Softlockup (LOCKUP_DETECTOR) detection issue

From: TAO HU
Date: Wed Jan 25 2012 - 08:18:16 EST


Hi, All

While playing kernel 3.0.8 with below test code, it does NOT report
any softlockup with 60%~70% chances.
NOTE: the softlockup timeout is set to 10 seconds (i.e.
watchdog_thresh=5) in my test.
... ...
preempt_disable();
local_irq_disable();
for (i = 0; i < 20; i++)
mdelay(1000);
local_irq_enable();
preempt_enable();
... ...

However, if I remove local_irq_disable()/local_irq_enable() it will
report softlockup with no problem.
I believe it is due to that after local_irq_enable()
touch_softlockup_watchdog() is called prior softlockup timer.

touch_softlockup_watchdog() basically resets the lockup detection
process which implies that the 20-second lockup will be ignored.
I noticed that touch_softlockup_watchdog() is called in dozens of
places in kernel.

Is that a design limitation or a bug? Any way to improve the situation?

kernel/debug/debug_core.c:453: touch_softlockup_watchdog_sync();
kernel/power/hibernate.c:443: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/panic.c:153: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/time/timekeeping.c:684: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/time/tick-sched.c:149: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/time/tick-sched.c:543: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/time/tick-sched.c:596: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/time/tick-sched.c:756: touch_softlockup_watchdog();
kernel/sched_clock.c:277: touch_softlockup_watchdog();



--
Best Regards
Hu Tao
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