Re: [PATCH] nvme: fix lockdep warning in nvme_mpath_clear_current_path

From: Paul E. McKenney
Date: Mon May 14 2018 - 12:07:03 EST


On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 03:56:22PM +0200, Johannes Thumshirn wrote:
> On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 06:38:49AM -0700, Paul E. McKenney wrote:
> > On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 02:57:25PM +0200, Johannes Thumshirn wrote:
> > > On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 05:42:30AM -0700, Christoph Hellwig wrote:
> > > > > extern unsigned int nvme_io_timeout;
> > > > > #define NVME_IO_TIMEOUT (nvme_io_timeout * HZ)
> > > > > @@ -454,7 +455,9 @@ static inline void nvme_mpath_clear_current_path(struct nvme_ns *ns)
> > > > > {
> > > > > struct nvme_ns_head *head = ns->head;
> > > > >
> > > > > - if (head && ns == srcu_dereference(head->current_path, &head->srcu))
> > > > > + if (head &&
> > > > > + ns == rcu_dereference_protected(head->current_path,
> > > > > + lockdep_is_held(&ns->ctrl->subsys->lock)))
> > > > > rcu_assign_pointer(head->current_path, NULL);
> > > > > }
> > > > > struct nvme_ns *nvme_find_path(struct nvme_ns_head *head);
> > > >
> > > > We don't really dereference it at all in fact, but just check the
> > > > pointers for equality. I wonder if there is a better way to do this,
> > > > as my ANA patches add a caller without the lock (and withou SRU
> > > > protection either now that I think of it) - for a pure pointer compare
> > > > we really should not need any sort of protection.
> > >
> > > Uff maybe, but are you sure a comparison of two pointer is always
> > > atomic (on all architectures)?
> > >
> > > Paul, can you shed some light on us mere mortal, whether the above
> > > rcu_dereference_protected() is needed or if a simple ns ==
> > > head->current_path is sufficient.
> >
> > One approach is the following:
> >
> > static inline void nvme_mpath_clear_current_path(struct nvme_ns *ns)
> > {
> > struct nvme_ns_head *head = ns->head;
> >
> > if (head && ns == rcu_access_pointer(head->current_path))
> > rcu_assign_pointer(head->current_path, NULL);
> > }
>
> Yes that's what I have now as well, and it tests fine.

Very good! If it turns out to be useful, you can of course directly
use lockdep_assert_held() to verify that the lock is held.

Thanx, Paul

> > Without the rcu_access_pointer(), sparse (and thus the 0-day test robot)
> > will complain that you are accessing an RCU-protected pointer without
> > using RCU. However, rcu_access_pointer() won't ever give any lockdep
> > splats about there being no RCU read-side critical section.
> >
> > You might still want rcu_dereference_protected() because it will yell
> > at you if the lock is not held. Yes, the comparison will still be valid
> > without the lock (at least at the exact moment when the load occurred),
> > but the rcu_assign_pointer() might be a bit problematic if that lock is
> > not held, right?
> >
> > But it is your guys' code, so I must defer to you for the intent.
> >
> > Thanx, Paul
> >
> >
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>
> --
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