Re: [RFC][PATCH v3 4/6] aio: Don't inherit aio ring memory at fork

From: Jeff Moyer
Date: Tue Apr 14 2009 - 22:46:19 EST


KOSAKI Motohiro <kosaki.motohiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

> Hi!
>
>> KOSAKI Motohiro <kosaki.motohiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>>
>> > AIO folks, Am I missing anything?
>> >
>> > ===============
>> > Subject: [RFC][PATCH] aio: Don't inherit aio ring memory at fork
>> >
>> > Currently, mm_struct::ioctx_list member isn't copyed at fork. IOW aio context don't inherit at fork.
>> > but only ring memory inherited. that's strange.
>> >
>> > This patch mark DONTFORK to ring-memory too.
>>
>> Well, given that clearly nobody relies on io contexts being copied to
>> the child, I think it's okay to make this change. I think the current
>> behaviour violates the principal of least surprise, but I'm having a
>> hard time getting upset about that. ;)
>
> ok.
> So, Can I get your Acked-by?

I have more comments below.

>> > In addition, This patch has good side effect. it also fix
>> > "get_user_pages() vs fork" problem.
>>
>> Hmm, I don't follow you, here. As I understand it, the get_user_pages
>> vs. fork problem has to do with the pages used for the actual I/O, not
>> the pages used to store the completion data. So, could you elaborate a
>> bit on what you mean by the above statement?
>
> No.
>
> The problem is, get_user_pages() increment page_count only.
> but VM page-fault logic don't care page_count. (it only care page::_mapcount)
> Then, fork and pagefault can change virtual-physical relationship although
> get_user_pages() is called.
>
> drawback worst aio scenario here
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> io_setup() and gup inc page_count
>
> fork inc mapcount
> and make write-protect to pte
>
> write ring from userland(*) page fault and
> COW break.
> parent process get copyed page and
> child get original page owner-ship.
>
> kmap and memcpy from kernel change child page. (it mean data lost)
>
> (*) Is this happend?

I guess it's possible, but I don't know of any programs that do this.

> MADV_DONTFORK or down_read(mmap_sem) or down_read(mm_pinned_sem)
> or copy-at-fork mecanism(=Nick/Andrea patch) solve it.

OK, thanks for the explanation.

+ /*
+ * aio context doesn't inherit while fork. (see mm_init())
+ * Then, aio ring also mark DONTFORK.
+ */

Would you mind if I did some word-smithing on that comment? Something
like:
/*
* The io_context is not inherited by the child after fork()
* (see mm_init). Therefore, it makes little sense for the
* completion ring to be inherited.
*/

+ ret = sys_madvise(info->mmap_base, info->mmap_size, MADV_DONTFORK);
+ BUG_ON(ret);
+

It appears there's no other way to set the VM_DONTCOPY flag, so I guess
calling sys_madvise is fine. I'm not sure I agree with the BUG_ON(ret),
however, as EAGAIN may be feasible.

So, fix that up and you can add my reviewed-by. I think you should push
this patch independent of the other patches in this series.

>> > I think "man fork" also sould be changed. it only say
>> >
>> > * The child does not inherit outstanding asynchronous I/O operations from
>> > its parent (aio_read(3), aio_write(3)).
>> > but aio_context_t (return value of io_setup(2)) also don't inherit in current implementaion.
>>
>> I can certainly make that change, as I have other changes I need to push
>> to Michael, anyway.
>
> thanks.

No problem. As you know, I've already sent a patch for this.

Cheers,
Jeff
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