Re: [PATCH v7 2/2] x86/split_lock: Avoid runtime reads of the TEST_CTRL MSR

From: Sean Christopherson
Date: Sat Mar 28 2020 - 12:34:28 EST


On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 11:09:24AM +0800, Xiaoyao Li wrote:
> In a context switch from a task that is detecting split locks
> to one that is not (or vice versa) we need to update the TEST_CTRL
> MSR. Currently this is done with the common sequence:
> read the MSR
> flip the bit
> write the MSR
> in order to avoid changing the value of any reserved bits in the MSR.
>
> Cache unused and reserved bits of TEST_CTRL MSR with SPLIT_LOCK_DETECT
> bit cleared during initialization, so we can avoid an expensive RDMSR
> instruction during context switch.
>
> Suggested-by: Sean Christopherson <sean.j.christopherson@xxxxxxxxx>
> Originally-by: Tony Luck <tony.luck@xxxxxxxxx>
> Signed-off-by: Xiaoyao Li <xiaoyao.li@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c | 9 ++++-----
> 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
> index deb5c42c2089..1f414578899c 100644
> --- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
> +++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/intel.c
> @@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ enum split_lock_detect_state {
> * split lock detect, unless there is a command line override.
> */
> static enum split_lock_detect_state sld_state __ro_after_init = sld_off;
> +static u64 msr_test_ctrl_cache __ro_after_init;

What about using "msr_test_ctrl_base_value", or something along those lines?
"cache" doesn't make it clear that SPLIT_LOCK_DETECT is guaranteed to be
zero in this variable.

>
> /*
> * Processors which have self-snooping capability can handle conflicting
> @@ -1037,6 +1038,8 @@ static void __init split_lock_setup(void)
> break;
> }
>
> + rdmsrl(MSR_TEST_CTRL, msr_test_ctrl_cache);

If we're going to bother skipping the RDMSR if state=sld_off on the command
line then it also makes sense to skip it if enabling fails, i.e. move this
below split_lock_verify_msr(true).

> +
> if (!split_lock_verify_msr(true)) {
> pr_info("MSR access failed: Disabled\n");
> return;
> @@ -1053,14 +1056,10 @@ static void __init split_lock_setup(void)
> */
> static void sld_update_msr(bool on)
> {
> - u64 test_ctrl_val;
> -
> - rdmsrl(MSR_TEST_CTRL, test_ctrl_val);
> + u64 test_ctrl_val = msr_test_ctrl_cache;
>
> if (on)
> test_ctrl_val |= MSR_TEST_CTRL_SPLIT_LOCK_DETECT;
> - else
> - test_ctrl_val &= ~MSR_TEST_CTRL_SPLIT_LOCK_DETECT;
>
> wrmsrl(MSR_TEST_CTRL, test_ctrl_val);
> }
> --
> 2.20.1
>