Re: [PATCH v2] x86/resctrl: Clear the stale staged config after the configuration is completed

[Shawn Wang]

Hi Reinette,

On 10/22/2022 2:05 AM, Reinette Chatre wrote:

...

> > It may not be enough to just clear staged_config[] when
> > resctrl_arch_update_domains() exits. I think the fix needs to make
> > sure staged_config[] can be cleared where it is set.
> >
> > The modification of staged_config[] comes from two paths:
> >
> > Path 1:
> > rdtgroup_schemata_write() {
> >      ...
> >      rdtgroup_parse_resource()     // set staged_config[]
> >      ...
> >      resctrl_arch_update_domains()     // clear staged_config[]
> >      ...
> > }
> >
> > Path 2:
> > rdtgroup_init_alloc() {
> >      ...
> >      rdtgroup_init_mba()/rdtgroup_init_cat()    // set staged_config[]
> >      ...
> >      resctrl_arch_update_domains()        // clear staged_config[]
> >      ...
> > }
> >
> > If we clear staged_config[] in resctrl_arch_update_domains(), goto
> > statement for error handling between setting staged_config[] and
> > calling resctrl_arch_update_domains() will be ignored. This can still
> > remain the stale staged_config[].
> ah - indeed. Thank you for catching that.
>
> > I think maybe it is better to put the clearing work where
> > rdtgroup_schemata_write() and rdtgroup_init_alloc() exit.
>
> It may be more robust to let rdtgroup_init_alloc() follow
> how rdtgroup_schemata_write() already ensures that it is
> working with a clean state by clearing staged_config[] before
> placing its staged config within.

I want to make sure, do you mean just ignore the stale value and place 
the clearing work before staged_config[] is used? If so, maybe the only
thing the fix should do is to add memset() to rdtgroup_init_alloc().

Thanks,

Shawn