been unbound from its
316 cookie, and that the cache should release the object's resources and
317 retire it if it's in state FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING.
318
319 This method should not attempt to release any references held by the
320 caller. The caller will invoke the put_object() method as appropriate.
321
322
323 (*) Release object reference [mandatory]:
324
325 void (*put_object)(struct fscache_object *object)
326
327 This method is used to discard a reference to an object. The object may
328 be freed when all the references to it are released.
329
330
331 (*) Synchronise a cache [mandatory]:
332
333 void (*sync)(struct fscache_cache *cache)
334
335 This is called to ask the backend to synchronise a cache with its backing
336 device.
337
338
339 (*) Dissociate a cache [mandatory]:
340
341 void (*dissociate_pages)(struct fscache_cache *cache)
342
343 This is called to ask a cache to perform any page dissociations as part of
344 cache withdrawal.
345
346
347 (*) Notification that the attributes on a netfs file changed [mandatory]:
348
349 int (*attr_changed)(struct fscache_object *object);
350
351 This is called to indicate to the cache that certain attributes on a netfs
352 file have changed (for example the maximum size a file may reach). The
353 cache can read these from the netfs by calling the cookie's get_attr()
354 method.
355
356 The cache may use the file size information to reserve space on the cache.
357 It should also call fscache_set_store_limit() to indicate to FS-Cache the
358 highest byte it's willing to store for an object.
359
360 This method may return -ve if an error occurred or the cache object cannot
361 be expanded. In such a case, the object will be withdrawn from service.
362
363 This operation is run asynchronously from FS-Cache's thread pool, and
364 storage and retrieval operations from the netfs are excluded during the
365 execution of this operation.
366
367
368 (*) Reserve cache space for an object's data [optional]:
369
370 int (*reserve_space)(struct fscache_object *object, loff_t size);
371
372 This is called to request that cache space be reserved to hold the data
373 for an object and the metadata used to track it. Zero size should be
374 taken as request to cancel a reservation.
375
376 This should return 0 if successful, -ENOSPC if there isn't enough space
377 available, or -ENOMEM or -EIO on other errors.
378
379 The reservation may exceed the current size of the object, thus permitting
380 future expansion. If the amount of space consumed by an object would
381 exceed the reservation, it's permitted to refuse requests to allocate
382 pages, but not required. An object may be pruned down to its reservation
383 size if larger than that already.
384
385
386 (*) Request page be read from cache [mandatory]:
387
388 int (*read_or_alloc_page)(struct fscache_retrieval *op,
389 struct page *page,
390 gfp_t gfp)
391
392 This is called to attempt to read a netfs page from the cache, or to
393 reserve a backing block if not. FS-Cache will have done as much checking
394 as it can before calling, but most of the work belongs to the backend.
395
396 If there's no page in the cache, then -ENODATA should be returned if the
397 backend managed to reserve a backing block; -ENOBUFS or -ENOMEM if it
398 didn't.
399
400 If there is suitable data in the cache, then a read operation should be
401 queued and 0 returned. When the read finishes, fscache_end_io() should be
402 called.
403
404 The fscache_mark_pages_cached() should be called for the page if any cache
405 metadata is retained. This will indicate to the netfs that the page needs
406 explicit uncaching. This operation takes a pagevec, thus allowing several
407 pages to be marked at once.
408
409 The retrieval record pointed to by op should be retained for each page
410 queued and released when I/O on the page has been formally ended.
411 fscache_get/put_retrieval() are available for this purpose.
412
413 The retrieval record may be used to get CPU time via the FS-Cache thread
414 pool. If this is desired, the op->op.processor should be set to point to
415 the appropriate processing routine, and fscache_enqueue_retrieval() should
416 be called at an appropriate point to request CPU time. For instance, the
417 retrieval routine could be enqueued upon the completion of a disk read.
418 The to_do field in the retrieval record is provided to aid in this.
419
420 If an I/O error occurs, fscache_io_error() should be called and -ENOBUFS
421 returned if possible or fscache_end_io() called with a suitable error
422 code..
