Re: [PATCH 1/2] jbd2: check need_resched() when skipping busy checkpoint buffers

From: Zhang Yi

Date: Tue Jul 14 2026 - 02:27:07 EST


On 7/13/2026 6:22 PM, Max Kellermann wrote:
journal_shrink_one_cp_list() skips busy checkpoint buffers when called
with JBD2_SHRINK_BUSY_SKIP. The continue statement on this path also
skips the need_resched() check at the end of the loop body.

Consequently, when a checkpoint list contains mostly busy buffers, the
shrinker can walk the entire list while holding journal->j_list_lock,
even when a reschedule has been requested. Large checkpoint lists under
memory pressure can therefore cause long lock hold times and leave other
CPUs spinning on j_list_lock, resulting in soft lockups or RCU stalls.

Route the busy-buffer path through the need_resched() check so that the
shrinker can release j_list_lock and reschedule promptly, restoring
parity with the clean-buffer path, which already checks need_resched().
This does not change which checkpoint buffers are eligible for removal.

Fixes: b98dba273a0e ("jbd2: remove journal_clean_one_cp_list()")
Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Signed-off-by: Max Kellermann <max.kellermann@xxxxxxxxx>

Thanks for the fix! This looks good to me.

Reviewed-by: Zhang Yi <yi.zhang@xxxxxxxxxx>

---
fs/jbd2/checkpoint.c | 3 ++-
1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/fs/jbd2/checkpoint.c b/fs/jbd2/checkpoint.c
index 1508e2f54462..5266017565ac 100644
--- a/fs/jbd2/checkpoint.c
+++ b/fs/jbd2/checkpoint.c
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ static unsigned long journal_shrink_one_cp_list(struct journal_head *jh,
ret = jbd2_journal_try_remove_checkpoint(jh);
if (ret < 0) {
if (type == JBD2_SHRINK_BUSY_SKIP)
- continue;
+ goto next;
break;
}
}
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ static unsigned long journal_shrink_one_cp_list(struct journal_head *jh,
break;
}
+next:
if (need_resched())
break;
} while (jh != last_jh);