Re: [PATCH net-next v1 02/11] net: Add memory provider capabilities

From: Stanislav Fomichev

Date: Wed Nov 11 2026 - 18:23:44 EST


On 11/11, Björn Töpel wrote:
> Stanislav Fomichev <sdf.kernel@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> > On 11/10, Björn Töpel wrote:
> >> The core treats every memory provider as unreadable: installing one
> >> needs header split and no XDP program, and any page pool that allows
> >> unreadable netmem takes it. An AF_XDP UMEM provider is readable, needs
> >> XDP, and hands out whole buffers.
> >>
> >> Describe providers by MP_CAP_READABLE and MP_CAP_FRAG; devmem and
> >> io_uring keep their behavior with MP_CAP_FRAG. A page pool takes a
> >> readable provider only with the new PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER:
> >> PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM says that a driver handles unreadable
> >> netmem, not that it handles any provider.
> >>
> >> Signed-off-by: Björn Töpel <bjorn@xxxxxxxxxx>
> >> ---
> >> Documentation/networking/netmem.rst | 5 ++++
> >> drivers/net/netkit.c | 3 +-
> >> include/net/page_pool/helpers.h | 14 +++++++++-
> >> include/net/page_pool/memory_provider.h | 14 ++++++++++
> >> include/net/page_pool/types.h | 15 ++++++++--
> >> io_uring/zcrx.c | 1 +
> >> net/core/dev.c | 10 ++++---
> >> net/core/devmem.c | 1 +
> >> net/core/netdev_rx_queue.c | 37 ++++++++++++++++++++-----
> >> net/core/page_pool.c | 34 +++++++++++++++++++++--
> >> net/ethtool/rings.c | 7 +++--
> >> net/xdp/xsk_buff_pool.c | 3 +-
> >> 12 files changed, 122 insertions(+), 22 deletions(-)
> >>
> >> diff --git a/Documentation/networking/netmem.rst b/Documentation/networking/netmem.rst
> >> index 6871dcdd700c..39cb75339704 100644
> >> --- a/Documentation/networking/netmem.rst
> >> +++ b/Documentation/networking/netmem.rst
> >> @@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ Driver RX Requirements
> >> which knows when dma-syncing is (or is not) appropriate.
> >> - PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM. The driver must specify this flag iff
> >> tcp-data-split is enabled.
> >> + - PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER. The page pool takes memory from the memory
> >> + provider of its RX queue, readable or not. Page pool creation fails if
> >> + the provider is unreadable and PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM is not
> >> + set, so do not set it on header page pools of such a queue. Without it,
> >> + PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM selects unreadable providers only.
> >>
> >> 5. The driver must not assume the netmem is readable and/or backed by pages.
> >> The netmem returned by the page_pool may be unreadable, in which case
> >> diff --git a/drivers/net/netkit.c b/drivers/net/netkit.c
> >> index 82e608e733d9..df672ed5ffcc 100644
> >> --- a/drivers/net/netkit.c
> >> +++ b/drivers/net/netkit.c
> >> @@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
> >> #include <net/netdev_lock.h>
> >> #include <net/netdev_queues.h>
> >> #include <net/netdev_rx_queue.h>
> >> +#include <net/page_pool/memory_provider.h>
> >> #include <net/xdp_sock_drv.h>
> >> #include <net/netkit.h>
> >> #include <net/dst.h>
> >> @@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ static int netkit_xsk(struct net_device *dev, struct netdev_bpf *xdp)
> >> ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
> >> goto out;
> >> }
> >> - if (!create || !dev_get_min_mp_channel_count(phys))
