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-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/00-INDEX10
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/NMI-RCU.txt39
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/RTFP.txt61
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/checklist.txt215
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/lockdep.txt91
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/rcu.txt48
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/stallwarn.txt58
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/torture.txt12
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/trace.txt254
-rw-r--r--Documentation/RCU/whatisRCU.txt24
10 files changed, 447 insertions, 365 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/00-INDEX b/Documentation/RCU/00-INDEX
index 9bb62f7b89c3..71b6f500ddb9 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/00-INDEX
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/00-INDEX
@@ -6,16 +6,22 @@ checklist.txt
6 - Review Checklist for RCU Patches 6 - Review Checklist for RCU Patches
7listRCU.txt 7listRCU.txt
8 - Using RCU to Protect Read-Mostly Linked Lists 8 - Using RCU to Protect Read-Mostly Linked Lists
9lockdep.txt
10 - RCU and lockdep checking
9NMI-RCU.txt 11NMI-RCU.txt
10 - Using RCU to Protect Dynamic NMI Handlers 12 - Using RCU to Protect Dynamic NMI Handlers
13rcubarrier.txt
14 - RCU and Unloadable Modules
15rculist_nulls.txt
16 - RCU list primitives for use with SLAB_DESTROY_BY_RCU
11rcuref.txt 17rcuref.txt
12 - Reference-count design for elements of lists/arrays protected by RCU 18 - Reference-count design for elements of lists/arrays protected by RCU
13rcu.txt 19rcu.txt
14 - RCU Concepts 20 - RCU Concepts
15rcubarrier.txt
16 - Unloading modules that use RCU callbacks
17RTFP.txt 21RTFP.txt
18 - List of RCU papers (bibliography) going back to 1980. 22 - List of RCU papers (bibliography) going back to 1980.
23stallwarn.txt
24 - RCU CPU stall warnings (CONFIG_RCU_CPU_STALL_DETECTOR)
19torture.txt 25torture.txt
20 - RCU Torture Test Operation (CONFIG_RCU_TORTURE_TEST) 26 - RCU Torture Test Operation (CONFIG_RCU_TORTURE_TEST)
21trace.txt 27trace.txt
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/NMI-RCU.txt b/Documentation/RCU/NMI-RCU.txt
index a6d32e65d222..a8536cb88091 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/NMI-RCU.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/NMI-RCU.txt
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ NMI handler.
34 cpu = smp_processor_id(); 34 cpu = smp_processor_id();
35 ++nmi_count(cpu); 35 ++nmi_count(cpu);
36 36
37 if (!rcu_dereference(nmi_callback)(regs, cpu)) 37 if (!rcu_dereference_sched(nmi_callback)(regs, cpu))
38 default_do_nmi(regs); 38 default_do_nmi(regs);
39 39
40 nmi_exit(); 40 nmi_exit();
@@ -47,12 +47,13 @@ function pointer. If this handler returns zero, do_nmi() invokes the
47default_do_nmi() function to handle a machine-specific NMI. Finally, 47default_do_nmi() function to handle a machine-specific NMI. Finally,
48preemption is restored. 48preemption is restored.
49 49
50Strictly speaking, rcu_dereference() is not needed, since this code runs 50In theory, rcu_dereference_sched() is not needed, since this code runs
51only on i386, which does not need rcu_dereference() anyway. However, 51only on i386, which in theory does not need rcu_dereference_sched()
52it is a good documentation aid, particularly for anyone attempting to 52anyway. However, in practice it is a good documentation aid, particularly
53do something similar on Alpha. 53for anyone attempting to do something similar on Alpha or on systems
54with aggressive optimizing compilers.
54 55
55Quick Quiz: Why might the rcu_dereference() be necessary on Alpha, 56Quick Quiz: Why might the rcu_dereference_sched() be necessary on Alpha,
56 given that the code referenced by the pointer is read-only? 57 given that the code referenced by the pointer is read-only?
57 58
58 59
@@ -99,17 +100,21 @@ invoke irq_enter() and irq_exit() on NMI entry and exit, respectively.
99 100
100Answer to Quick Quiz 101Answer to Quick Quiz
101 102
102 Why might the rcu_dereference() be necessary on Alpha, given 103 Why might the rcu_dereference_sched() be necessary on Alpha, given
103 that the code referenced by the pointer is read-only? 104 that the code referenced by the pointer is read-only?
104 105
105 Answer: The caller to set_nmi_callback() might well have 106 Answer: The caller to set_nmi_callback() might well have
106 initialized some data that is to be used by the 107 initialized some data that is to be used by the new NMI
107 new NMI handler. In this case, the rcu_dereference() 108 handler. In this case, the rcu_dereference_sched() would
108 would be needed, because otherwise a CPU that received 109 be needed, because otherwise a CPU that received an NMI
109 an NMI just after the new handler was set might see 110 just after the new handler was set might see the pointer
110 the pointer to the new NMI handler, but the old 111 to the new NMI handler, but the old pre-initialized
111 pre-initialized version of the handler's data. 112 version of the handler's data.
112 113
113 More important, the rcu_dereference() makes it clear 114 This same sad story can happen on other CPUs when using
114 to someone reading the code that the pointer is being 115 a compiler with aggressive pointer-value speculation
115 protected by RCU. 116 optimizations.
117
118 More important, the rcu_dereference_sched() makes it
119 clear to someone reading the code that the pointer is
120 being protected by RCU-sched.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/RTFP.txt b/Documentation/RCU/RTFP.txt
index d2b85237c76e..5aea459e3dd6 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/RTFP.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/RTFP.txt
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ to be referencing the data structure. However, this mechanism was not
25optimized for modern computer systems, which is not surprising given 25optimized for modern computer systems, which is not surprising given
26that these overheads were not so expensive in the mid-80s. Nonetheless, 26that these overheads were not so expensive in the mid-80s. Nonetheless,
27passive serialization appears to be the first deferred-destruction 27passive serialization appears to be the first deferred-destruction
28mechanism to be used in production. Furthermore, the relevant patent has 28mechanism to be used in production. Furthermore, the relevant patent
29lapsed, so this approach may be used in non-GPL software, if desired. 29has lapsed, so this approach may be used in non-GPL software, if desired.
30(In contrast, use of RCU is permitted only in software licensed under 30(In contrast, implementation of RCU is permitted only in software licensed
31GPL. Sorry!!!) 31under either GPL or LGPL. Sorry!!!)
32 32
33In 1990, Pugh [Pugh90] noted that explicitly tracking which threads 33In 1990, Pugh [Pugh90] noted that explicitly tracking which threads
34were reading a given data structure permitted deferred free to operate 34were reading a given data structure permitted deferred free to operate
@@ -150,6 +150,18 @@ preemptible RCU [PaulEMcKenney2007PreemptibleRCU], and the three-part
150LWN "What is RCU?" series [PaulEMcKenney2007WhatIsRCUFundamentally, 150LWN "What is RCU?" series [PaulEMcKenney2007WhatIsRCUFundamentally,
151PaulEMcKenney2008WhatIsRCUUsage, and PaulEMcKenney2008WhatIsRCUAPI]. 151PaulEMcKenney2008WhatIsRCUUsage, and PaulEMcKenney2008WhatIsRCUAPI].
152 152
1532008 saw a journal paper on real-time RCU [DinakarGuniguntala2008IBMSysJ],
154a history of how Linux changed RCU more than RCU changed Linux
155[PaulEMcKenney2008RCUOSR], and a design overview of hierarchical RCU
156[PaulEMcKenney2008HierarchicalRCU].
157
1582009 introduced user-level RCU algorithms [PaulEMcKenney2009MaliciousURCU],
159which Mathieu Desnoyers is now maintaining [MathieuDesnoyers2009URCU]
160[MathieuDesnoyersPhD]. TINY_RCU [PaulEMcKenney2009BloatWatchRCU] made
161its appearance, as did expedited RCU [PaulEMcKenney2009expeditedRCU].
162The problem of resizeable RCU-protected hash tables may now be on a path
163to a solution [JoshTriplett2009RPHash].