423
424
425 (*) Request pages be read from cache [mandatory]:
426
427 int (*read_or_alloc_pages)(struct fscache_retrieval *op,
428 struct list_head *pages,
429 unsigned *nr_pages,
430 gfp_t gfp)
431
432 This is like the read_or_alloc_page() method, except it is handed a list
433 of pages instead of one page. Any pages on which a read operation is
434 started must be added to the page cache for the specified mapping and also
435 to the LRU. Such pages must also be removed from the pages list and
436 *nr_pages decremented per page.
437
438 If there was an error such as -ENOMEM, then that should be returned; else
439 if one or more pages couldn't be read or allocated, then -ENOBUFS should
440 be returned; else if one or more pages couldn't be read, then -ENODATA
441 should be returned. If all the pages are dispatched then 0 should be
442 returned.
443
444
445 (*) Request page be allocated in the cache [mandatory]:
446
447 int (*allocate_page)(struct fscache_retrieval *op,
448 struct page *page,
449 gfp_t gfp)
450
451 This is like the read_or_alloc_page() method, except that it shouldn't
452 read from the cache, even if there's data there that could be retrieved.
453 It should, however, set up any internal metadata required such that
454 the write_page() method can write to the cache.
455
456 If there's no backing block available, then -ENOBUFS should be returned
457 (or -ENOMEM if there were other problems). If a block is successfully
458 allocated, then the netfs page should be marked and 0 returned.
459
460
461 (*) Request pages be allocated in the cache [mandatory]:
462
463 int (*allocate_pages)(struct fscache_retrieval *op,
464 struct list_head *pages,
465 unsigned *nr_pages,
466 gfp_t gfp)
467
468 This is an multiple page version of the allocate_page() method. pages and
469 nr_pages should be treated as for the read_or_alloc_pages() method.
470
471
472 (*) Request page be written to cache [mandatory]:
473
474 int (*write_page)(struct fscache_storage *op,
475 struct page *page);
476
477 This is called to write from a page on which there was a previously
478 successful read_or_alloc_page() call or similar. FS-Cache filters out
479 pages that don't have mappings.
480
481 This method is called asynchronously from the FS-Cache thread pool. It is
482 not required to actually store anything, provided -ENODATA is then
483 returned to the next read of this page.
484
485 If an error occurred, then a negative error code should be returned,
486 otherwise zero should be returned. FS-Cache will take appropriate action
487 in response to an error, such as withdrawing this object.
488
489 If this method returns success then FS-Cache will inform the netfs
490 appropriately.
491
492
493 (*) Discard retained per-page metadata [mandatory]:
494
495 void (*uncache_page)(struct fscache_object *object, struct page *page)
496
497 This is called when a netfs page is being evicted from the pagecache. The
498 cache backend should tear down any internal representation or tracking it
499 maintains for this page.
500
501
502==================
503FS-CACHE UTILITIES
504==================
505
506FS-Cache provides some utilities that a cache backend may make use of:
507
508 (*) Note occurrence of an I/O error in a cache:
509
510 void fscache_io_error(struct fscache_cache *cache)
511
512 This tells FS-Cache that an I/O error occurred in the cache. After this
513 has been called, only resource dissociation operations (object and page
514 release) will be passed from the netfs to the cache backend for the
515 specified cache.
516
517 This does not actually withdraw the cache. That must be done separately.
518
519
520 (*) Invoke the retrieval I/O completion function:
521
522 void fscache_end_io(struct fscache_retrieval *op, struct page *page,
523 int error);
524
525 This is called to note the end of an attempt to retrieve a page. The
526 error value should be 0 if successful and an error otherwise.
527
528
529 (*) Set highest store limit:
530
531 void fscache_set_store_limit(struct fscache_object *object,
532 loff_t i_size);
533
534 This sets the limit FS-Cache imposes on the highest byte it's willing to
535 try and store for a netfs. Any page over this limit is automatically
536 rejected by fscache_read_alloc_page() and co with -ENOBUFS.
