Re: [PATCH] irqchip/gic-v3: Remove the ISB between AP0Rn and AP1Rn

[Li Dou]

Hi Marc,

On Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:34:34 +0100, Marc Zyngier wrote:
>On Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:34:03 +0100,
>Li Dou <li8d6kernel@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> ARM GICv3 specification says(in section 4.8.4 "System register access to
>> the Active Priorities registers"):
>> 
>> 	an ISB is not required between each write to ICC_AP0R<n>_EL1,
>> 	Secure ICC_AP1R<n>_EL1, and Non-secure ICC_AP1R<n>_EL1.
>> 
>> It means we can use one ISB after resetting AP0Rn and AP1Rn for context
>> synchronization. So just remove the previous one.
>
>I'm afraid you have misinterpreted the spec.
>
>Within each of the AP0Rn, Secure AP1Rn and Non-Secure AP1Rn classes,
>for any value of 'n', there is no need for any synchronisation.
>
>However, between classes, you absolutely need an ISB. And this is the
>reason why, just above the note you quote:
>
><quote>
>Writes to these registers in any order other than the following can
>result in UNPREDICTABLE behavior:
>
>1. ICC_AP0R<n>_EL1.
>2. Secure ICC_AP1R<n>_EL1.
>3. Non-secure ICC_AP1R<n>_EL1.
></quote>
>
>While you can perfectly write each individual register of (1), (2) or
>(3) without any synchronisation, you absolutely must have a CSE
>*between* each of (1), (2) and (3). Linux being non-secure only, you
>only deal with (1) and (3), and you must have an ISB in between.
>Without it, reordering can happen and you end-up violating the above
>rule.

The spec sometimes is overly convoluted. Thanks for the clarification.

Best regards,
Li