164
153Bibtex Entries 165Bibtex Entries
154 166
155@article{Kung80 167@article{Kung80
@@ -730,6 +742,11 @@ Revised:
730" 742"
731} 743}
732 744
745#
746# "What is RCU?" LWN series.
747#
748########################################################################
749
733@article{DinakarGuniguntala2008IBMSysJ 750@article{DinakarGuniguntala2008IBMSysJ
734,author="D. Guniguntala and P. E. McKenney and J. Triplett and J. Walpole" 751,author="D. Guniguntala and P. E. McKenney and J. Triplett and J. Walpole"
735,title="The read-copy-update mechanism for supporting real-time applications on shared-memory multiprocessor systems with {Linux}" 752,title="The read-copy-update mechanism for supporting real-time applications on shared-memory multiprocessor systems with {Linux}"
@@ -820,3 +837,39 @@ Revised:
820 Uniprocessor assumptions allow simplified RCU implementation. 837 Uniprocessor assumptions allow simplified RCU implementation.
821" 838"
822} 839}
840
841@unpublished{PaulEMcKenney2009expeditedRCU
842,Author="Paul E. McKenney"
843,Title="[{PATCH} -tip 0/3] expedited 'big hammer' {RCU} grace periods"
844,month="June"
845,day="25"
846,year="2009"
847,note="Available:
848\url{http://lkml.org/lkml/2009/6/25/306}
849[Viewed August 16, 2009]"
850,annotation="
851 First posting of expedited RCU to be accepted into -tip.
852"
853}
854
855@unpublished{JoshTriplett2009RPHash
856,Author="Josh Triplett"
857,Title="Scalable concurrent hash tables via relativistic programming"
858,month="September"
859,year="2009"
860,note="Linux Plumbers Conference presentation"
861,annotation="
862 RP fun with hash tables.
863"
864}
865
866@phdthesis{MathieuDesnoyersPhD
867, title = "Low-Impact Operating System Tracing"
868, author = "Mathieu Desnoyers"
869, school = "Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'{e}al"
870, month = "December"
871, year = 2009
872,note="Available:
873\url{http://www.lttng.org/pub/thesis/desnoyers-dissertation-2009-12.pdf}
874[Viewed December 9, 2009]"
875}
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/checklist.txt b/Documentation/RCU/checklist.txt
index 51525a30e8b4..790d1a812376 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/checklist.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/checklist.txt
@@ -8,13 +8,12 @@ would cause. This list is based on experiences reviewing such patches
8over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome! 8over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
9 9
100. Is RCU being applied to a read-mostly situation? If the data 100. Is RCU being applied to a read-mostly situation? If the data
11 structure is updated more than about 10% of the time, then 11 structure is updated more than about 10% of the time, then you
12 you should strongly consider some other approach, unless 12 should strongly consider some other approach, unless detailed
13 detailed performance measurements show that RCU is nonetheless 13 performance measurements show that RCU is nonetheless the right
14 the right tool for the job. Yes, you might think of RCU 14 tool for the job. Yes, RCU does reduce read-side overhead by
15 as simply cutting overhead off of the readers and imposing it 15 increasing write-side overhead, which is exactly why normal uses
16 on the writers. That is exactly why normal uses of RCU will 16 of RCU will do much more reading than updating.
17 do much more reading than updating.
18 17
19 Another exception is where performance is not an issue, and RCU 18 Another exception is where performance is not an issue, and RCU
20 provides a simpler implementation. An example of this situation 19 provides a simpler implementation. An example of this situation
@@ -35,13 +34,13 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
35 34
36 If you choose #b, be prepared to describe how you have handled 35 If you choose #b, be prepared to describe how you have handled
37 memory barriers on weakly ordered machines (pretty much all of 36 memory barriers on weakly ordered machines (pretty much all of
38 them -- even x86 allows reads to be reordered), and be prepared 37 them -- even x86 allows later loads to be reordered to precede
39 to explain why this added complexity is worthwhile. If you 38 earlier stores), and be prepared to explain why this added
40 choose #c, be prepared to explain how this single task does not 39 complexity is worthwhile. If you choose #c, be prepared to
41 become a major bottleneck on big multiprocessor machines (for 40 explain how this single task does not become a major bottleneck on
42 example, if the task is updating information relating to itself 41 big multiprocessor machines (for example, if the task is updating
43 that other tasks can read, there by definition can be no 42 information relating to itself that other tasks can read, there
44 bottleneck). 43 by definition can be no bottleneck).
45 44
462. Do the RCU read-side critical sections make proper use of 452. Do the RCU read-side critical sections make proper use of
47 rcu_read_lock() and friends? These primitives are needed 46 rcu_read_lock() and friends? These primitives are needed
@@ -51,8 +50,10 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
51 actuarial risk of your kernel. 50 actuarial risk of your kernel.
52 51
53 As a rough rule of thumb, any dereference of an RCU-protected 52 As a rough rule of thumb, any dereference of an RCU-protected
54 pointer must be covered by rcu_read_lock() or rcu_read_lock_bh() 53 pointer must be covered by rcu_read_lock(), rcu_read_lock_bh(),
55 or by the appropriate update-side lock. 54 rcu_read_lock_sched(), or by the appropriate update-side lock.
55 Disabling of preemption can serve as rcu_read_lock_sched(), but
56 is less readable.
56 57
573. Does the update code tolerate concurrent accesses? 583. Does the update code tolerate concurrent accesses?
58 59
@@ -62,25 +63,27 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
62 of ways to handle this concurrency, depending on the situation: 63 of ways to handle this concurrency, depending on the situation:
63 64
64 a. Use the RCU variants of the list and hlist update 65 a. Use the RCU variants of the list and hlist update
65 primitives to add, remove, and replace elements on an 66 primitives to add, remove, and replace elements on
66 RCU-protected list. Alternatively, use the RCU-protected 67 an RCU-protected list. Alternatively, use the other
67 trees that have been added to the Linux kernel. 68 RCU-protected data structures that have been added to
69 the Linux kernel.
68 70
69 This is almost always the best approach. 71 This is almost always the best approach.
70 72
71 b. Proceed as in (a) above, but also maintain per-element 73 b. Proceed as in (a) above, but also maintain per-element
72 locks (that are acquired by both readers and writers) 74 locks (that are acquired by both readers and writers)
73 that guard per-element state. Of course, fields that 75 that guard per-element state. Of course, fields that
74 the readers refrain from accessing can be guarded by the 76 the readers refrain from accessing can be guarded by
75 update-side lock. 77 some other lock acquired only by updaters, if desired.
76 78
77 This works quite well, also. 79 This works quite well, also.
78 80
79 c. Make updates appear atomic to readers. For example, 81 c. Make updates appear atomic to readers. For example,
80 pointer updates to properly aligned fields will appear 82 pointer updates to properly aligned fields will
81 atomic, as will individual atomic primitives. Operations 83 appear atomic, as will individual atomic primitives.
82 performed under a lock and sequences of multiple atomic 84 Sequences of perations performed under a lock will -not-
83 primitives will -not- appear to be atomic. 85 appear to be atomic to RCU readers, nor will sequences
86 of multiple atomic primitives.
84 87
85 This can work, but is starting to get a bit tricky. 88 This can work, but is starting to get a bit tricky.
86 89
@@ -98,9 +101,9 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
98 a new structure containing updated values. 101 a new structure containing updated values.
99 102
1004. Weakly ordered CPUs pose special challenges. Almost all CPUs 1034. Weakly ordered CPUs pose special challenges. Almost all CPUs
101 are weakly ordered -- even i386 CPUs allow reads to be reordered. 104 are weakly ordered -- even x86 CPUs allow later loads to be
102 RCU code must take all of the following measures to prevent 105 reordered to precede earlier stores. RCU code must take all of
103 memory-corruption problems: 106 the following measures to prevent memory-corruption problems:
104 107
105 a. Readers must maintain proper ordering of their memory 108 a. Readers must maintain proper ordering of their memory
106 accesses. The rcu_dereference() primitive ensures that 109 accesses. The rcu_dereference() primitive ensures that
@@ -113,14 +116,25 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
113 The rcu_dereference() primitive is also an excellent 116 The rcu_dereference() primitive is also an excellent
114 documentation aid, letting the person reading the code 117 documentation aid, letting the person reading the code
115 know exactly which pointers are protected by RCU. 118 know exactly which pointers are protected by RCU.