537
538
539 (*) Mark pages as being cached:
540
541 void fscache_mark_pages_cached(struct fscache_retrieval *op,
542 struct pagevec *pagevec);
543
544 This marks a set of pages as being cached. After this has been called,
545 the netfs must call fscache_uncache_page() to unmark the pages.
546
547
548 (*) Perform coherency check on an object:
549
550 enum fscache_checkaux fscache_check_aux(struct fscache_object *object,
551 const void *data,
552 uint16_t datalen);
553
554 This asks the netfs to perform a coherency check on an object that has
555 just been looked up. The cookie attached to the object will determine the
556 netfs to use. data and datalen should specify where the auxiliary data
557 retrieved from the cache can be found.
558
559 One of three values will be returned:
560
561 (*) FSCACHE_CHECKAUX_OKAY
562
563 The coherency data indicates the object is valid as is.
564
565 (*) FSCACHE_CHECKAUX_NEEDS_UPDATE
566
567 The coherency data needs updating, but otherwise the object is
568 valid.
569
570 (*) FSCACHE_CHECKAUX_OBSOLETE
571
572 The coherency data indicates that the object is obsolete and should
573 be discarded.
574
575
576 (*) Initialise a freshly allocated object:
577
578 void fscache_object_init(struct fscache_object *object);
579
580 This initialises all the fields in an object representation.
581
582
583 (*) Indicate the destruction of an object:
584
585 void fscache_object_destroyed(struct fscache_cache *cache);
586
587 This must be called to inform FS-Cache that an object that belonged to a
588 cache has been destroyed and deallocated. This will allow continuation
589 of the cache withdrawal process when it is stopped pending destruction of
590 all the objects.
591
592
593 (*) Indicate negative lookup on an object:
594
595 void fscache_object_lookup_negative(struct fscache_object *object);
596
597 This is called to indicate to FS-Cache that a lookup process for an object
598 found a negative result.
599
600 This changes the state of an object to permit reads pending on lookup
601 completion to go off and start fetching data from the netfs server as it's
602 known at this point that there can't be any data in the cache.
603
604 This may be called multiple times on an object. Only the first call is
605 significant - all subsequent calls are ignored.
606
607
608 (*) Indicate an object has been obtained:
609
610 void fscache_obtained_object(struct fscache_object *object);
611
612 This is called to indicate to FS-Cache that a lookup process for an object
613 produced a positive result, or that an object was created. This should
614 only be called once for any particular object.
615
616 This changes the state of an object to indicate:
617
618 (1) if no call to fscache_object_lookup_negative() has been made on
619 this object, that there may be data available, and that reads can
620 now go and look for it; and
621
622 (2) that writes may now proceed against this object.
623
624
625 (*) Indicate that object lookup failed:
626
627 void fscache_object_lookup_error(struct fscache_object *object);
628
629 This marks an object as having encountered a fatal error (usually EIO)
630 and causes it to move into a state whereby it will be withdrawn as soon
631 as possible.
632
633
634 (*) Get and release references on a retrieval record:
635
636 void fscache_get_retrieval(struct fscache_retrieval *op);
637 void fscache_put_retrieval(struct fscache_retrieval *op);
638
639 These two functions are used to retain a retrieval record whilst doing
640 asynchronous data retrieval and block allocation.
641
642
643 (*) Enqueue a retrieval record for processing.
644
645 void fscache_enqueue_retrieval(struct fscache_retrieval *op);
646
647 This enqueues a retrieval record for processing by the FS-Cache thread
648 pool. One of the threads in the pool will invoke the retrieval record's
649 op->op.processor callback function. This function may be called from
650 within the callback function.
651
652
653 (*) List of object state names:
654
655 const char *fscache_object_states[];
656
657 For debugging purposes, this may be used to turn the state that an object
658 is in into a text string for display purposes.