Revert "tty: make receive_buf() return the amout of bytes received"

This reverts commit b1c43f82c5aa265442f82dba31ce985ebb7aa71c.

It was broken in so many ways, and results in random odd pty issues.

It re-introduced the buggy schedule_work() in flush_to_ldisc() that can
cause endless work-loops (see commit a5660b41af6a: "tty: fix endless
work loop when the buffer fills up").

It also used an "unsigned int" return value fo the ->receive_buf()
function, but then made multiple functions return a negative error code,
and didn't actually check for the error in the caller.

And it didn't actually work at all.  BenH bisected down odd tty behavior
to it:
  "It looks like the patch is causing some major malfunctions of the X
   server for me, possibly related to PTYs.  For example, cat'ing a
   large file in a gnome terminal hangs the kernel for -minutes- in a
   loop of what looks like flush_to_ldisc/workqueue code, (some ftrace
   data in the quoted bits further down).

   ...

   Some more data: It -looks- like what happens is that the
   flush_to_ldisc work queue entry constantly re-queues itself (because
   the PTY is full ?) and the workqueue thread will basically loop
   forver calling it without ever scheduling, thus starving the consumer
   process that could have emptied the PTY."

which is pretty much exactly the problem we fixed in a5660b41af6a.

Milton Miller pointed out the 'unsigned int' issue.

Reported-by: Benjamin Herrenschmidt <benh@kernel.crashing.org>
Reported-by: Milton Miller <miltonm@bga.com>
Cc: Stefan Bigler <stefan.bigler@keymile.com>
Cc: Toby Gray <toby.gray@realvnc.com>
Cc: Felipe Balbi <balbi@ti.com>
Cc: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@suse.de>
Cc: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>
Signed-off-by: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>

19 files changed, 111 insertions, 123 deletions

diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
index b3f01996318f..48ad2a7ab080 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
@@ -355,29 +355,24 @@ static void hci_uart_tty_wakeup(struct tty_struct *tty)
  *             flags        pointer to flags for data
  *             count        count of received data in bytes
  *     
- * Return Value:    Number of bytes received
+ * Return Value:    None
  */
-static unsigned int hci_uart_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const u8 *data, char *flags, int count)
+static void hci_uart_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const u8 *data, char *flags, int count)
 {
         struct hci_uart *hu = (void *)tty->disc_data;
-        int received;
 
         if (!hu || tty != hu->tty)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
 
         if (!test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags))
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return;
 
         spin_lock(&hu->rx_lock);
-        received = hu->proto->recv(hu, (void *) data, count);
-        if (received > 0)
-                hu->hdev->stat.byte_rx += received;
+        hu->proto->recv(hu, (void *) data, count);
+        hu->hdev->stat.byte_rx += count;
         spin_unlock(&hu->rx_lock);
 
         tty_unthrottle(tty);
-
-        return received;
 }
 
 static int hci_uart_register_dev(struct hci_uart *hu)
diff --git a/drivers/input/serio/serport.c b/drivers/input/serio/serport.c
index f3698967edf6..8755f5f3ad37 100644
--- a/drivers/input/serio/serport.c
+++ b/drivers/input/serio/serport.c
@@ -120,21 +120,17 @@ static void serport_ldisc_close(struct tty_struct *tty)
  * 'interrupt' routine.
  */
 
-static unsigned int serport_ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void serport_ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct serport *serport = (struct serport*) tty->disc_data;
         unsigned long flags;
         unsigned int ch_flags;
-        int ret = 0;
         int i;
 
         spin_lock_irqsave(&serport->lock, flags);
 
-        if (!test_bit(SERPORT_ACTIVE, &serport->flags)) {
-                ret = -EINVAL;
+        if (!test_bit(SERPORT_ACTIVE, &serport->flags))
                 goto out;
-        }
 
         for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
                 switch (fp[i]) {
@@ -156,8 +152,6 @@ static unsigned int serport_ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
 
 out:
         spin_unlock_irqrestore(&serport->lock, flags);
-
-        return ret == 0 ? count : ret;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/isdn/gigaset/ser-gigaset.c b/drivers/isdn/gigaset/ser-gigaset.c
index 1d44d470897c..86a5c4f7775e 100644
--- a/drivers/isdn/gigaset/ser-gigaset.c
+++ b/drivers/isdn/gigaset/ser-gigaset.c
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ gigaset_tty_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
  *      cflags  buffer containing error flags for received characters (ignored)
  *      count   number of received characters
  */
-static unsigned int
+static void
 gigaset_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
                     char *cflags, int count)
 {
@@ -683,12 +683,12 @@ gigaset_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
         struct inbuf_t *inbuf;
 
