[PATCH v2 1/4] sched/fair: Check CPU capacity before comparing group types during load balance
From: Ricardo Neri
Date: Wed Apr 29 2026 - 17:22:16 EST
update_sd_pick_busiest() may incorrectly select a fully_busy group as the
busiest group when its per-CPU capacity exceeds that of the destination
CPU. This happens because the type of busiest group is initialized to
group_has_spare and allows the fully_busy group to win the type comparison.
update_sd_pick_busiest() should not choose a candidate scheduling group
with at most one runnable task if its per-CPU capacity is greater than that
of the destination CPU. Such a check already exists, but it is done too
late: after the type comparison, preventing a subsequent fully_busy group
of equal per-CPU capacity from being correctly selected.
Move this check to occur before comparing group types.
Signed-off-by: Ricardo Neri <ricardo.neri-calderon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
Changes since v1:
* Added a note clarifying that SMT and SD_ASYM_CPUCAPACITY are mutually
exclusive. (Tim)
* Kept parentheses around bitwise operators for clarity.
* Rewrote patch description for clarity.
---
kernel/sched/fair.c | 25 ++++++++++++++-----------
1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)
diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index 728965851842..0dbed82aa63f 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -10788,6 +10788,20 @@ static bool update_sd_pick_busiest(struct lb_env *env,
sds->local_stat.group_type != group_has_spare))
return false;
+ /*
+ * Candidate sg has no more than one task per CPU and has higher
+ * per-CPU capacity. Migrating tasks to less capable CPUs may harm
+ * throughput. Maximize throughput, power/energy consequences are not
+ * considered.
+ *
+ * Systems with SMT are unaffected, as asymmetric capacity is not set
+ * in such case.
+ */
+ if ((env->sd->flags & SD_ASYM_CPUCAPACITY) &&
+ (sgs->group_type <= group_fully_busy) &&
+ (capacity_greater(sg->sgc->min_capacity, capacity_of(env->dst_cpu))))
+ return false;
+
if (sgs->group_type > busiest->group_type)
return true;
@@ -10890,17 +10904,6 @@ static bool update_sd_pick_busiest(struct lb_env *env,
break;
}
- /*
- * Candidate sg has no more than one task per CPU and has higher
- * per-CPU capacity. Migrating tasks to less capable CPUs may harm
- * throughput. Maximize throughput, power/energy consequences are not
- * considered.
- */
- if ((env->sd->flags & SD_ASYM_CPUCAPACITY) &&
- (sgs->group_type <= group_fully_busy) &&
- (capacity_greater(sg->sgc->min_capacity, capacity_of(env->dst_cpu))))
- return false;
-
return true;
}
--
2.43.0