Re: [PATCH RFC] rcu/nocb: Provide default all-CPUs mask for RCU_NOCB_CPU=y

[Joel Fernandes]

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 3:49 PM Joel Fernandes <joel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 3:42 PM Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 07:19:48PM +0000, Joel Fernandes wrote:
> > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 08:41:09AM -0700, Paul E. McKenney wrote:
> > > [..]
> > > > > > [4]     All CPUs are offloaded at boot, and any CPU can be de-offloaded
> > > > > >         and offloaded at runtime.  This is the same behavior that
> > > > > >         you would currently get with CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=n and
> > > > > >         rcu_nocbs=0-N.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, this is the behavior I intend. So then there would not be a need
> > > > > to pass a mask (and I suspect for a large number of users, it
> > > > > simplifies boot params).
> > > >
> > > > Very good, and from what I can see, this should work for everyone.
> > >
> > > Just to clarify, what I am going to do is, if this new option =y, then
> > > rcu_nocbs effectively wont do anything. i.e. All CPUs are offloaded at boot.
> > > Let me know if we are not on the same page about it though. I do feel that is
> > > a sensible choice given =y. If we are on same page, please ignore my comment.
> >
> > I was assuming that the rcu_nocbs=??? for non-empty "???" would override
> > the CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y.  If you choose not to do that, shouldn't
> > you at least issue some sort of diagnostic?  After all, the sysadmin
> > gave a kernel-boot parameter asking the code to do something and the
> > code is choosing not to do that something.
> >
> > Of course, such a sysadmin might want the CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y
> > Kconfig option to affect only the default, that is, when no rcu_nocbs
> > kernel boot parameter is specified.  This would change the second "[4]"
> > in my original table to "[2]".
> >
> > Thoughts?
>
> I thought about that. I feel that since we are defaulting the new
> config option to =n , it is a conscious choice by the distro to set it
> to =y.  In such a case, they should be Ok with offloading all CPUs. If
> they decide to selectively offload some CPUs in the future, then they
> could revisit the config option at that time.
>
> I feel the kernel config should override the boot parameter behavior.
> It is the same effect as a sysadmin passing kernel parameter X
> assuming the kernel does something but the CONFIG option might not
> even build code corresponding to X.
>
> I feel to address your concern, we can document in kernel command line
> documentation that rcu_nocbs= does not have an effect if
> CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y, would that work for you?

Along with documentation, I like your idea of printing a diagnostic in
such a situation. I will certainly do that.

Thanks,

 - Joel

>
> Thanks,
>
> - Joel
>
> >
> > > > > > I believe that Steve Rostedt's review would carry weight for ChromeOS,
> > > > > > however, I am suffering a senior moment on the right person for Android.
> > > > >
> > > > > I think for Android, Kalesh Singh is in the kernel team and Tim Murray
> > > > > is the performance lead. They could appropriately represent their RCU
> > > > > needs.
> > > >
> > > > Sounds good!  Please collect a Reviewed-by from one or both of them.
> > >
> > > Ok.
> >
> >                                                         Thanx, Paul