         if (!cs)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
         inbuf = cs->inbuf;
         if (!inbuf) {
                 dev_err(cs->dev, "%s: no inbuf\n", __func__);
                 cs_put(cs);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return;
         }
 
         tail = inbuf->tail;
@@ -725,8 +725,6 @@ gigaset_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
         gig_dbg(DEBUG_INTR, "%s-->BH", __func__);
         gigaset_schedule_event(cs);
         cs_put(cs);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/misc/ti-st/st_core.c b/drivers/misc/ti-st/st_core.c
index 1a05fe08e2cb..f91f82eabda7 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/ti-st/st_core.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/ti-st/st_core.c
@@ -747,8 +747,8 @@ static void st_tty_close(struct tty_struct *tty)
         pr_debug("%s: done ", __func__);
 }
 
-static unsigned int st_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *data, char *tty_flags, int count)
+static void st_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *data,
+                           char *tty_flags, int count)
 {
 #ifdef VERBOSE
         print_hex_dump(KERN_DEBUG, ">in>", DUMP_PREFIX_NONE,
@@ -761,8 +761,6 @@ static unsigned int st_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
          */
         st_recv(tty->disc_data, data, count);
         pr_debug("done %s", __func__);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /* wake-up function called in from the TTY layer
diff --git a/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c b/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
index 73c7e03617ec..3df0c0f8b8bf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
+++ b/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ static inline void debugfs_tx(struct ser_device *ser, const u8 *data, int size)
 
 #endif
 
-static unsigned int ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const u8 *data, char *flags, int count)
+static void ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const u8 *data,
+                        char *flags, int count)
 {
         struct sk_buff *skb = NULL;
         struct ser_device *ser;
@@ -215,8 +215,6 @@ static unsigned int ldisc_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
         } else
                 ++ser->dev->stats.rx_dropped;
         update_tty_status(ser);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 static int handle_tx(struct ser_device *ser)
diff --git a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
index 75622d54581f..1b49df6b2470 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
@@ -425,17 +425,16 @@ static void slc_setup(struct net_device *dev)
  * in parallel
  */
 
-static unsigned int slcan_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
+static void slcan_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                               const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct slcan *sl = (struct slcan *) tty->disc_data;
-        int bytes = count;
 
         if (!sl || sl->magic != SLCAN_MAGIC || !netif_running(sl->dev))
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
 
         /* Read the characters out of the buffer */
-        while (bytes--) {
+        while (count--) {
                 if (fp && *fp++) {
                         if (!test_and_set_bit(SLF_ERROR, &sl->flags))
                                 sl->dev->stats.rx_errors++;
@@ -444,8 +443,6 @@ static unsigned int slcan_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 }
                 slcan_unesc(sl, *cp++);
         }
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /************************************
diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
index 992089639ea4..3e5d0b6b6516 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ out:
  * a block of 6pack data has been received, which can now be decapsulated
  * and sent on to some IP layer for further processing.
  */
-static unsigned int sixpack_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
+static void sixpack_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
         const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct sixpack *sp;
@@ -464,11 +464,11 @@ static unsigned int sixpack_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
         int count1;
 
         if (!count)
-                return 0;
+                return;
 
         sp = sp_get(tty);
         if (!sp)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
 
         memcpy(buf, cp, count < sizeof(buf) ? count : sizeof(buf));
 
@@ -487,8 +487,6 @@ static unsigned int sixpack_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
 
         sp_put(sp);
         tty_unthrottle(tty);
-
-        return count1;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
index 0e4f23531140..4c628393c8b1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
@@ -923,14 +923,13 @@ static long mkiss_compat_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
  * a block of data has been received, which can now be decapsulated
  * and sent on to the AX.25 layer for further processing.
  */
-static unsigned int mkiss_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void mkiss_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+        char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct mkiss *ax = mkiss_get(tty);
-        int bytes = count;
 
         if (!ax)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
 
         /*
          * Argh! mtu change time! - costs us the packet part received
@@ -940,7 +939,7 @@ static unsigned int mkiss_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 ax_changedmtu(ax);
 