116 119 Please note that compilers can also reorder code, and
117 The rcu_dereference() primitive is used by the various 120 they are becoming increasingly aggressive about doing
118 "_rcu()" list-traversal primitives, such as the 121 just that. The rcu_dereference() primitive therefore
119 list_for_each_entry_rcu(). Note that it is perfectly 122 also prevents destructive compiler optimizations.
120 legal (if redundant) for update-side code to use 123
121 rcu_dereference() and the "_rcu()" list-traversal 124 The rcu_dereference() primitive is used by the
122 primitives. This is particularly useful in code 125 various "_rcu()" list-traversal primitives, such
123 that is common to readers and updaters. 126 as the list_for_each_entry_rcu(). Note that it is
127 perfectly legal (if redundant) for update-side code to
128 use rcu_dereference() and the "_rcu()" list-traversal
129 primitives. This is particularly useful in code that
130 is common to readers and updaters. However, lockdep
131 will complain if you access rcu_dereference() outside
132 of an RCU read-side critical section. See lockdep.txt
133 to learn what to do about this.
134
135 Of course, neither rcu_dereference() nor the "_rcu()"
136 list-traversal primitives can substitute for a good
137 concurrency design coordinating among multiple updaters.
124 138
125 b. If the list macros are being used, the list_add_tail_rcu() 139 b. If the list macros are being used, the list_add_tail_rcu()
126 and list_add_rcu() primitives must be used in order 140 and list_add_rcu() primitives must be used in order
@@ -135,11 +149,14 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
135 readers. Similarly, if the hlist macros are being used, 149 readers. Similarly, if the hlist macros are being used,
136 the hlist_del_rcu() primitive is required. 150 the hlist_del_rcu() primitive is required.
137 151
138 The list_replace_rcu() primitive may be used to 152 The list_replace_rcu() and hlist_replace_rcu() primitives
139 replace an old structure with a new one in an 153 may be used to replace an old structure with a new one
140 RCU-protected list. 154 in their respective types of RCU-protected lists.
155
156 d. Rules similar to (4b) and (4c) apply to the "hlist_nulls"
157 type of RCU-protected linked lists.
141 158
142 d. Updates must ensure that initialization of a given 159 e. Updates must ensure that initialization of a given
143 structure happens before pointers to that structure are 160 structure happens before pointers to that structure are
144 publicized. Use the rcu_assign_pointer() primitive 161 publicized. Use the rcu_assign_pointer() primitive
145 when publicizing a pointer to a structure that can 162 when publicizing a pointer to a structure that can
@@ -151,16 +168,31 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
151 it cannot block. 168 it cannot block.
152 169
1536. Since synchronize_rcu() can block, it cannot be called from 1706. Since synchronize_rcu() can block, it cannot be called from
154 any sort of irq context. Ditto for synchronize_sched() and 171 any sort of irq context. The same rule applies for
155 synchronize_srcu(). 172 synchronize_rcu_bh(), synchronize_sched(), synchronize_srcu(),
156 173 synchronize_rcu_expedited(), synchronize_rcu_bh_expedited(),
1577. If the updater uses call_rcu(), then the corresponding readers 174 synchronize_sched_expedite(), and synchronize_srcu_expedited().
158 must use rcu_read_lock() and rcu_read_unlock(). If the updater 175
159 uses call_rcu_bh(), then the corresponding readers must use 176 The expedited forms of these primitives have the same semantics
160 rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh(). If the updater 177 as the non-expedited forms, but expediting is both expensive
161 uses call_rcu_sched(), then the corresponding readers must 178 and unfriendly to real-time workloads. Use of the expedited
162 disable preemption. Mixing things up will result in confusion 179 primitives should be restricted to rare configuration-change
163 and broken kernels. 180 operations that would not normally be undertaken while a real-time
181 workload is running.
182
1837. If the updater uses call_rcu() or synchronize_rcu(), then the
184 corresponding readers must use rcu_read_lock() and
185 rcu_read_unlock(). If the updater uses call_rcu_bh() or
186 synchronize_rcu_bh(), then the corresponding readers must
187 use rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh(). If the
188 updater uses call_rcu_sched() or synchronize_sched(), then
189 the corresponding readers must disable preemption, possibly
190 by calling rcu_read_lock_sched() and rcu_read_unlock_sched().
191 If the updater uses synchronize_srcu(), the the corresponding
192 readers must use srcu_read_lock() and srcu_read_unlock(),
193 and with the same srcu_struct. The rules for the expedited
194 primitives are the same as for their non-expedited counterparts.
195 Mixing things up will result in confusion and broken kernels.
164 196
165 One exception to this rule: rcu_read_lock() and rcu_read_unlock() 197 One exception to this rule: rcu_read_lock() and rcu_read_unlock()
166 may be substituted for rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh() 198 may be substituted for rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh()
@@ -212,6 +244,8 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
212 e. Periodically invoke synchronize_rcu(), permitting a limited 244 e. Periodically invoke synchronize_rcu(), permitting a limited
213 number of updates per grace period. 245 number of updates per grace period.
214 246
247 The same cautions apply to call_rcu_bh() and call_rcu_sched().
248
2159. All RCU list-traversal primitives, which include 2499. All RCU list-traversal primitives, which include
216 rcu_dereference(), list_for_each_entry_rcu(), 250 rcu_dereference(), list_for_each_entry_rcu(),
217 list_for_each_continue_rcu(), and list_for_each_safe_rcu(), 251 list_for_each_continue_rcu(), and list_for_each_safe_rcu(),
@@ -219,17 +253,21 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
219 must be protected by appropriate update-side locks. RCU 253 must be protected by appropriate update-side locks. RCU
220 read-side critical sections are delimited by rcu_read_lock() 254 read-side critical sections are delimited by rcu_read_lock()
221 and rcu_read_unlock(), or by similar primitives such as 255 and rcu_read_unlock(), or by similar primitives such as
222 rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh(). 256 rcu_read_lock_bh() and rcu_read_unlock_bh(), in which case
257 the matching rcu_dereference() primitive must be used in order
258 to keep lockdep happy, in this case, rcu_dereference_bh().
223 259
224 The reason that it is permissible to use RCU list-traversal 260 The reason that it is permissible to use RCU list-traversal
225 primitives when the update-side lock is held is that doing so 261 primitives when the update-side lock is held is that doing so
226 can be quite helpful in reducing code bloat when common code is 262 can be quite helpful in reducing code bloat when common code is
227 shared between readers and updaters. 263 shared between readers and updaters. Additional primitives
264 are provided for this case, as discussed in lockdep.txt.
228 265
22910. Conversely, if you are in an RCU read-side critical section, 26610. Conversely, if you are in an RCU read-side critical section,
230 and you don't hold the appropriate update-side lock, you -must- 267 and you don't hold the appropriate update-side lock, you -must-
231 use the "_rcu()" variants of the list macros. Failing to do so 268 use the "_rcu()" variants of the list macros. Failing to do so
232 will break Alpha and confuse people reading your code. 269 will break Alpha, cause aggressive compilers to generate bad code,
270 and confuse people trying to read your code.
233 271
23411. Note that synchronize_rcu() -only- guarantees to wait until 27211. Note that synchronize_rcu() -only- guarantees to wait until
235 all currently executing rcu_read_lock()-protected RCU read-side 273 all currently executing rcu_read_lock()-protected RCU read-side
@@ -239,15 +277,21 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
239 rcu_read_lock()-protected read-side critical sections, do -not- 277 rcu_read_lock()-protected read-side critical sections, do -not-
240 use synchronize_rcu(). 278 use synchronize_rcu().
241 279
242 If you want to wait for some of these other things, you might 280 Similarly, disabling preemption is not an acceptable substitute
243 instead need to use synchronize_irq() or synchronize_sched(). 281 for rcu_read_lock(). Code that attempts to use preemption
282 disabling where it should be using rcu_read_lock() will break
283 in real-time kernel builds.
284
285 If you want to wait for interrupt handlers, NMI handlers, and
286 code under the influence of preempt_disable(), you instead
287 need to use synchronize_irq() or synchronize_sched().