> >> + if (!create || netif_all_mps_have_cap(phys, MP_CAP_READABLE))
> >> ret = phys->netdev_ops->ndo_bpf(phys, &xdp_lower);
> >> out:
> >> netdev_unlock(phys);
> >> diff --git a/include/net/page_pool/helpers.h b/include/net/page_pool/helpers.h
> >> index 28635ce9454e..96e6b62cdebb 100644
> >> --- a/include/net/page_pool/helpers.h
> >> +++ b/include/net/page_pool/helpers.h
> >> @@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
> >>
> >> #include <linux/dma-mapping.h>
> >>
> >> +#include <net/page_pool/memory_provider.h>
> >> #include <net/page_pool/types.h>
> >> #include <net/net_debug.h>
> >> #include <net/netmem.h>
> >> @@ -519,7 +520,18 @@ static inline void page_pool_nid_changed(struct page_pool *pool, int new_nid)
> >> */
> >> static inline bool page_pool_is_unreadable(struct page_pool *pool)
> >> {
> >> - return !!pool->mp_ops;
> >> + return pool->mp_ops && !(pool->mp_ops->caps & MP_CAP_READABLE);
> >> +}
> >> +
> >> +/**
> >> + * page_pool_supports_frag() - may page pool buffers be split
> >> + * @pool: queried page pool
> >> + *
> >> + * Return: false if the memory provider of @pool hands out whole buffers only
> >> + */
> >> +static inline bool page_pool_supports_frag(const struct page_pool *pool)
> >> +{
> >> + return !pool->mp_ops || pool->mp_ops->caps & MP_CAP_FRAG;
> >> }
> >>
> >> #endif /* _NET_PAGE_POOL_HELPERS_H */
> >> diff --git a/include/net/page_pool/memory_provider.h b/include/net/page_pool/memory_provider.h
> >> index bceb5f7740e2..4417e54a0f81 100644
> >> --- a/include/net/page_pool/memory_provider.h
> >> +++ b/include/net/page_pool/memory_provider.h
> >> @@ -19,6 +19,18 @@ struct sk_buff;
> >> * Per-provider custom logic must be delegated to memory_provider_ops rather
> >> * than handled directly in page_pool core code.
> >> */
> >> +
> >> +/**
> >> + * enum mp_caps - memory provider capabilities
> >> + * @MP_CAP_READABLE: The CPU can access provider memory. It may back header
> >> + * page pools, and XDP programs may run on it.
> >> + * @MP_CAP_FRAG: Page pool fragments may split provider buffers.
> >> + */
> >> +enum mp_caps {
> >> + MP_CAP_READABLE = BIT(0),
> >> + MP_CAP_FRAG = BIT(1),
> >> +};
> >> +
> >> struct memory_provider_ops {
> >> netmem_ref (*alloc_netmems)(struct page_pool *pool, gfp_t gfp);
> >> bool (*release_netmem)(struct page_pool *pool, netmem_ref netmem);
> >> @@ -27,6 +39,7 @@ struct memory_provider_ops {
> >> int (*nl_fill)(void *mp_priv, struct sk_buff *rsp,
> >> struct netdev_rx_queue *rxq);
> >> void (*uninstall)(void *mp_priv, struct netdev_rx_queue *rxq);
> >> + u32 caps;
> >> };
> >>
> >> bool net_mp_niov_set_dma_addr(struct net_iov *niov, dma_addr_t addr);
> >> @@ -38,6 +51,7 @@ int netif_mp_open_rxq(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx,
> >> struct netlink_ext_ack *extack);
> >> int netif_mp_close_rxq(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx,
> >> const struct pp_memory_provider_params *old_p);
> >> +bool netif_all_mps_have_cap(struct net_device *dev, u32 cap);
> >>
> >> /**
> >> * net_mp_netmem_place_in_cache() - give a netmem to a page pool
> >> diff --git a/include/net/page_pool/types.h b/include/net/page_pool/types.h
> >> index 6d543076a0c0..0d48c05f1462 100644
> >> --- a/include/net/page_pool/types.h
> >> +++ b/include/net/page_pool/types.h
> >> @@ -31,8 +31,19 @@
> >> */
> >> #define PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM BIT(3)
> >>
> >> +/* Take memory from the memory provider of the RX queue, if one is installed.