         /* Read the characters out of the buffer */
-        while (bytes--) {
+        while (count--) {
                 if (fp != NULL && *fp++) {
                         if (!test_and_set_bit(AXF_ERROR, &ax->flags))
                                 ax->dev->stats.rx_errors++;
@@ -953,8 +952,6 @@ static unsigned int mkiss_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
 
         mkiss_put(ax);
         tty_unthrottle(tty);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/net/irda/irtty-sir.c b/drivers/net/irda/irtty-sir.c
index 035861d8acb1..3352b2443e58 100644
--- a/drivers/net/irda/irtty-sir.c
+++ b/drivers/net/irda/irtty-sir.c
@@ -216,23 +216,23 @@ static int irtty_do_write(struct sir_dev *dev, const unsigned char *ptr, size_t
  * usbserial:   urb-complete-interrupt / softint
  */
 
-static unsigned int irtty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void irtty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                              char *fp, int count) 
 {
         struct sir_dev *dev;
         struct sirtty_cb *priv = tty->disc_data;
         int     i;
 
-        IRDA_ASSERT(priv != NULL, return -ENODEV;);
-        IRDA_ASSERT(priv->magic == IRTTY_MAGIC, return -EINVAL;);
+        IRDA_ASSERT(priv != NULL, return;);
+        IRDA_ASSERT(priv->magic == IRTTY_MAGIC, return;);
 
         if (unlikely(count==0))         /* yes, this happens */
-                return 0;
+                return;
 
         dev = priv->dev;
         if (!dev) {
                 IRDA_WARNING("%s(), not ready yet!\n", __func__);
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
         }
 
         for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
@@ -242,13 +242,11 @@ static unsigned int irtty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 if (fp && *fp++) { 
                         IRDA_DEBUG(0, "Framing or parity error!\n");
                         sirdev_receive(dev, NULL, 0);   /* notify sir_dev (updating stats) */
-                        return -EINVAL;
+                        return;
                 }
         }
 
         sirdev_receive(dev, cp, count);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp_async.c b/drivers/net/ppp_async.c
index 53872d7d7382..a1b82c9c67d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp_async.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp_async.c
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ ppp_asynctty_poll(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file, poll_table *wait)
 }
 
 /* May sleep, don't call from interrupt level or with interrupts disabled */
-static unsigned int
+static void
 ppp_asynctty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
                   char *cflags, int count)
 {
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ ppp_asynctty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
         unsigned long flags;
 
         if (!ap)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
         spin_lock_irqsave(&ap->recv_lock, flags);
         ppp_async_input(ap, buf, cflags, count);
         spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ap->recv_lock, flags);
@@ -356,8 +356,6 @@ ppp_asynctty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
                 tasklet_schedule(&ap->tsk);
         ap_put(ap);
         tty_unthrottle(tty);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp_synctty.c b/drivers/net/ppp_synctty.c
index 0815790a5cf9..2573f525f11c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp_synctty.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp_synctty.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ ppp_sync_poll(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file, poll_table *wait)
 }
 
 /* May sleep, don't call from interrupt level or with interrupts disabled */
-static unsigned int
+static void
 ppp_sync_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
                   char *cflags, int count)
 {
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ ppp_sync_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
         unsigned long flags;
 
         if (!ap)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
         spin_lock_irqsave(&ap->recv_lock, flags);
         ppp_sync_input(ap, buf, cflags, count);
         spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ap->recv_lock, flags);
@@ -397,8 +397,6 @@ ppp_sync_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *buf,
                 tasklet_schedule(&ap->tsk);
         sp_put(ap);
         tty_unthrottle(tty);
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/slip.c b/drivers/net/slip.c
index 584809c656d5..8ec1a9a0bb9a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/slip.c
+++ b/drivers/net/slip.c
@@ -670,17 +670,16 @@ static void sl_setup(struct net_device *dev)
  * in parallel
  */
 
-static unsigned int slip_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void slip_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                                                        char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct slip *sl = tty->disc_data;
-        int bytes = count;
 
         if (!sl || sl->magic != SLIP_MAGIC || !netif_running(sl->dev))
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
 
         /* Read the characters out of the buffer */
-        while (bytes--) {
+        while (count--) {
                 if (fp && *fp++) {
                         if (!test_and_set_bit(SLF_ERROR, &sl->flags))
                                 sl->dev->stats.rx_errors++;
@@ -694,8 +693,6 @@ static unsigned int slip_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
 #endif
                         slip_unesc(sl, *cp++);
         }
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /************************************
diff --git a/drivers/net/wan/x25_asy.c b/drivers/net/wan/x25_asy.c
index 40398bf7d036..24297b274cd4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wan/x25_asy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wan/x25_asy.c
@@ -517,18 +517,17 @@ static int x25_asy_close(struct net_device *dev)
  * and sent on to some IP layer for further processing.
  */
 