244 288
24512. Any lock acquired by an RCU callback must be acquired elsewhere 28912. Any lock acquired by an RCU callback must be acquired elsewhere
246 with softirq disabled, e.g., via spin_lock_irqsave(), 290 with softirq disabled, e.g., via spin_lock_irqsave(),
247 spin_lock_bh(), etc. Failing to disable irq on a given 291 spin_lock_bh(), etc. Failing to disable irq on a given
248 acquisition of that lock will result in deadlock as soon as the 292 acquisition of that lock will result in deadlock as soon as
249 RCU callback happens to interrupt that acquisition's critical 293 the RCU softirq handler happens to run your RCU callback while
250 section. 294 interrupting that acquisition's critical section.
251 295
25213. RCU callbacks can be and are executed in parallel. In many cases, 29613. RCU callbacks can be and are executed in parallel. In many cases,
253 the callback code simply wrappers around kfree(), so that this 297 the callback code simply wrappers around kfree(), so that this
@@ -265,29 +309,30 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
265 not the case, a self-spawning RCU callback would prevent the 309 not the case, a self-spawning RCU callback would prevent the
266 victim CPU from ever going offline.) 310 victim CPU from ever going offline.)
267 311
26814. SRCU (srcu_read_lock(), srcu_read_unlock(), and synchronize_srcu()) 31214. SRCU (srcu_read_lock(), srcu_read_unlock(), srcu_dereference(),
269 may only be invoked from process context. Unlike other forms of 313 synchronize_srcu(), and synchronize_srcu_expedited()) may only
270 RCU, it -is- permissible to block in an SRCU read-side critical 314 be invoked from process context. Unlike other forms of RCU, it
271 section (demarked by srcu_read_lock() and srcu_read_unlock()), 315 -is- permissible to block in an SRCU read-side critical section
272 hence the "SRCU": "sleepable RCU". Please note that if you 316 (demarked by srcu_read_lock() and srcu_read_unlock()), hence the
273 don't need to sleep in read-side critical sections, you should 317 "SRCU": "sleepable RCU". Please note that if you don't need
274 be using RCU rather than SRCU, because RCU is almost always 318 to sleep in read-side critical sections, you should be using
275 faster and easier to use than is SRCU. 319 RCU rather than SRCU, because RCU is almost always faster and
320 easier to use than is SRCU.
276 321
277 Also unlike other forms of RCU, explicit initialization 322 Also unlike other forms of RCU, explicit initialization
278 and cleanup is required via init_srcu_struct() and 323 and cleanup is required via init_srcu_struct() and
279 cleanup_srcu_struct(). These are passed a "struct srcu_struct" 324 cleanup_srcu_struct(). These are passed a "struct srcu_struct"
280 that defines the scope of a given SRCU domain. Once initialized, 325 that defines the scope of a given SRCU domain. Once initialized,
281 the srcu_struct is passed to srcu_read_lock(), srcu_read_unlock() 326 the srcu_struct is passed to srcu_read_lock(), srcu_read_unlock()
282 and synchronize_srcu(). A given synchronize_srcu() waits only 327 synchronize_srcu(), and synchronize_srcu_expedited(). A given
283 for SRCU read-side critical sections governed by srcu_read_lock() 328 synchronize_srcu() waits only for SRCU read-side critical
284 and srcu_read_unlock() calls that have been passd the same 329 sections governed by srcu_read_lock() and srcu_read_unlock()
285 srcu_struct. This property is what makes sleeping read-side 330 calls that have been passed the same srcu_struct. This property
286 critical sections tolerable -- a given subsystem delays only 331 is what makes sleeping read-side critical sections tolerable --
287 its own updates, not those of other subsystems using SRCU. 332 a given subsystem delays only its own updates, not those of other
288 Therefore, SRCU is less prone to OOM the system than RCU would 333 subsystems using SRCU. Therefore, SRCU is less prone to OOM the
289 be if RCU's read-side critical sections were permitted to 334 system than RCU would be if RCU's read-side critical sections
290 sleep. 335 were permitted to sleep.
291 336
292 The ability to sleep in read-side critical sections does not 337 The ability to sleep in read-side critical sections does not
293 come for free. First, corresponding srcu_read_lock() and 338 come for free. First, corresponding srcu_read_lock() and
@@ -300,8 +345,8 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
300 requiring SRCU's read-side deadlock immunity or low read-side 345 requiring SRCU's read-side deadlock immunity or low read-side
301 realtime latency. 346 realtime latency.
302 347
303 Note that, rcu_assign_pointer() and rcu_dereference() relate to 348 Note that, rcu_assign_pointer() relates to SRCU just as they do
304 SRCU just as they do to other forms of RCU. 349 to other forms of RCU.
305 350
30615. The whole point of call_rcu(), synchronize_rcu(), and friends 35115. The whole point of call_rcu(), synchronize_rcu(), and friends
307 is to wait until all pre-existing readers have finished before 352 is to wait until all pre-existing readers have finished before
@@ -311,12 +356,12 @@ over a rather long period of time, but improvements are always welcome!
311 destructive operation, and -only- -then- invoke call_rcu(), 356 destructive operation, and -only- -then- invoke call_rcu(),
312 synchronize_rcu(), or friends. 357 synchronize_rcu(), or friends.
313 358
314 Because these primitives only wait for pre-existing readers, 359 Because these primitives only wait for pre-existing readers, it
315 it is the caller's responsibility to guarantee safety to 360 is the caller's responsibility to guarantee that any subsequent
316 any subsequent readers. 361 readers will execute safely.
317 362
31816. The various RCU read-side primitives do -not- contain memory 36316. The various RCU read-side primitives do -not- necessarily contain
319 barriers. The CPU (and in some cases, the compiler) is free 364 memory barriers. You should therefore plan for the CPU
320 to reorder code into and out of RCU read-side critical sections. 365 and the compiler to freely reorder code into and out of RCU
321 It is the responsibility of the RCU update-side primitives to 366 read-side critical sections. It is the responsibility of the
322 deal with this. 367 RCU update-side primitives to deal with this.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/lockdep.txt b/Documentation/RCU/lockdep.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d7a49b2f6994
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/lockdep.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
1RCU and lockdep checking
2
3All flavors of RCU have lockdep checking available, so that lockdep is
4aware of when each task enters and leaves any flavor of RCU read-side
5critical section. Each flavor of RCU is tracked separately (but note
6that this is not the case in 2.6.32 and earlier). This allows lockdep's
7tracking to include RCU state, which can sometimes help when debugging
8deadlocks and the like.
9
10In addition, RCU provides the following primitives that check lockdep's
11state:
12
13 rcu_read_lock_held() for normal RCU.
14 rcu_read_lock_bh_held() for RCU-bh.
15 rcu_read_lock_sched_held() for RCU-sched.
16 srcu_read_lock_held() for SRCU.
17
18These functions are conservative, and will therefore return 1 if they
19aren't certain (for example, if CONFIG_DEBUG_LOCK_ALLOC is not set).
20This prevents things like WARN_ON(!rcu_read_lock_held()) from giving false
21positives when lockdep is disabled.
22
23In addition, a separate kernel config parameter CONFIG_PROVE_RCU enables
24checking of rcu_dereference() primitives:
25
26 rcu_dereference(p):
27 Check for RCU read-side critical section.
28 rcu_dereference_bh(p):
29 Check for RCU-bh read-side critical section.
30 rcu_dereference_sched(p):
31 Check for RCU-sched read-side critical section.
32 srcu_dereference(p, sp):
33 Check for SRCU read-side critical section.
34 rcu_dereference_check(p, c):
35 Use explicit check expression "c". This is useful in
36 code that is invoked by both readers and updaters.
37 rcu_dereference_raw(p)
38 Don't check. (Use sparingly, if at all.)
39 rcu_dereference_protected(p, c):
40 Use explicit check expression "c", and omit all barriers
41 and compiler constraints. This is useful when the data
42 structure cannot change, for example, in code that is
43 invoked only by updaters.
