Re: [PATCH 3/4] perf, nmi: Move LVT un-masking into irq handlers

From: Cyrill Gorcunov
Date: Mon Apr 25 2011 - 10:52:04 EST


On 04/25/2011 06:50 PM, Don Zickus wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 06:15:25PM +0400, Cyrill Gorcunov wrote:
>>
>> Don't get me wrong please but the whole picture of what is happening can be seen only when
>> all caller sequence is taken into account and once (for some reason) the sequence
>> get changed the "detailed" comment would simply mess the comment reader so I think
>> the former comment is detailed enough and what is more important it's "general" enough
>> so it doesn't depend on when code is called but points a reader on hw details and it's
>> up to a reader to check "current" calling sequence because kernel code changes too
>> damn fast ;)
>
> I think Ingo is looking for is something like
>
> /*
> * It has been observed that quirks in the P4 perf hw has forced the
> * following sequence of events to happen in the order below
> *
> * - clear the OVF bit (as it will continue to assert the NMI line)
> * - unmask the apic LVTPC bit to allow NMIs from the PMU again
> * - optionally re-enable the PMU to count events again
> *
> * Un-masking the apic prematurely (before clearing the OVF bit) has led
> * to the creation of a second NMI event (which led to the unknown NMI
> * warnings) due to the fact that the PMU will continue to generate an
> * interrupt until its OVF bit is cleared.
> */
>
> Something that specifically documents what we saw, why we saw it and what
> we are doing to avoid it.
>
> Cheers,
> Don

Excellent, thanks a huge Don!

--
Cyrill
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