[PATCH tip/core/rcu 1/4] rcu: Eliminate softirq-mediated RCU_FAST_NO_HZ idle-entry loop

[Paul E. McKenney]

From: "Paul E. McKenney" <paul.mckenney@xxxxxxxxxx>

If a softirq is pending, the current CPU has RCU callbacks pending,
and RCU does not immediately need anything from this CPU, then the
current code resets the RCU_FAST_NO_HZ state machine.  This means that
upon exit from the subsequent softirq handler, RCU_FAST_NO_HZ will
try really hard to force RCU into dyntick-idle mode.  And if the same
conditions hold after a few tries (determined by RCU_IDLE_OPT_FLUSHES),
the same situation can repeat, possibly endlessly.  This scenario is
not particularly good for battery lifetime.

This commit therefore suppresses the early exit from the RCU_FAST_NO_HZ
state machine in the case where there is a softirq pending.  This change
forces the state machine to retain its memory, and to enter holdoff if
this condition persists.

Reported-by: "Abou Gazala, Neven M" <neven.m.abou.gazala@xxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Paul E. McKenney <paul.mckenney@xxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
 kernel/rcutree_plugin.h |    3 ++-
 1 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletions(-)

diff --git a/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
index f7ceadf..392a651 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
@@ -2133,7 +2133,8 @@ static void rcu_prepare_for_idle(int cpu)
 		/* First time through, initialize the counter. */
 		per_cpu(rcu_dyntick_drain, cpu) = RCU_IDLE_FLUSHES;
 	} else if (per_cpu(rcu_dyntick_drain, cpu) <= RCU_IDLE_OPT_FLUSHES &&
-		   !rcu_pending(cpu)) {
+		   !rcu_pending(cpu) &&
+		   !local_softirq_pending()) {
 		/* Can we go dyntick-idle despite still having callbacks? */
 		trace_rcu_prep_idle("Dyntick with callbacks");
 		per_cpu(rcu_dyntick_drain, cpu) = 0;
-- 
1.7.8

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