> >> + * Set page_pool_params.slow.netdev and queue_idx, and create the pool under
> >> + * the instance lock of the netdev.
> >> + * An unreadable provider also needs PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM, or page
> >> + * pool creation fails. Without this flag, PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM
> >> + * selects unreadable providers only.
> >> + */
> >> +#define PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER BIT(4)
> >> +
> >> #define PP_FLAG_ALL (PP_FLAG_DMA_MAP | PP_FLAG_DMA_SYNC_DEV | \
> >> - PP_FLAG_SYSTEM_POOL | PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM)
> >> + PP_FLAG_SYSTEM_POOL | \
> >> + PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM | \
> >> + PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER)
> >>
> >> /* Index limit to stay within PP_DMA_INDEX_BITS for DMA indices */
> >> #define PP_DMA_INDEX_LIMIT XA_LIMIT(1, BIT(PP_DMA_INDEX_BITS) - 1)
> >> @@ -82,7 +93,7 @@ struct pp_alloc_cache {
> >> * @netdev: netdev this pool will serve (leave as NULL if none or multiple)
> >> * @queue_idx: queue idx this page_pool is being created for.
> >> * @flags: PP_FLAG_DMA_MAP, PP_FLAG_DMA_SYNC_DEV, PP_FLAG_SYSTEM_POOL,
> >> - * PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM.
> >> + * PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM, PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER.
> >> */
> >> struct page_pool_params {
> >> struct_group_tagged(page_pool_params_fast, fast,
> >> diff --git a/io_uring/zcrx.c b/io_uring/zcrx.c
> >> index 555f27e6c1ba..3b5bf97aa203 100644
> >> --- a/io_uring/zcrx.c
> >> +++ b/io_uring/zcrx.c
> >> @@ -1478,6 +1478,7 @@ static const struct memory_provider_ops io_uring_pp_zc_ops = {
> >> .destroy = io_pp_zc_destroy,
> >> .nl_fill = io_pp_nl_fill,
> >> .uninstall = io_pp_uninstall,
> >> + .caps = MP_CAP_FRAG,
> >> };
> >>
> >> static unsigned zcrx_parse_rq(netmem_ref *netmem_array, unsigned nr,
> >> diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
> >> index 3b60b15e2175..663fe3e32ea0 100644
> >> --- a/net/core/dev.c
> >> +++ b/net/core/dev.c
> >> @@ -10546,8 +10546,9 @@ int netif_xdp_propagate(struct net_device *dev, struct netdev_bpf *bpf)
> >> return -EBUSY;
> >> }
> >>
> >> - if (dev_get_min_mp_channel_count(dev)) {
> >> - NL_SET_ERR_MSG(bpf->extack, "unable to propagate XDP to device using memory provider");
> >> + if (!netif_all_mps_have_cap(dev, MP_CAP_READABLE)) {
> >> + NL_SET_ERR_MSG(bpf->extack,
> >> + "unable to propagate XDP to device using unreadable memory provider");
> >> return -EBUSY;
> >> }
> >>
> >> @@ -10622,8 +10623,9 @@ static int dev_xdp_install(struct net_device *dev, enum bpf_xdp_mode mode,
> >> return -EBUSY;
> >> }
> >>
> >> - if (dev_get_min_mp_channel_count(dev)) {
> >> - NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "unable to install XDP to device using memory provider");
> >> + if (!netif_all_mps_have_cap(dev, MP_CAP_READABLE)) {
> >> + NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
> >> + "unable to install XDP to device using unreadable memory provider");
> >> return -EBUSY;
> >> }
> >>
> >> diff --git a/net/core/devmem.c b/net/core/devmem.c
> >> index b9146b1f294a..8f190b574beb 100644
