Re: [PATCH] kernel/fork: Optimize by avoiding unnecessary locking for kernel threads

From: Oleg Nesterov
Date: Mon Dec 02 2024 - 13:44:10 EST


Already in -mm tree, please see
https://lore.kernel.org/all/20241119143526.704986-1-mjguzik@xxxxxxxxx/

Oleg.

On 12/02, Zhen Ni wrote:
>
> Improves the function by checking if the task is a kernel thread
> (PF_KTHREAD) before acquiring the task lock. Kernel threads do not
> have an associated executable file, so the function now returns NULL
> immediately in such cases. This change reduces unnecessary locking
> overhead and simplifies the code logic, while maintaining consistent
> behavior for regular tasks.
>
> Signed-off-by: Zhen Ni <zhen.ni@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> kernel/fork.c | 9 +++++----
> 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/kernel/fork.c b/kernel/fork.c
> index e58d27c05788..9fadde6c7c98 100644
> --- a/kernel/fork.c
> +++ b/kernel/fork.c
> @@ -1500,12 +1500,13 @@ struct file *get_task_exe_file(struct task_struct *task)
> struct file *exe_file = NULL;
> struct mm_struct *mm;
>
> + if (task->flags & PF_KTHREAD)
> + return NULL;
> +
> task_lock(task);
> mm = task->mm;
> - if (mm) {
> - if (!(task->flags & PF_KTHREAD))
> - exe_file = get_mm_exe_file(mm);
> - }
> + if (mm)
> + exe_file = get_mm_exe_file(mm);
> task_unlock(task);
> return exe_file;
> }
> --
> 2.20.1
>