Re: [PATCH 2/3] mm: page allocator: Calculate a better estimate of NR_FREE_PAGES when memory is low and kswapd is awake

From: KOSAKI Motohiro
Date: Tue Aug 31 2010 - 19:38:05 EST


> +#ifdef CONFIG_SMP
> +/* Called when a more accurate view of NR_FREE_PAGES is needed */
> +unsigned long zone_nr_free_pages(struct zone *zone)
> +{
> + unsigned long nr_free_pages = zone_page_state(zone, NR_FREE_PAGES);
> +
> + /*
> + * While kswapd is awake, it is considered the zone is under some
> + * memory pressure. Under pressure, there is a risk that
> + * per-cpu-counter-drift will allow the min watermark to be breached
> + * potentially causing a live-lock. While kswapd is awake and
> + * free pages are low, get a better estimate for free pages
> + */
> + if (nr_free_pages < zone->percpu_drift_mark &&
> + !waitqueue_active(&zone->zone_pgdat->kswapd_wait)) {
> + int cpu;
> +
> + for_each_online_cpu(cpu) {
> + struct per_cpu_pageset *pset;
> +
> + pset = per_cpu_ptr(zone->pageset, cpu);
> + nr_free_pages += pset->vm_stat_diff[NR_FREE_PAGES];

If my understanding is correct, we have no lock when reading pset->vm_stat_diff.
It mean nr_free_pages can reach negative value at very rarely race. boundary
check is necessary?




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