44 rcu_access_pointer(p):
45 Return the value of the pointer and omit all barriers,
46 but retain the compiler constraints that prevent duplicating
47 or coalescsing. This is useful when when testing the
48 value of the pointer itself, for example, against NULL.
49
50The rcu_dereference_check() check expression can be any boolean
51expression, but would normally include one of the rcu_read_lock_held()
52family of functions and a lockdep expression. However, any boolean
53expression can be used. For a moderately ornate example, consider
54the following:
55
56 file = rcu_dereference_check(fdt->fd[fd],
57 rcu_read_lock_held() ||
58 lockdep_is_held(&files->file_lock) ||
59 atomic_read(&files->count) == 1);
60
61This expression picks up the pointer "fdt->fd[fd]" in an RCU-safe manner,
62and, if CONFIG_PROVE_RCU is configured, verifies that this expression
63is used in:
64
651. An RCU read-side critical section, or
662. with files->file_lock held, or
673. on an unshared files_struct.
68
69In case (1), the pointer is picked up in an RCU-safe manner for vanilla
70RCU read-side critical sections, in case (2) the ->file_lock prevents
71any change from taking place, and finally, in case (3) the current task
72is the only task accessing the file_struct, again preventing any change
73from taking place. If the above statement was invoked only from updater
74code, it could instead be written as follows:
75
76 file = rcu_dereference_protected(fdt->fd[fd],
77 lockdep_is_held(&files->file_lock) ||
78 atomic_read(&files->count) == 1);
79
80This would verify cases #2 and #3 above, and furthermore lockdep would
81complain if this was used in an RCU read-side critical section unless one
82of these two cases held. Because rcu_dereference_protected() omits all
83barriers and compiler constraints, it generates better code than do the
84other flavors of rcu_dereference(). On the other hand, it is illegal
85to use rcu_dereference_protected() if either the RCU-protected pointer
86or the RCU-protected data that it points to can change concurrently.
87
88There are currently only "universal" versions of the rcu_assign_pointer()
89and RCU list-/tree-traversal primitives, which do not (yet) check for
90being in an RCU read-side critical section. In the future, separate
91versions of these primitives might be created.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/rcu.txt b/Documentation/RCU/rcu.txt
index 2a23523ce471..31852705b586 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/rcu.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/rcu.txt
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ o I hear that RCU is patented? What is with that?
75 search for the string "Patent" in RTFP.txt to find them. 75 search for the string "Patent" in RTFP.txt to find them.
76 Of these, one was allowed to lapse by the assignee, and the 76 Of these, one was allowed to lapse by the assignee, and the
77 others have been contributed to the Linux kernel under GPL. 77 others have been contributed to the Linux kernel under GPL.
78 There are now also LGPL implementations of user-level RCU
79 available (http://lttng.org/?q=node/18).
78 80
79o I hear that RCU needs work in order to support realtime kernels? 81o I hear that RCU needs work in order to support realtime kernels?
80 82
@@ -91,48 +93,4 @@ o Where can I find more information on RCU?
91 93
92o What are all these files in this directory? 94o What are all these files in this directory?
93 95
94 96 See 00-INDEX for the list.
95 NMI-RCU.txt
96
97 Describes how to use RCU to implement dynamic
98 NMI handlers, which can be revectored on the fly,
99 without rebooting.
100
101 RTFP.txt
102
103 List of RCU-related publications and web sites.
104
105 UP.txt
106
107 Discussion of RCU usage in UP kernels.
108
109 arrayRCU.txt
110
111 Describes how to use RCU to protect arrays, with
112 resizeable arrays whose elements reference other
113 data structures being of the most interest.
114
115 checklist.txt
116
117 Lists things to check for when inspecting code that
118 uses RCU.
119
120 listRCU.txt
121
122 Describes how to use RCU to protect linked lists.
123 This is the simplest and most common use of RCU
124 in the Linux kernel.
125
126 rcu.txt
127
128 You are reading it!
129
130 rcuref.txt
131
132 Describes how to combine use of reference counts
133 with RCU.
134
135 whatisRCU.txt
136
137 Overview of how the RCU implementation works. Along
138 the way, presents a conceptual view of RCU.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/stallwarn.txt b/Documentation/RCU/stallwarn.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1423d2570d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/stallwarn.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
1Using RCU's CPU Stall Detector
2
3The CONFIG_RCU_CPU_STALL_DETECTOR kernel config parameter enables
4RCU's CPU stall detector, which detects conditions that unduly delay
5RCU grace periods. The stall detector's idea of what constitutes
6"unduly delayed" is controlled by a pair of C preprocessor macros:
7
8RCU_SECONDS_TILL_STALL_CHECK
9
10 This macro defines the period of time that RCU will wait from
11 the beginning of a grace period until it issues an RCU CPU
12 stall warning. It is normally ten seconds.
13
14RCU_SECONDS_TILL_STALL_RECHECK
15
16 This macro defines the period of time that RCU will wait after
17 issuing a stall warning until it issues another stall warning.
18 It is normally set to thirty seconds.
19
20RCU_STALL_RAT_DELAY
21
22 The CPU stall detector tries to make the offending CPU rat on itself,
23 as this often gives better-quality stack traces. However, if
24 the offending CPU does not detect its own stall in the number
25 of jiffies specified by RCU_STALL_RAT_DELAY, then other CPUs will
26 complain. This is normally set to two jiffies.
27
28The following problems can result in an RCU CPU stall warning:
29
30o A CPU looping in an RCU read-side critical section.
31
32o A CPU looping with interrupts disabled.
33
34o A CPU looping with preemption disabled.
35
36o For !CONFIG_PREEMPT kernels, a CPU looping anywhere in the kernel
37 without invoking schedule().
38
39o A bug in the RCU implementation.
40
41o A hardware failure. This is quite unlikely, but has occurred
42 at least once in a former life. A CPU failed in a running system,
43 becoming unresponsive, but not causing an immediate crash.
44 This resulted in a series of RCU CPU stall warnings, eventually
45 leading the realization that the CPU had failed.
46
47The RCU, RCU-sched, and RCU-bh implementations have CPU stall warning.
48SRCU does not do so directly, but its calls to synchronize_sched() will
49result in RCU-sched detecting any CPU stalls that might be occurring.
50
51To diagnose the cause of the stall, inspect the stack traces. The offending
52function will usually be near the top of the stack. If you have a series
53of stall warnings from a single extended stall, comparing the stack traces
54can often help determine where the stall is occurring, which will usually
55be in the function nearest the top of the stack that stays the same from
56trace to trace.
57
58RCU bugs can often be debugged with the help of CONFIG_RCU_TRACE.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt b/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt
index 9dba3bb90e60..0e50bc2aa1e2 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/torture.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,18 @@ MODULE PARAMETERS
30 30
31This module has the following parameters: 31This module has the following parameters:
32 32
33fqs_duration Duration (in microseconds) of artificially induced bursts
34 of force_quiescent_state() invocations. In RCU
35 implementations having force_quiescent_state(), these
36 bursts help force races between forcing a given grace
37 period and that grace period ending on its own.
38
39fqs_holdoff Holdoff time (in microseconds) between consecutive calls
40 to force_quiescent_state() within a burst.
41
42fqs_stutter Wait time (in seconds) between consecutive bursts
43 of calls to force_quiescent_state().
44
33irqreaders Says to invoke RCU readers from irq level. This is currently 45irqreaders Says to invoke RCU readers from irq level. This is currently
34 done via timers. Defaults to "1" for variants of RCU that 46 done via timers. Defaults to "1" for variants of RCU that
35 permit this. (Or, more accurately, variants of RCU that do 47 permit this. (Or, more accurately, variants of RCU that do
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/trace.txt b/Documentation/RCU/trace.txt
index 187bbf10c923..8608fd85e921 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/trace.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/trace.txt
@@ -1,185 +1,10 @@
1CONFIG_RCU_TRACE debugfs Files and Formats 1CONFIG_RCU_TRACE debugfs Files and Formats
2 2
3 3
4The rcupreempt and rcutree implementations of RCU provide debugfs trace 4The rcutree implementation of RCU provides debugfs trace output that
5output that summarizes counters and state. This information is useful for 5summarizes counters and state. This information is useful for debugging
6debugging RCU itself, and can sometimes also help to debug abuses of RCU. 6RCU itself, and can sometimes also help to debug abuses of RCU.
