Re: [PATCH v11 09/12] mm: implement LUF(Lazy Unmap Flush) defering tlb flush when folios get unmapped

From: Byungchul Park
Date: Tue Jun 04 2024 - 00:44:09 EST


On Tue, Jun 04, 2024 at 10:53:48AM +0900, Byungchul Park wrote:
> On Mon, Jun 03, 2024 at 06:23:46AM -0700, Dave Hansen wrote:
> > On 6/3/24 02:35, Byungchul Park wrote:
> > ...> In luf's point of view, the points where the deferred flush should be
> > > performed are simply:
> > >
> > > 1. when changing the vma maps, that might be luf'ed.
> > > 2. when updating data of the pages, that might be luf'ed.
> >
> > It's simple, but the devil is in the details as always.
>
> Agree with that.
>
> > > All we need to do is to indentify the points:
> > >
> > > 1. when changing the vma maps, that might be luf'ed.
> > >
> > > a) mmap and munmap e.i. fault handler or unmap_region().
> > > b) permission to writable e.i. mprotect or fault handler.
> > > c) what I'm missing.
> >
> > I'd say it even more generally: anything that installs a PTE which is
> > inconsistent with the original PTE. That, of course, includes writes.
> > But it also includes crazy things that we do like uprobes. Take a look
> > at __replace_page().
> >
> > I think the page_vma_mapped_walk() checks plus the ptl keep LUF at bay
> > there. But it needs some really thorough review.
> >
> > But the bigger concern is that, if there was a problem, I can't think of
> > a systematic way to find it.
> >
> > > 2. when updating data of the pages, that might be luf'ed.
> > >
> > > a) updating files through vfs e.g. file_end_write().
> > > b) updating files through writable maps e.i. 1-a) or 1-b).
> > > c) what I'm missing.
> >
> > Filesystems or block devices that change content without a "write" from
> > the local system. Network filesystems and block devices come to mind.
>
> AFAIK, every network filesystem eventully "updates" its connected local
> filesystem. It could be still handled at the point where updating the
> local file system.
>
> > I honestly don't know what all the rules are around these, but they
> > could certainly be troublesome.
> >
> > There appear to be some interactions for NFS between file locking and
> > page cache flushing.
> >
> > But, stepping back ...
> >
> > I'd honestly be a lot more comfortable if there was even a debugging LUF
>
> I'd better provide a method for better debugging. Lemme know whatever
> it is we need.
>
> > mode that enforced a rule that said:

Do you means a debugging mode that can WARN or inform the situation that
we don't want? If yes, sure. Now that I get this, I will re-read all
you guys' talk.

Byungchul

> Why "debugging mode"? The following rules should be enforced always.
>
> > 1. A LUF'd PTE can't be rewritten until after a luf_flush() occurs
>
> "luf_flush() should be followed when.." is more correct because
> "luf_flush() -> another luf -> the pte gets rewritten" can happen. So
> it should be "the pte gets rewritten -> another luf by any chance ->
> luf_flush()", that is still safe.
>
> > 2. A LUF'd page's position in the page cache can't be replaced until
> > after a luf_flush()
>
> "luf_flush() should be followed when.." is more correct too.
>
> These two rules are exactly same as what I described but more specific.
> I like your way to describe the rules.
>
> Byungchul
>
> > or *some* other independent set of rules that can tell us when something
> > goes wrong. That uprobes code, for instance, seems like it will work.
> > But I can also imagine writing it ten other ways where it would break
> > when combined with LUF.