[PATCH v2] printk_ringbuffer: Avoid needless read of prb_desc

From: Wang Wensheng

Date: Sat Sep 26 2026 - 05:46:10 EST


Since commit f244b4dc53e5 ("printk: ringbuffer: Improve prb_next_seq()
performance"), desc_read() allows @desc_out to be NULL. We can drop the
local `desc` variable in desc_reopen_last() and prb_first_seq(). Also
update the comment for desc_read().

v1->v2:
Update the comment suggested by John.

Signed-off-by: Wang Wensheng <wsw9603@xxxxxxx>
Reviewed-by: Petr Mladek <pmladek@xxxxxxxx>
Reviewed-by: John Ogness <john.ogness@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c | 17 +++++++----------
1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c b/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
index 85c0c854b3ce..d38e7c2f6887 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
@@ -439,13 +439,12 @@ static enum desc_state get_desc_state(unsigned long id,
}

/*
- * Get a copy of a specified descriptor and return its queried state. If the
- * descriptor is in an inconsistent state (miss or reserved), the caller can
- * only expect the descriptor's @state_var field to be valid.
+ * Get the state of a specified descriptor.
*
- * The sequence number and caller_id can be optionally retrieved. Like all
- * non-state_var data, they are only valid if the descriptor is in a
- * consistent state.
+ * Optionally, a copy of the descriptor, sequence number and/or caller ID can
+ * be retrieved. However, (with the exception of @desc_out->state_var) all
+ * retrieved values are invalid if the descriptor is in an inconsistent state
+ * (miss or reserved).
*/
static enum desc_state desc_read(struct prb_desc_ring *desc_ring,
unsigned long id, struct prb_desc *desc_out,
@@ -1335,7 +1334,6 @@ static struct prb_desc *desc_reopen_last(struct prb_desc_ring *desc_ring,
{
unsigned long prev_state_val;
enum desc_state d_state;
- struct prb_desc desc;
struct prb_desc *d;
unsigned long id;
u32 cid;
@@ -1346,7 +1344,7 @@ static struct prb_desc *desc_reopen_last(struct prb_desc_ring *desc_ring,
* To reduce unnecessarily reopening, first check if the descriptor
* state and caller ID are correct.
*/
- d_state = desc_read(desc_ring, id, &desc, NULL, &cid);
+ d_state = desc_read(desc_ring, id, NULL, NULL, &cid);
if (d_state != desc_committed || cid != caller_id)
return NULL;

@@ -2007,14 +2005,13 @@ u64 prb_first_seq(struct printk_ringbuffer *rb)
{
struct prb_desc_ring *desc_ring = &rb->desc_ring;
enum desc_state d_state;
- struct prb_desc desc;
unsigned long id;
u64 seq;

for (;;) {
id = atomic_long_read(&rb->desc_ring.tail_id); /* LMM(prb_first_seq:A) */

- d_state = desc_read(desc_ring, id, &desc, &seq, NULL); /* LMM(prb_first_seq:B) */
+ d_state = desc_read(desc_ring, id, NULL, &seq, NULL); /* LMM(prb_first_seq:B) */

/*
* This loop will not be infinite because the tail is
--
2.43.0