-static unsigned int x25_asy_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
+static void x25_asy_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                                 const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct x25_asy *sl = tty->disc_data;
-        int bytes = count;
 
         if (!sl || sl->magic != X25_ASY_MAGIC || !netif_running(sl->dev))
                 return;
 
 
         /* Read the characters out of the buffer */
-        while (bytes--) {
+        while (count--) {
                 if (fp && *fp++) {
                         if (!test_and_set_bit(SLF_ERROR, &sl->flags))
                                 sl->dev->stats.rx_errors++;
@@ -537,8 +536,6 @@ static unsigned int x25_asy_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 }
                 x25_asy_unesc(sl, *cp++);
         }
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
index a4c42a75a3bf..09e8c7d53af3 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_gsm.c
@@ -2128,8 +2128,8 @@ static void gsmld_detach_gsm(struct tty_struct *tty, struct gsm_mux *gsm)
         gsm->tty = NULL;
 }
 
-static unsigned int gsmld_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void gsmld_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                              char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct gsm_mux *gsm = tty->disc_data;
         const unsigned char *dp;
@@ -2162,8 +2162,6 @@ static unsigned int gsmld_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
         }
         /* FASYNC if needed ? */
         /* If clogged call tty_throttle(tty); */
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_hdlc.c b/drivers/tty/n_hdlc.c
index cac666314aef..cea56033b34c 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_hdlc.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_hdlc.c
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_poll(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *filp,
                                     poll_table *wait);
 static int n_hdlc_tty_open(struct tty_struct *tty);
 static void n_hdlc_tty_close(struct tty_struct *tty);
-static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const __u8 *cp, char *fp, int count);
+static void n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const __u8 *cp,
+                               char *fp, int count);
 static void n_hdlc_tty_wakeup(struct tty_struct *tty);
 
 #define bset(p,b)       ((p)[(b) >> 5] |= (1 << ((b) & 0x1f)))
@@ -509,8 +509,8 @@ static void n_hdlc_tty_wakeup(struct tty_struct *tty)
  * Called by tty low level driver when receive data is available. Data is
  * interpreted as one HDLC frame.
  */
-static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const __u8 *data, char *flags, int count)
+static void n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const __u8 *data,
+                               char *flags, int count)
 {
         register struct n_hdlc *n_hdlc = tty2n_hdlc (tty);
         register struct n_hdlc_buf *buf;
@@ -521,20 +521,20 @@ static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 
         /* This can happen if stuff comes in on the backup tty */
         if (!n_hdlc || tty != n_hdlc->tty)
-                return -ENODEV;
+                return;
                 
         /* verify line is using HDLC discipline */
         if (n_hdlc->magic != HDLC_MAGIC) {
                 printk("%s(%d) line not using HDLC discipline\n",
                         __FILE__,__LINE__);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return;
         }
         
         if ( count>maxframe ) {
                 if (debuglevel >= DEBUG_LEVEL_INFO)     
                         printk("%s(%d) rx count>maxframesize, data discarded\n",
                                __FILE__,__LINE__);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return;
         }
 
         /* get a free HDLC buffer */    
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 if (debuglevel >= DEBUG_LEVEL_INFO)     
                         printk("%s(%d) no more rx buffers, data discarded\n",
                                __FILE__,__LINE__);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return;
         }
                 
         /* copy received data to HDLC buffer */
@@ -565,8 +565,6 @@ static unsigned int n_hdlc_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty,
         if (n_hdlc->tty->fasync != NULL)
                 kill_fasync (&n_hdlc->tty->fasync, SIGIO, POLL_IN);
 
-        return count;
-
 }       /* end of n_hdlc_tty_receive() */
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_r3964.c b/drivers/tty/n_r3964.c
index a4bc39c21a43..5c6c31459a2f 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_r3964.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_r3964.c
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ static int r3964_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
 static void r3964_set_termios(struct tty_struct *tty, struct ktermios *old);
 static unsigned int r3964_poll(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
                 struct poll_table_struct *wait);
-static unsigned int r3964_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count);
+static void r3964_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                char *fp, int count);
 
 static struct tty_ldisc_ops tty_ldisc_N_R3964 = {
         .owner = THIS_MODULE,
@@ -1239,8 +1239,8 @@ static unsigned int r3964_poll(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
         return result;
 }
 
