Re: x86's nmi_hz wrt. oprofile's nmi_timer_int.c

From: David Miller
Date: Sun Feb 22 2009 - 23:12:20 EST


From: Andi Kleen <andi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:06:45 +0100

> David Miller <davem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> Really old mail, but I was very behind. I didn't see an
> correct answer, so let's answer it.
>
> > While working on an NMI watchdog implementation on sparc64
> > I noticed what seems to be a peculiar behavior of the NMI
> > timer int oprofile support on x86.
> >
> > When the NMI watchdog tests itself at boot timer we start
> > with nmi_hz equal to HZ.
> >
> > After the NMI watchdog self-test passes, nmi_hz is reduced
> > down to '1'.
> >
> > The NMI timer int oprofile support simply uses DIE_NMI notifiers for
> > it's implementation. But I don't see anything in the code of
> > arch/x86/oprofile/nmi_timer_int.c nor the NMI watchdog infrastructure
> > which will re-adjust nmi_hz back to HZ or something similar.
> >
> > Am I missing something?
>
> oprofile generates its own NMIs, it does not rely on
> the ones from the nmi watchdog.

The code in nmi_timer_int.c doesn't.

> In timer mode it does not use nmis or die notifiers, but relies on the
> regular non nmi timer interrupt.

Again, the code in nmi_timer_int.c doesn't.

It uses the NMI watchdog timer interrupts, it catches DIE_NMI
events.

> Does that answer your question?

Not really.
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/