7Note that the rcuclassic implementation of RCU does not provide debugfs 7The following sections describe the debugfs files and formats.
8trace output.
9
10The following sections describe the debugfs files and formats for
11preemptable RCU (rcupreempt) and hierarchical RCU (rcutree).
12
13
14Preemptable RCU debugfs Files and Formats
15
16This implementation of RCU provides three debugfs files under the
17top-level directory RCU: rcu/rcuctrs (which displays the per-CPU
18counters used by preemptable RCU) rcu/rcugp (which displays grace-period
19counters), and rcu/rcustats (which internal counters for debugging RCU).
20
21The output of "cat rcu/rcuctrs" looks as follows:
22
23CPU last cur F M
24 0 5 -5 0 0
25 1 -1 0 0 0
26 2 0 1 0 0
27 3 0 1 0 0
28 4 0 1 0 0
29 5 0 1 0 0
30 6 0 2 0 0
31 7 0 -1 0 0
32 8 0 1 0 0
33ggp = 26226, state = waitzero
34
35The per-CPU fields are as follows:
36
37o "CPU" gives the CPU number. Offline CPUs are not displayed.
38
39o "last" gives the value of the counter that is being decremented
40 for the current grace period phase. In the example above,
41 the counters sum to 4, indicating that there are still four
42 RCU read-side critical sections still running that started
43 before the last counter flip.
44
45o "cur" gives the value of the counter that is currently being
46 both incremented (by rcu_read_lock()) and decremented (by
47 rcu_read_unlock()). In the example above, the counters sum to
48 1, indicating that there is only one RCU read-side critical section
49 still running that started after the last counter flip.
50
51o "F" indicates whether RCU is waiting for this CPU to acknowledge
52 a counter flip. In the above example, RCU is not waiting on any,
53 which is consistent with the state being "waitzero" rather than
54 "waitack".
55
56o "M" indicates whether RCU is waiting for this CPU to execute a
57 memory barrier. In the above example, RCU is not waiting on any,
58 which is consistent with the state being "waitzero" rather than
59 "waitmb".
60
61o "ggp" is the global grace-period counter.
62
63o "state" is the RCU state, which can be one of the following:
64
65 o "idle": there is no grace period in progress.
66
67 o "waitack": RCU just incremented the global grace-period
68 counter, which has the effect of reversing the roles of
69 the "last" and "cur" counters above, and is waiting for
70 all the CPUs to acknowledge the flip. Once the flip has
71 been acknowledged, CPUs will no longer be incrementing
72 what are now the "last" counters, so that their sum will
73 decrease monotonically down to zero.
74
75 o "waitzero": RCU is waiting for the sum of the "last" counters
76 to decrease to zero.
77
78 o "waitmb": RCU is waiting for each CPU to execute a memory
79 barrier, which ensures that instructions from a given CPU's
80 last RCU read-side critical section cannot be reordered
81 with instructions following the memory-barrier instruction.
82
83The output of "cat rcu/rcugp" looks as follows:
84
85oldggp=48870 newggp=48873
86
87Note that reading from this file provokes a synchronize_rcu(). The
88"oldggp" value is that of "ggp" from rcu/rcuctrs above, taken before
89executing the synchronize_rcu(), and the "newggp" value is also the
90"ggp" value, but taken after the synchronize_rcu() command returns.
91
92
93The output of "cat rcu/rcugp" looks as follows:
94
95na=1337955 nl=40 wa=1337915 wl=44 da=1337871 dl=0 dr=1337871 di=1337871
961=50989 e1=6138 i1=49722 ie1=82 g1=49640 a1=315203 ae1=265563 a2=49640
97z1=1401244 ze1=1351605 z2=49639 m1=5661253 me1=5611614 m2=49639
98
99These are counters tracking internal preemptable-RCU events, however,
100some of them may be useful for debugging algorithms using RCU. In
101particular, the "nl", "wl", and "dl" values track the number of RCU
102callbacks in various states. The fields are as follows:
103
104o "na" is the total number of RCU callbacks that have been enqueued
105 since boot.
106
107o "nl" is the number of RCU callbacks waiting for the previous
108 grace period to end so that they can start waiting on the next
109 grace period.
110
111o "wa" is the total number of RCU callbacks that have started waiting
112 for a grace period since boot. "na" should be roughly equal to
113 "nl" plus "wa".
114
115o "wl" is the number of RCU callbacks currently waiting for their
116 grace period to end.
117
118o "da" is the total number of RCU callbacks whose grace periods
119 have completed since boot. "wa" should be roughly equal to
120 "wl" plus "da".
121
122o "dr" is the total number of RCU callbacks that have been removed
123 from the list of callbacks ready to invoke. "dr" should be roughly
124 equal to "da".
125
126o "di" is the total number of RCU callbacks that have been invoked
127 since boot. "di" should be roughly equal to "da", though some
128 early versions of preemptable RCU had a bug so that only the
129 last CPU's count of invocations was displayed, rather than the
130 sum of all CPU's counts.
131
132o "1" is the number of calls to rcu_try_flip(). This should be
133 roughly equal to the sum of "e1", "i1", "a1", "z1", and "m1"
134 described below. In other words, the number of times that
135 the state machine is visited should be equal to the sum of the
136 number of times that each state is visited plus the number of
137 times that the state-machine lock acquisition failed.
138
139o "e1" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip() was unable to
140 acquire the fliplock.
141
142o "i1" is the number of calls to rcu_try_flip_idle().
143
144o "ie1" is the number of times rcu_try_flip_idle() exited early
145 due to the calling CPU having no work for RCU.
146
147o "g1" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_idle() decided
148 to start a new grace period. "i1" should be roughly equal to
149 "ie1" plus "g1".
150
151o "a1" is the number of calls to rcu_try_flip_waitack().
152
153o "ae1" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_waitack() found
154 that at least one CPU had not yet acknowledge the new grace period
155 (AKA "counter flip").
156
157o "a2" is the number of time rcu_try_flip_waitack() found that
158 all CPUs had acknowledged. "a1" should be roughly equal to
159 "ae1" plus "a2". (This particular output was collected on
160 a 128-CPU machine, hence the smaller-than-usual fraction of
161 calls to rcu_try_flip_waitack() finding all CPUs having already
162 acknowledged.)
163
164o "z1" is the number of calls to rcu_try_flip_waitzero().
165
166o "ze1" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_waitzero() found
167 that not all of the old RCU read-side critical sections had
168 completed.
169
170o "z2" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_waitzero() finds
171 the sum of the counters equal to zero, in other words, that
172 all of the old RCU read-side critical sections had completed.
173 The value of "z1" should be roughly equal to "ze1" plus
174 "z2".
175
176o "m1" is the number of calls to rcu_try_flip_waitmb().
177
178o "me1" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_waitmb() finds
179 that at least one CPU has not yet executed a memory barrier.
180
181o "m2" is the number of times that rcu_try_flip_waitmb() finds that
182 all CPUs have executed a memory barrier.
183 8
184 9
185Hierarchical RCU debugfs Files and Formats 10Hierarchical RCU debugfs Files and Formats
@@ -210,9 +35,10 @@ rcu_bh:
210 6 c=-275 g=-275 pq=1 pqc=-275 qp=0 dt=859/1 dn=0 df=15 of=0 ri=0 ql=0 b=10 35 6 c=-275 g=-275 pq=1 pqc=-275 qp=0 dt=859/1 dn=0 df=15 of=0 ri=0 ql=0 b=10
211 7 c=-275 g=-275 pq=1 pqc=-275 qp=0 dt=3761/1 dn=0 df=15 of=0 ri=0 ql=0 b=10 36 7 c=-275 g=-275 pq=1 pqc=-275 qp=0 dt=3761/1 dn=0 df=15 of=0 ri=0 ql=0 b=10
212 37
213The first section lists the rcu_data structures for rcu, the second for 38The first section lists the rcu_data structures for rcu_sched, the second
214rcu_bh. Each section has one line per CPU, or eight for this 8-CPU system. 39for rcu_bh. Note that CONFIG_TREE_PREEMPT_RCU kernels will have an
215The fields are as follows: 40additional section for rcu_preempt. Each section has one line per CPU,
41or eight for this 8-CPU system. The fields are as follows:
216 42
217o The number at the beginning of each line is the CPU number. 43o The number at the beginning of each line is the CPU number.