-static unsigned int r3964_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void r3964_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                        char *fp, int count)
 {
         struct r3964_info *pInfo = tty->disc_data;
         const unsigned char *p;
@@ -1257,8 +1257,6 @@ static unsigned int r3964_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 }
 
         }
-
-        return count;
 }
 
 MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
diff --git a/drivers/tty/n_tty.c b/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
index 95d0a9c2dd13..0ad32888091c 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/n_tty.c
@@ -81,6 +81,38 @@ static inline int tty_put_user(struct tty_struct *tty, unsigned char x,
         return put_user(x, ptr);
 }
 
+/**
+ *      n_tty_set__room -       receive space
+ *      @tty: terminal
+ *
+ *      Called by the driver to find out how much data it is
+ *      permitted to feed to the line discipline without any being lost
+ *      and thus to manage flow control. Not serialized. Answers for the
+ *      "instant".
+ */
+
+static void n_tty_set_room(struct tty_struct *tty)
+{
+        /* tty->read_cnt is not read locked ? */
+        int     left = N_TTY_BUF_SIZE - tty->read_cnt - 1;
+        int old_left;
+
+        /*
+         * If we are doing input canonicalization, and there are no
+         * pending newlines, let characters through without limit, so
+         * that erase characters will be handled.  Other excess
+         * characters will be beeped.
+         */
+        if (left <= 0)
+                left = tty->icanon && !tty->canon_data;
+        old_left = tty->receive_room;
+        tty->receive_room = left;
+
+        /* Did this open up the receive buffer? We may need to flip */
+        if (left && !old_left)
+                schedule_work(&tty->buf.work);
+}
+
 static void put_tty_queue_nolock(unsigned char c, struct tty_struct *tty)
 {
         if (tty->read_cnt < N_TTY_BUF_SIZE) {
@@ -152,6 +184,7 @@ static void reset_buffer_flags(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
         tty->canon_head = tty->canon_data = tty->erasing = 0;
         memset(&tty->read_flags, 0, sizeof tty->read_flags);
+        n_tty_set_room(tty);
         check_unthrottle(tty);
 }
 
@@ -1327,19 +1360,17 @@ static void n_tty_write_wakeup(struct tty_struct *tty)
  *      calls one at a time and in order (or using flush_to_ldisc)
  */
 
-static unsigned int n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
-                const unsigned char *cp, char *fp, int count)
+static void n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty, const unsigned char *cp,
+                              char *fp, int count)
 {
         const unsigned char *p;
         char *f, flags = TTY_NORMAL;
         int     i;
         char    buf[64];
         unsigned long cpuflags;
-        int left;
-        int ret = 0;
 
         if (!tty->read_buf)
-                return 0;
+                return;
 
         if (tty->real_raw) {
                 spin_lock_irqsave(&tty->read_lock, cpuflags);
@@ -1349,7 +1380,6 @@ static unsigned int n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 memcpy(tty->read_buf + tty->read_head, cp, i);
                 tty->read_head = (tty->read_head + i) & (N_TTY_BUF_SIZE-1);
                 tty->read_cnt += i;
-                ret += i;
                 cp += i;
                 count -= i;
 
@@ -1359,10 +1389,8 @@ static unsigned int n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                 memcpy(tty->read_buf + tty->read_head, cp, i);
                 tty->read_head = (tty->read_head + i) & (N_TTY_BUF_SIZE-1);
                 tty->read_cnt += i;
-                ret += i;
                 spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tty->read_lock, cpuflags);
         } else {
-                ret = count;
                 for (i = count, p = cp, f = fp; i; i--, p++) {
                         if (f)
                                 flags = *f++;
@@ -1390,6 +1418,8 @@ static unsigned int n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
                         tty->ops->flush_chars(tty);
         }
 