> >> --- a/net/core/devmem.c
> >> +++ b/net/core/devmem.c
> >> @@ -698,4 +698,5 @@ static const struct memory_provider_ops dmabuf_devmem_ops = {
> >> .release_netmem = mp_dmabuf_devmem_release_page,
> >> .nl_fill = mp_dmabuf_devmem_nl_fill,
> >> .uninstall = mp_dmabuf_devmem_uninstall,
> >> + .caps = MP_CAP_FRAG,
> >> };
> >> diff --git a/net/core/netdev_rx_queue.c b/net/core/netdev_rx_queue.c
> >> index a7261fedd5e7..9e14a747f9b5 100644
> >> --- a/net/core/netdev_rx_queue.c
> >> +++ b/net/core/netdev_rx_queue.c
> >> @@ -82,9 +82,13 @@ __netif_get_rx_queue_lease(struct net_device **dev, unsigned int *rxq_idx,
> >> /* See also page_pool_is_unreadable() */
> >> bool netif_rxq_has_unreadable_mp(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx)
> >> {
> >> - if (rxq_idx < dev->real_num_rx_queues)
> >> - return __netif_get_rx_queue(dev, rxq_idx)->mp_params.mp_ops;
> >> - return false;
> >> + const struct memory_provider_ops *ops;
> >> +
> >> + if (rxq_idx >= dev->real_num_rx_queues)
> >> + return false;
> >> +
> >> + ops = __netif_get_rx_queue(dev, rxq_idx)->mp_params.mp_ops;
> >> + return ops && !(ops->caps & MP_CAP_READABLE);
> >> }
> >> EXPORT_SYMBOL(netif_rxq_has_unreadable_mp);
> >>
> >> @@ -95,6 +99,22 @@ bool netif_rxq_has_mp(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx)
> >> return false;
> >> }
> >>
> >> +bool netif_all_mps_have_cap(struct net_device *dev, u32 cap)
> >> +{
> >> + const struct memory_provider_ops *ops;
> >> + unsigned int i;
> >> +
> >> + netdev_assert_locked_ops_compat(dev);
> >> +
> >> + for (i = 0; i < dev->real_num_rx_queues; i++) {
> >> + ops = dev->_rx[i].mp_params.mp_ops;
> >> + if (ops && (ops->caps & cap) != cap)
> >> + return false;
> >> + }
> >> +
> >> + return true;
> >> +}
> >> +
> >> static int netdev_rx_queue_reconfig(struct net_device *dev,
> >> unsigned int rxq_idx,
> >> struct netdev_queue_config *qcfg_old,
> >> @@ -189,6 +209,7 @@ static int __netif_mp_open_rxq(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx,
> >> struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
> >> {
> >> const struct netdev_queue_mgmt_ops *qops = dev->queue_mgmt_ops;
> >> + bool unreadable = !(p->mp_ops->caps & MP_CAP_READABLE);
> >> struct netdev_queue_config qcfg[2];
> >> struct netdev_rx_queue *rxq;
> >> int ret;
> >> @@ -196,16 +217,18 @@ static int __netif_mp_open_rxq(struct net_device *dev, unsigned int rxq_idx,
> >> if (!qops)
> >> return -EOPNOTSUPP;
> >>
> >> - if (dev->cfg->hds_config != ETHTOOL_TCP_DATA_SPLIT_ENABLED) {
> >> + if (unreadable &&
> >> + dev->cfg->hds_config != ETHTOOL_TCP_DATA_SPLIT_ENABLED) {
> >> NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "tcp-data-split is disabled");
> >> return -EINVAL;
> >> }
> >> - if (dev->cfg->hds_thresh) {
> >> + if (unreadable && dev->cfg->hds_thresh) {
> >> NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "hds-thresh is not zero");
> >> return -EINVAL;
> >> }
> >> - if (dev_xdp_prog_count(dev)) {
> >> - NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "unable to custom memory provider to device with XDP program attached");
> >> + if (unreadable && dev_xdp_prog_count(dev)) {
> >> + NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
