Re: [PATCH 0/5] Volatile Ranges (v12) & LSF-MM discussion fodder

From: H. Peter Anvin
Date: Wed Apr 02 2014 - 12:39:22 EST


On 04/02/2014 09:32 AM, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> On 04/02/2014 09:30 AM, Johannes Weiner wrote:
>>
>> So between zero-fill and SIGBUS, I'd prefer the one which results in
>> the simpler user interface / fewer system calls.
>>
>
> The use cases are different; I believe this should be a user space option.
>

Case in point, for example: imagine a JIT. You *really* don't want to
zero-fill memory behind the back of your JIT, as all zero memory may not
be a trapping instruction (it isn't on x86, for example, and if you are
unlucky you may be modifying *part* of an instruction.)

Thus, SIGBUS is the only safe option.

-hpa


--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/