218 CPUs numbers followed by an exclamation mark are offline, 44 CPUs numbers followed by an exclamation mark are offline,
@@ -223,9 +49,9 @@ o The number at the beginning of each line is the CPU number.
223 49
224o "c" is the count of grace periods that this CPU believes have 50o "c" is the count of grace periods that this CPU believes have
225 completed. CPUs in dynticks idle mode may lag quite a ways 51 completed. CPUs in dynticks idle mode may lag quite a ways
226 behind, for example, CPU 4 under "rcu" above, which has slept 52 behind, for example, CPU 4 under "rcu_sched" above, which has
227 through the past 25 RCU grace periods. It is not unusual to 53 slept through the past 25 RCU grace periods. It is not unusual
228 see CPUs lagging by thousands of grace periods. 54 to see CPUs lagging by thousands of grace periods.
229 55
230o "g" is the count of grace periods that this CPU believes have 56o "g" is the count of grace periods that this CPU believes have
231 started. Again, CPUs in dynticks idle mode may lag behind. 57 started. Again, CPUs in dynticks idle mode may lag behind.
@@ -308,8 +134,10 @@ The output of "cat rcu/rcugp" looks as follows:
308rcu_sched: completed=33062 gpnum=33063 134rcu_sched: completed=33062 gpnum=33063
309rcu_bh: completed=464 gpnum=464 135rcu_bh: completed=464 gpnum=464
310 136
311Again, this output is for both "rcu" and "rcu_bh". The fields are 137Again, this output is for both "rcu_sched" and "rcu_bh". Note that
312taken from the rcu_state structure, and are as follows: 138kernels built with CONFIG_TREE_PREEMPT_RCU will have an additional
139"rcu_preempt" line. The fields are taken from the rcu_state structure,
140and are as follows:
313 141
314o "completed" is the number of grace periods that have completed. 142o "completed" is the number of grace periods that have completed.
315 It is comparable to the "c" field from rcu/rcudata in that a 143 It is comparable to the "c" field from rcu/rcudata in that a
@@ -324,23 +152,24 @@ o "gpnum" is the number of grace periods that have started. It is
324 If these two fields are equal (as they are for "rcu_bh" above), 152 If these two fields are equal (as they are for "rcu_bh" above),
325 then there is no grace period in progress, in other words, RCU 153 then there is no grace period in progress, in other words, RCU
326 is idle. On the other hand, if the two fields differ (as they 154 is idle. On the other hand, if the two fields differ (as they
327 do for "rcu" above), then an RCU grace period is in progress. 155 do for "rcu_sched" above), then an RCU grace period is in progress.
328 156
329 157
330The output of "cat rcu/rcuhier" looks as follows, with very long lines: 158The output of "cat rcu/rcuhier" looks as follows, with very long lines:
331 159
332c=6902 g=6903 s=2 jfq=3 j=72c7 nfqs=13142/nfqsng=0(13142) fqlh=6 160c=6902 g=6903 s=2 jfq=3 j=72c7 nfqs=13142/nfqsng=0(13142) fqlh=6 oqlen=0
3331/1 0:127 ^0 1611/1 .>. 0:127 ^0
3343/3 0:35 ^0 0/0 36:71 ^1 0/0 72:107 ^2 0/0 108:127 ^3 1623/3 .>. 0:35 ^0 0/0 .>. 36:71 ^1 0/0 .>. 72:107 ^2 0/0 .>. 108:127 ^3
3353/3f 0:5 ^0 2/3 6:11 ^1 0/0 12:17 ^2 0/0 18:23 ^3 0/0 24:29 ^4 0/0 30:35 ^5 0/0 36:41 ^0 0/0 42:47 ^1 0/0 48:53 ^2 0/0 54:59 ^3 0/0 60:65 ^4 0/0 66:71 ^5 0/0 72:77 ^0 0/0 78:83 ^1 0/0 84:89 ^2 0/0 90:95 ^3 0/0 96:101 ^4 0/0 102:107 ^5 0/0 108:113 ^0 0/0 114:119 ^1 0/0 120:125 ^2 0/0 126:127 ^3 1633/3f .>. 0:5 ^0 2/3 .>. 6:11 ^1 0/0 .>. 12:17 ^2 0/0 .>. 18:23 ^3 0/0 .>. 24:29 ^4 0/0 .>. 30:35 ^5 0/0 .>. 36:41 ^0 0/0 .>. 42:47 ^1 0/0 .>. 48:53 ^2 0/0 .>. 54:59 ^3 0/0 .>. 60:65 ^4 0/0 .>. 66:71 ^5 0/0 .>. 72:77 ^0 0/0 .>. 78:83 ^1 0/0 .>. 84:89 ^2 0/0 .>. 90:95 ^3 0/0 .>. 96:101 ^4 0/0 .>. 102:107 ^5 0/0 .>. 108:113 ^0 0/0 .>. 114:119 ^1 0/0 .>. 120:125 ^2 0/0 .>. 126:127 ^3
336rcu_bh: 164rcu_bh:
337c=-226 g=-226 s=1 jfq=-5701 j=72c7 nfqs=88/nfqsng=0(88) fqlh=0 165c=-226 g=-226 s=1 jfq=-5701 j=72c7 nfqs=88/nfqsng=0(88) fqlh=0 oqlen=0
3380/1 0:127 ^0 1660/1 .>. 0:127 ^0
3390/3 0:35 ^0 0/0 36:71 ^1 0/0 72:107 ^2 0/0 108:127 ^3 1670/3 .>. 0:35 ^0 0/0 .>. 36:71 ^1 0/0 .>. 72:107 ^2 0/0 .>. 108:127 ^3
3400/3f 0:5 ^0 0/3 6:11 ^1 0/0 12:17 ^2 0/0 18:23 ^3 0/0 24:29 ^4 0/0 30:35 ^5 0/0 36:41 ^0 0/0 42:47 ^1 0/0 48:53 ^2 0/0 54:59 ^3 0/0 60:65 ^4 0/0 66:71 ^5 0/0 72:77 ^0 0/0 78:83 ^1 0/0 84:89 ^2 0/0 90:95 ^3 0/0 96:101 ^4 0/0 102:107 ^5 0/0 108:113 ^0 0/0 114:119 ^1 0/0 120:125 ^2 0/0 126:127 ^3 1680/3f .>. 0:5 ^0 0/3 .>. 6:11 ^1 0/0 .>. 12:17 ^2 0/0 .>. 18:23 ^3 0/0 .>. 24:29 ^4 0/0 .>. 30:35 ^5 0/0 .>. 36:41 ^0 0/0 .>. 42:47 ^1 0/0 .>. 48:53 ^2 0/0 .>. 54:59 ^3 0/0 .>. 60:65 ^4 0/0 .>. 66:71 ^5 0/0 .>. 72:77 ^0 0/0 .>. 78:83 ^1 0/0 .>. 84:89 ^2 0/0 .>. 90:95 ^3 0/0 .>. 96:101 ^4 0/0 .>. 102:107 ^5 0/0 .>. 108:113 ^0 0/0 .>. 114:119 ^1 0/0 .>. 120:125 ^2 0/0 .>. 126:127 ^3
341 169
342This is once again split into "rcu" and "rcu_bh" portions. The fields are 170This is once again split into "rcu_sched" and "rcu_bh" portions,
343as follows: 171and CONFIG_TREE_PREEMPT_RCU kernels will again have an additional
172"rcu_preempt" section. The fields are as follows:
344 173
345o "c" is exactly the same as "completed" under rcu/rcugp. 174o "c" is exactly the same as "completed" under rcu/rcugp.
346 175
@@ -372,6 +201,11 @@ o "fqlh" is the number of calls to force_quiescent_state() that
372 exited immediately (without even being counted in nfqs above) 201 exited immediately (without even being counted in nfqs above)
373 due to contention on ->fqslock. 202 due to contention on ->fqslock.
