[PATCH] f2fs: annotate lockless NAT counter reads

From: Cen Zhang

Date: Tue May 05 2026 - 08:56:19 EST


nat_cnt[] is updated while callers hold nat_tree_lock, but F2FS samples
the counters locklessly in f2fs_available_free_memory(),
excess_dirty_nats(), and excess_cached_nats(). Those helpers only steer
cache reclaim and background sync heuristics; they do not control NAT
entry lifetime or checkpoint correctness.

Document the intent with data_race(READ_ONCE()) and a short comment
instead of adding locking to the balance path.

Signed-off-by: Cen Zhang <zzzccc427@xxxxxxxxx>
---
fs/f2fs/node.c | 6 +++++-
fs/f2fs/node.h | 8 ++++++--
2 files changed, 11 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/f2fs/node.c b/fs/f2fs/node.c
index 74992fd9c9b6..8318c747600d 100644
--- a/fs/f2fs/node.c
+++ b/fs/f2fs/node.c
@@ -72,7 +72,11 @@ bool f2fs_available_free_memory(struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi, int type)
sizeof(struct free_nid)) >> PAGE_SHIFT;
res = mem_size < ((avail_ram * nm_i->ram_thresh / 100) >> 2);
} else if (type == NAT_ENTRIES) {
- mem_size = (nm_i->nat_cnt[TOTAL_NAT] *
+ /*
+ * nat_cnt[] is heuristic accounting. Sample it locklessly here
+ * to avoid taking nat_tree_lock in the balance path.
+ */
+ mem_size = (data_race(READ_ONCE(nm_i->nat_cnt[TOTAL_NAT])) *
sizeof(struct nat_entry)) >> PAGE_SHIFT;
res = mem_size < ((avail_ram * nm_i->ram_thresh / 100) >> 2);
if (excess_cached_nats(sbi))
diff --git a/fs/f2fs/node.h b/fs/f2fs/node.h
index 824ac9f0e6e4..c1aa41b31d66 100644
--- a/fs/f2fs/node.h
+++ b/fs/f2fs/node.h
@@ -129,13 +129,17 @@ static inline void raw_nat_from_node_info(struct f2fs_nat_entry *raw_ne,

static inline bool excess_dirty_nats(struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi)
{
- return NM_I(sbi)->nat_cnt[DIRTY_NAT] >= NM_I(sbi)->max_nid *
+ /* nat_cnt[] is heuristic accounting sampled locklessly here. */
+ return data_race(READ_ONCE(NM_I(sbi)->nat_cnt[DIRTY_NAT])) >=
+ NM_I(sbi)->max_nid *
NM_I(sbi)->dirty_nats_ratio / 100;
}

static inline bool excess_cached_nats(struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi)
{
- return NM_I(sbi)->nat_cnt[TOTAL_NAT] >= DEF_NAT_CACHE_THRESHOLD;
+ /* nat_cnt[] is heuristic accounting sampled locklessly here. */
+ return data_race(READ_ONCE(NM_I(sbi)->nat_cnt[TOTAL_NAT])) >=
+ DEF_NAT_CACHE_THRESHOLD;
}

enum mem_type {
--
2.43.0