Re: [Suggestion] about calling debug_hotplug_cpu() which enabledby 'allmodconfig' for a x86_64 dual core laptop.

[Chen Gang]

On 10/03/2013 03:33 AM, Toshi Kani wrote:
> On Thu, 2013-10-03 at 00:41 +0800, Chen Gang F T wrote:
>> On 10/02/2013 11:28 PM, Toshi Kani wrote:
>>> On Wed, 2013-10-02 at 03:10 +0000, Chen Gang wrote:
>>>> Hello Maintainers:
>>>>
>>>> Under my x86_64 dual core laptop, I build kernel next-20130927 with
>>>> 'allmodconfig', and install it, the machine can not start. Related
>>>> information is:
>>>>
>>>>   after call debug_hotplug_cpu(), output "cpu 0 is offline" .... and then "Failed to execute /init".
>>>>
>>>> After remove "_debug_hotplug_cpu(0, 0);", can pass the issue (but will
>>>> fail in another place). I guess, the reason is my laptop cpu is not
>>>> 'hotplug', but have to call debug_hotplug_cpu() with allmodconfig.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I will continue analyzing, welcome any additional suggestions or
>>>> completions.
>>>
>>> allmodconfig sets CONFIG_DEBUG_HOTPLUG_CPU0 to y (which is defined as
>>> "def_bool n"), which puts CPU0 offline during boot for testing.  This
>>> debug feature is causing the problem on your laptop.  I am not familiar
>>> with allmodconfig, but it seems that it enables all the config options,
>>> preferably with 'm'.
>>>
>>
>> Hmm... excuse me, I don't know: for laptop, if cpu0 is offline, whether
>> it still can work or not. If any members know about it, please tell me,
>> thanks.
> 
> CPU online/offline works on laptops as long as they have more than one
> CPU.  You can boot with other kernel and test this feature
> with /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpuX/online on your laptop.  cpu0 is a
> special case and you may need to specify "cpu0_hotplug" boot option.
> 

Thank you for your confirmation, "for dual core (although laptop), after
system boot up, can let cpu0 offline". :-)

>> In my opinion, if enable DEBUG_HOTPLUG_CPU0, but "should not let cpu0
>> offline for laptop", we need let 'offline' operation fail.
> 
> Whether it is a laptop or not should not be a matter here.  But I agree
> with you that enabling CONFIG_DEBUG_HOTPLUG_CPU0 is not useful (and can
> be harmful) unless a user really intends to test this feature.
> 

Hmm... I will continue analyzing. After finish analyzing (let kernel
boot up OK), I should give a confirmation: "during boot up, can we still
let cpu0 offline for dual core?".

In fact, 'allmodconfig' is just a mad user which often does useless
things to intend to find issues.

Thanks.

> Thanks,
> -Toshi
> 
>> And I am analyzing (just constructing environments: KVM, kgdb ...),
>> before let kernel start successfully, only according to my current
>> proofs, we can not say "let laptop cpu0 offline" must be an issue.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Chen Gang
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