Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 20 May 2009 08:41:17 -0700 | From | "Paul E. McKenney" <> | Subject | Re: [PATCH] tracing: add trace_event_read_lock() |
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On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 10:25:39AM +0800, Lai Jiangshan wrote: > Frederic Weisbecker wrote: > > On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 10:05:21AM +0800, Lai Jiangshan wrote: > >> Frederic Weisbecker wrote: > >>> On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 07:35:34PM +0800, Lai Jiangshan wrote: > >>>> I found that there is nothing to protect event_hash in > >>>> ftrace_find_event(). > >>> > >>> > >>> Actually, rcu protects it, but not enough. We have neither > >>> synchronize_rcu() nor rcu_read_lock. > >> We have no rcu_read_lock(), RCU can not protects it. > >> > >>> So we protect against concurrent hlist accesses. > >>> But the event can be removed when a module is unloaded, > >>> and that can happen between the time we get the event output > >>> callback and the time we actually use it. > >>> > >> [...] > >> > >>> It could be more fine grained. > >> I think it's fine-grained enough, write-side(modules loading/unloading) > >> is happened rarely. trace_event_read_lock() will not sleep very likely. > >> > >> Thoughts? > > > > > > Yeah, the write lock is a rare event, that's why I think > > it's enough fine grained. > > > > > >>> We could have a per event rwsem, and also place the > >>> protected read section only in trace_print_entry() which is the only racy window. > >>> > >> print_trace_line() is the only racy window. > >> So I just protect print_trace_line()(except __ftrace_dump()) > >> > >> I protect loops which call print_trace_line(), it > >> reduces invoke-times: > >> > >> trace_event_read_lock(); > >> while (...) { > >> ... > >> print_trace_line(); > >> ... > >> } > >> trace_event_read_unlock(); > > > > > > > > Yeah, I meant it could have been: > > > > trace_event_read_lock(); > > print_trace_line(); > > trace_event_read_unlock(); > > > > It's more fine grained, but: > > > > - the write lock path is rarely taken > > - it would add more extra calls then more overhead > > > > IMO this is fine as an rwsem design point of view. > > > > But I have mixed feelings when I consider it could be > > done using rcu. I will explain that in my next answer to > > Paul and will wait for your comments. > > > > rcu_read_lock() will disable preempt for im-preemptable RCU, > it will add latency to kernel, because print_trace_line() is not > a short function. > > The smallest window is: > (print_trace_line() calls ftrace_find_event() by several paths) > > XXX_read_lock(); > event = ftrace_find_event(entry->type); > if (event) > event->YYYY(); > XXX_read_unlock(); > > but event->YYYY() is not a short function neither.
SRCU could be used instead, as noted in a separate message.
> Since write-side is rarely taken, sleep-able read-side(rwsem) > will not block each other. So I use trace_event_read_lock() > protects the biggest window(the loops).
But if simple locking works, I have no problem with it. As always, use the right tool for the job. And even I will tell you that RCU is not always the right tool. ;-)
Thanx, Paul
> In LTTng, the tracing code(trace_NAME()) accesses to > event type list, so RCU is needed in LTTng for event type list. > > But Ftrace's tracing code does not accesses to event type list, > I don't know this logic is still true in future. Steven may > give me an answer. > > Lai. >
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