Re: wake_up_process implied memory barrier clarification

From: Boqun Feng
Date: Mon Sep 07 2015 - 20:23:40 EST


Hi Oleg,

On Mon, Sep 07, 2015 at 07:06:52PM +0200, Oleg Nesterov wrote:
> Sorry for delay,
>
> On 09/02, Boqun Feng wrote:
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 01, 2015 at 06:39:23PM +0200, Oleg Nesterov wrote:
> > > On 09/01, Boqun Feng wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Sep 01, 2015 at 11:59:23AM +0200, Oleg Nesterov wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > And just in case, wake_up() differs in a sense that it doesn't even need
> > > > > that STORE-LOAD barrier in try_to_wake_up(), we can rely on
> > > > > wait_queue_head_t->lock. Assuming that wake_up() pairs with the "normal"
> > > > > wait_event()-like code.
> > >
> > > Looks like, you have missed this part of my previous email. See below.
> >
> > I guess I need to think through this, though I haven't found any problem
> > in wake_up() if we remove the STORE-LOAD barrier in try_to_wake_up().
> > And I know that in wake_up(), try_to_wake_up() will be called with
> > holding wait_queue_head_t->lock, however, only part of wait_event()
> > holds the same lock, I can't figure out why the barrier is not needed
> > because of the lock..
>
> This is very simple. __wait_event() does
>
> for (;;) {
> prepare_to_wait_event(WQ, ...); // takes WQ->lock
>
> if (CONDITION)
> break;
>
> schedule();
> }
>
> and we have
>
> CONDITION = 1;
> wake_up(WQ); // takes WQ->lock
>
> on another side.
>
> Suppose that __wait_event() wins and takes WQ->lock first. It can block
> then. In this case wake_up() must see the result of set_current_state()
> and list_add() when it takes the same lock, otherwise spin_lock() would
> be simply buggy. So it will wake the waiter up.
>
> At the same time, if __wait_event() takes this lock after wake_up(), it
> can not miss CONDITION = 1. It must see it after it takes the lock, and
> of course after it drops the lock too.
>

Yes, you're right! I wasn't aware that in prepare_to_wait_event(),
set_current_state() is called with the WQ->lock.

> So I am not sure I understand your concerns in this case...
>

It's my mistake. Thank you for your explanation ;-)

Regards,
Boqun

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: PGP signature