> >> + "unable to use unreadable memory provider with XDP program attached");
> >> return -EEXIST;
> >> }
> >> if (p->rx_page_size && !(qops->supported_params & QCFG_RX_PAGE_SIZE)) {
> >> diff --git a/net/core/page_pool.c b/net/core/page_pool.c
> >> index d7c88c0b67e5..d88a3ea528d4 100644
> >> --- a/net/core/page_pool.c
> >> +++ b/net/core/page_pool.c
> >> @@ -188,6 +188,29 @@ static void page_pool_struct_check(void)
> >> PAGE_POOL_FRAG_GROUP_ALIGN);
> >> }
> >>
> >> +static int page_pool_select_mp(struct page_pool *pool,
> >> + const struct pp_memory_provider_params *mpp)
> >> +{
> >> + const struct memory_provider_ops *ops = mpp->mp_ops;
> >> + unsigned int flags = pool->slow.flags;
> >> + bool readable;
> >> +
> >> + if (!ops)
> >> + return 0;
> >> +
> >> + readable = ops->caps & MP_CAP_READABLE;
> >> + if (flags & PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER) {
> >> + if (!readable && !(flags & PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM))
> >> + return -EOPNOTSUPP;
> >> + } else if (readable) {
> >> + return 0;
> >> + }
> >> +
> >> + pool->mp_priv = mpp->mp_priv;
> >> + pool->mp_ops = ops;
> >> + return 0;
> >> +}
> >> +
> >> static int page_pool_init(struct page_pool *pool,
> >> const struct page_pool_params *params,
> >> int cpuid)
> >> @@ -272,12 +295,14 @@ static int page_pool_init(struct page_pool *pool,
> >>
> >> xa_init_flags(&pool->dma_mapped, XA_FLAGS_ALLOC1);
> >>
> >> - if (pool->slow.flags & PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM) {
> >> + if (pool->slow.flags & (PP_FLAG_MEM_PROVIDER |
> >> + PP_FLAG_ALLOW_UNREADABLE_NETMEM)) {
> >> netdev_assert_locked(pool->slow.netdev);
> >> rxq = __netif_get_rx_queue(pool->slow.netdev,
> >> pool->slow.queue_idx);
> >> - pool->mp_priv = rxq->mp_params.mp_priv;
> >> - pool->mp_ops = rxq->mp_params.mp_ops;
> >> + err = page_pool_select_mp(pool, &rxq->mp_params);
> >> + if (err)
> >> + goto free_ptr_ring;
> >> }
> >>
> >> if (pool->mp_ops) {
> >> @@ -1070,6 +1095,9 @@ netmem_ref page_pool_alloc_frag_netmem(struct page_pool *pool,
> >> unsigned int max_size = PAGE_SIZE << pool->p.order;
> >> netmem_ref netmem = pool->frag_page;
> >>
> >
> > [..]
> >
> >> + if (static_branch_unlikely(&page_pool_mem_providers) &&
> >> + WARN_ON_ONCE(!page_pool_supports_frag(pool)))
> >> + return 0;
> >> if (WARN_ON(size > max_size))
> >> return 0;
> >>
> >
> > What's the deal with that? How do we get here?
>
> Hey! Thanks for taking a look at the series!
>
> An explicit frag call on a whole-buffer provider is a driver bug: UMEM
> chunks can be smaller than a page, and RX gives the whole chunk to
> userspace.
>
> But page_pool_alloc_netmem() also picks frags for small requests, so a
> valid call can warn.
>
> I think it would be better to make it return a whole buffer and its
> actual size. The WARN stays in the frag API, before taking a new buffer?
> Wdyt?

I see.. Idk, I'd still return 0 here, but without a warn. Not sure
we want a warn for any api misuse? Returning no netmem is gonna be enough
to debug things? As for the calls from page_pool_alloc_netmem, I'd also
handle it explicitly? if (size > max_size || !page_pool_supports_frag) ?
But no strong preference, up to you, was mostly trying to understand
what we are warning against here :-)