RE: [PATCH v5 00/16] x86-64: Stack protector and percpu improvements

[David Laight]

From: Brian Gerst
> Sent: 05 November 2024 15:58
> 
> Currently, x86-64 uses an unusual percpu layout, where the percpu section
> is linked at absolute address 0.  The reason behind this is that older GCC
> versions placed the stack protector (if enabled) at a fixed offset from the
> GS segment base.  Since the GS segement is also used for percpu variables,
> this forced the current layout.
> 
> GCC since version 8.1 supports a configurable location for the stack
> protector value, which allows removal of the restriction on how the percpu
> section is linked.  This allows the percpu section to be linked normally,
> like other architectures.  In turn, this allows removal of code that was
> needed to support the zero-based percpu section.
> 
> v5:
> - Added two patches from Ard Biesheuvel to make stack protector work
>   properly when compiling with clang.
> - Raise minimum GCC version to 8.1 for x86.
> - Drop objtool conversion code.

Is there any actual need to raise the GCC level?
Isn't it enough just to disable stack protection with older compilers?
The percpu layout can then always be the new (sane) one.

Is there even a selectable CONFIG_STACK_PROTECTOR?
Can than depend on gcc >= 8.1 for x86-64?

I've a slight vested interest in that the system I test kernels on
has gcc 7.5.0 installed :-)

	David

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