[PATCH] Document I_SYNC and I_DATASYNC

From: JÃrn Engel
Date: Thu Nov 15 2007 - 21:51:39 EST


After some archeology (see http://logfs.org/logfs/inode_state_bits) I
finally figured out what the three I_DIRTY bits do. Maybe others would
prefer less effort to reach this insight.

Signed-off-by: JÃrn Engel <joern@xxxxxxxxx>
---

include/linux/fs.h | 8 ++++----
1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

--- git_I_DIRTY/include/linux/fs.h~I_DIRTY 2007-11-15 20:51:57.000000000 +0100
+++ git_I_DIRTY/include/linux/fs.h 2007-11-16 03:45:16.000000000 +0100
@@ -1276,8 +1276,10 @@ struct super_operations {
*
* Two bits are used for locking and completion notification, I_LOCK and I_SYNC.
*
- * I_DIRTY_SYNC Inode itself is dirty.
- * I_DIRTY_DATASYNC Data-related inode changes pending
+ * I_DIRTY_SYNC Inode is dirty, but doesn't have to be written on
+ * fdatasync(). i_atime is the usual cause.
+ * I_DIRTY_DATASYNC Inode is dirty and must be written on fdatasync(), f.e.
+ * because i_size changed.
* I_DIRTY_PAGES Inode has dirty pages. Inode itself may be clean.
* I_NEW get_new_inode() sets i_state to I_LOCK|I_NEW. Both
* are cleared by unlock_new_inode(), called from iget().
@@ -1309,8 +1311,6 @@ struct super_operations {
* purpose reduces latency and prevents some filesystem-
* specific deadlocks.
*
- * Q: Why does I_DIRTY_DATASYNC exist? It appears as if it could be replaced
- * by (I_DIRTY_SYNC|I_DIRTY_PAGES).
* Q: What is the difference between I_WILL_FREE and I_FREEING?
* Q: igrab() only checks on (I_FREEING|I_WILL_FREE). Should it also check on
* I_CLEAR? If not, why?
-
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