+        n_tty_set_room(tty);
+
         if ((!tty->icanon && (tty->read_cnt >= tty->minimum_to_wake)) ||
                 L_EXTPROC(tty)) {
                 kill_fasync(&tty->fasync, SIGIO, POLL_IN);
@@ -1402,12 +1432,8 @@ static unsigned int n_tty_receive_buf(struct tty_struct *tty,
          * mode.  We don't want to throttle the driver if we're in
          * canonical mode and don't have a newline yet!
          */
-        left = N_TTY_BUF_SIZE - tty->read_cnt - 1;
-
-        if (left < TTY_THRESHOLD_THROTTLE)
+        if (tty->receive_room < TTY_THRESHOLD_THROTTLE)
                 tty_throttle(tty);
-
-        return ret;
 }
 
 int is_ignored(int sig)
@@ -1451,6 +1477,7 @@ static void n_tty_set_termios(struct tty_struct *tty, struct ktermios *old)
         if (test_bit(TTY_HW_COOK_IN, &tty->flags)) {
                 tty->raw = 1;
                 tty->real_raw = 1;
+                n_tty_set_room(tty);
                 return;
         }
         if (I_ISTRIP(tty) || I_IUCLC(tty) || I_IGNCR(tty) ||
@@ -1503,6 +1530,7 @@ static void n_tty_set_termios(struct tty_struct *tty, struct ktermios *old)
                 else
                         tty->real_raw = 0;
         }
+        n_tty_set_room(tty);
         /* The termios change make the tty ready for I/O */
         wake_up_interruptible(&tty->write_wait);
         wake_up_interruptible(&tty->read_wait);
@@ -1784,6 +1812,8 @@ do_it_again:
                                 retval = -ERESTARTSYS;
                                 break;
                         }
+                        /* FIXME: does n_tty_set_room need locking ? */
+                        n_tty_set_room(tty);
                         timeout = schedule_timeout(timeout);
                         continue;
                 }
@@ -1855,8 +1885,10 @@ do_it_again:
                  * longer than TTY_THRESHOLD_UNTHROTTLE in canonical mode,
                  * we won't get any more characters.
                  */
-                if (n_tty_chars_in_buffer(tty) <= TTY_THRESHOLD_UNTHROTTLE)
+                if (n_tty_chars_in_buffer(tty) <= TTY_THRESHOLD_UNTHROTTLE) {
+                        n_tty_set_room(tty);
                         check_unthrottle(tty);
+                }
 
                 if (b - buf >= minimum)
                         break;
@@ -1878,6 +1910,7 @@ do_it_again:
         } else if (test_and_clear_bit(TTY_PUSH, &tty->flags))
                  goto do_it_again;
 
+        n_tty_set_room(tty);
         return retval;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/tty/tty_buffer.c b/drivers/tty/tty_buffer.c
index 46de2e075dac..f1a7918d71aa 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/tty_buffer.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/tty_buffer.c
@@ -416,7 +416,6 @@ static void flush_to_ldisc(struct work_struct *work)
                 struct tty_buffer *head, *tail = tty->buf.tail;
                 int seen_tail = 0;
                 while ((head = tty->buf.head) != NULL) {
-                        int copied;
                         int count;
                         char *char_buf;
                         unsigned char *flag_buf;
@@ -443,19 +442,17 @@ static void flush_to_ldisc(struct work_struct *work)
                            line discipline as we want to empty the queue */
                         if (test_bit(TTY_FLUSHPENDING, &tty->flags))
                                 break;
+                        if (!tty->receive_room || seen_tail)
+                                break;
+                        if (count > tty->receive_room)
+                                count = tty->receive_room;
                         char_buf = head->char_buf_ptr + head->read;
                         flag_buf = head->flag_buf_ptr + head->read;
+                        head->read += count;
                         spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tty->buf.lock, flags);
-                        copied = disc->ops->receive_buf(tty, char_buf,
+                        disc->ops->receive_buf(tty, char_buf,
                                                         flag_buf, count);
                         spin_lock_irqsave(&tty->buf.lock, flags);
-
-                        head->read += copied;
-
-                        if (copied == 0 || seen_tail) {
-                                schedule_work(&tty->buf.work);
-                                break;
-                        }
                 }
                 clear_bit(TTY_FLUSHING, &tty->flags);
         }
diff --git a/drivers/tty/vt/selection.c b/drivers/tty/vt/selection.c
index 67b1d0d7c8ac..fb864e7fcd13 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/vt/selection.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/vt/selection.c
@@ -332,7 +332,8 @@ int paste_selection(struct tty_struct *tty)
                         continue;
                 }
                 count = sel_buffer_lth - pasted;
-                count = tty->ldisc->ops->receive_buf(tty, sel_buffer + pasted,
+                count = min(count, tty->receive_room);
+                tty->ldisc->ops->receive_buf(tty, sel_buffer + pasted,
                                                                 NULL, count);
                 pasted += count;
         }