374 203
204o "oqlen" is the number of callbacks on the "orphan" callback
205 list. RCU callbacks are placed on this list by CPUs going
206 offline, and are "adopted" either by the CPU helping the outgoing
207 CPU or by the next rcu_barrier*() call, whichever comes first.
208
375o Each element of the form "1/1 0:127 ^0" represents one struct 209o Each element of the form "1/1 0:127 ^0" represents one struct
376 rcu_node. Each line represents one level of the hierarchy, from 210 rcu_node. Each line represents one level of the hierarchy, from
377 root to leaves. It is best to think of the rcu_data structures 211 root to leaves. It is best to think of the rcu_data structures
@@ -379,7 +213,7 @@ o Each element of the form "1/1 0:127 ^0" represents one struct
379 might be either one, two, or three levels of rcu_node structures, 213 might be either one, two, or three levels of rcu_node structures,
380 depending on the relationship between CONFIG_RCU_FANOUT and 214 depending on the relationship between CONFIG_RCU_FANOUT and
381 CONFIG_NR_CPUS. 215 CONFIG_NR_CPUS.
382 216
383 o The numbers separated by the "/" are the qsmask followed 217 o The numbers separated by the "/" are the qsmask followed
384 by the qsmaskinit. The qsmask will have one bit 218 by the qsmaskinit. The qsmask will have one bit
385 set for each entity in the next lower level that 219 set for each entity in the next lower level that
@@ -389,10 +223,19 @@ o Each element of the form "1/1 0:127 ^0" represents one struct
389 The value of qsmaskinit is assigned to that of qsmask 223 The value of qsmaskinit is assigned to that of qsmask
390 at the beginning of each grace period. 224 at the beginning of each grace period.
391 225
392 For example, for "rcu", the qsmask of the first entry 226 For example, for "rcu_sched", the qsmask of the first
393 of the lowest level is 0x14, meaning that we are still 227 entry of the lowest level is 0x14, meaning that we
394 waiting for CPUs 2 and 4 to check in for the current 228 are still waiting for CPUs 2 and 4 to check in for the
395 grace period. 229 current grace period.
230
231 o The characters separated by the ">" indicate the state
232 of the blocked-tasks lists. A "T" preceding the ">"
233 indicates that at least one task blocked in an RCU
234 read-side critical section blocks the current grace
235 period, while a "." preceding the ">" indicates otherwise.
236 The character following the ">" indicates similarly for
237 the next grace period. A "T" should appear in this
238 field only for rcu-preempt.
396 239
397 o The numbers separated by the ":" are the range of CPUs 240 o The numbers separated by the ":" are the range of CPUs
398 served by this struct rcu_node. This can be helpful 241 served by this struct rcu_node. This can be helpful
@@ -431,8 +274,9 @@ rcu_bh:
431 6 np=120834 qsp=9902 cbr=0 cng=0 gpc=6 gps=3 nf=2 nn=110921 274 6 np=120834 qsp=9902 cbr=0 cng=0 gpc=6 gps=3 nf=2 nn=110921
432 7 np=144888 qsp=26336 cbr=0 cng=0 gpc=8 gps=2 nf=0 nn=118542 275 7 np=144888 qsp=26336 cbr=0 cng=0 gpc=8 gps=2 nf=0 nn=118542
433 276
434As always, this is once again split into "rcu" and "rcu_bh" portions. 277As always, this is once again split into "rcu_sched" and "rcu_bh"
435The fields are as follows: 278portions, with CONFIG_TREE_PREEMPT_RCU kernels having an additional
279"rcu_preempt" section. The fields are as follows:
436 280
437o "np" is the number of times that __rcu_pending() has been invoked 281o "np" is the number of times that __rcu_pending() has been invoked
438 for the corresponding flavor of RCU. 282 for the corresponding flavor of RCU.
diff --git a/Documentation/RCU/whatisRCU.txt b/Documentation/RCU/whatisRCU.txt
index e41a7fecf0d3..cfaac34c4557 100644
--- a/Documentation/RCU/whatisRCU.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RCU/whatisRCU.txt
@@ -323,14 +323,17 @@ used as follows:
323 Defer Protect 323 Defer Protect
324 324
325a. synchronize_rcu() rcu_read_lock() / rcu_read_unlock() 325a. synchronize_rcu() rcu_read_lock() / rcu_read_unlock()
326 call_rcu() 326 call_rcu() rcu_dereference()
327 327
328b. call_rcu_bh() rcu_read_lock_bh() / rcu_read_unlock_bh() 328b. call_rcu_bh() rcu_read_lock_bh() / rcu_read_unlock_bh()
329 rcu_dereference_bh()
329 330
330c. synchronize_sched() preempt_disable() / preempt_enable() 331c. synchronize_sched() rcu_read_lock_sched() / rcu_read_unlock_sched()
332 preempt_disable() / preempt_enable()
331 local_irq_save() / local_irq_restore() 333 local_irq_save() / local_irq_restore()
332 hardirq enter / hardirq exit 334 hardirq enter / hardirq exit
333 NMI enter / NMI exit 335 NMI enter / NMI exit
336 rcu_dereference_sched()
334 337
335These three mechanisms are used as follows: 338These three mechanisms are used as follows:
336 339
@@ -780,9 +783,8 @@ Linux-kernel source code, but it helps to have a full list of the
780APIs, since there does not appear to be a way to categorize them 783APIs, since there does not appear to be a way to categorize them
781in docbook. Here is the list, by category. 784in docbook. Here is the list, by category.
782 785
783RCU pointer/list traversal: 786RCU list traversal:
784 787
785 rcu_dereference
786 list_for_each_entry_rcu 788 list_for_each_entry_rcu
787 hlist_for_each_entry_rcu 789 hlist_for_each_entry_rcu
788 hlist_nulls_for_each_entry_rcu 790 hlist_nulls_for_each_entry_rcu
@@ -808,7 +810,7 @@ RCU: Critical sections Grace period Barrier
808 810
809 rcu_read_lock synchronize_net rcu_barrier 811 rcu_read_lock synchronize_net rcu_barrier
810 rcu_read_unlock synchronize_rcu 812 rcu_read_unlock synchronize_rcu
811 synchronize_rcu_expedited 813 rcu_dereference synchronize_rcu_expedited
812 call_rcu 814 call_rcu
813 815
814 816
@@ -816,7 +818,7 @@ bh: Critical sections Grace period Barrier
816 818
817 rcu_read_lock_bh call_rcu_bh rcu_barrier_bh 819 rcu_read_lock_bh call_rcu_bh rcu_barrier_bh
818 rcu_read_unlock_bh synchronize_rcu_bh 820 rcu_read_unlock_bh synchronize_rcu_bh
819 synchronize_rcu_bh_expedited 821 rcu_dereference_bh synchronize_rcu_bh_expedited
820 822
821 823
822sched: Critical sections Grace period Barrier 824sched: Critical sections Grace period Barrier
@@ -825,17 +827,25 @@ sched: Critical sections Grace period Barrier
825 rcu_read_unlock_sched call_rcu_sched 827 rcu_read_unlock_sched call_rcu_sched
826 [preempt_disable] synchronize_sched_expedited 828 [preempt_disable] synchronize_sched_expedited
827 [and friends] 829 [and friends]
830 rcu_dereference_sched
828 831
829 832
830SRCU: Critical sections Grace period Barrier 833SRCU: Critical sections Grace period Barrier
831 834
832 srcu_read_lock synchronize_srcu N/A 835 srcu_read_lock synchronize_srcu N/A
833 srcu_read_unlock 836 srcu_read_unlock synchronize_srcu_expedited
837 srcu_dereference
834 838
835SRCU: Initialization/cleanup 839SRCU: Initialization/cleanup
836 init_srcu_struct 840 init_srcu_struct
837 cleanup_srcu_struct 841 cleanup_srcu_struct
838 842
843All: lockdep-checked RCU-protected pointer access
844
845 rcu_dereference_check
846 rcu_dereference_protected
847 rcu_access_pointer
848
839See the comment headers in the source code (or the docbook generated 849See the comment headers in the source code (or the docbook generated
840from them) for more information. 850from them) for more information.
841 851