[PATCH 2/2] lib: Remove module auto-unloading which encourages inconsistent behaviour

From: Pravin Shedge
Date: Sat Dec 23 2017 - 10:29:26 EST


The module auto-unload might seem like a nice optimization, but
it encourages inconsistent behaviour. And behaviour that is
different from all other normal modules.

rbtree_test.c and percpu_test.c returns -EAGAIN from module_init()
on successful completion. Normal module return 0 on success but
returning -EAGAIN perform auto module unloading which seem like
a nice optimization but it brings inconsistent behaviour as well.

I face the similar problem in my previous patch, "Paul Gortmaker"
gives nice review comment on module auto-unloading brings
inconsistent behaviour.

Imagine something as simple as this:

for i in $LIST ; do
modprobe $i
lsmod | grep -q $i
if [ $? != 0 ]; then echo Module $i is not present! ; fi
done

OK, not ideal code, ignoring the modprobe return -- but what it reports
is true --
rbtree_test.c and percpu_test.c test module (if it passed) will NOT be
present.

All other modules from linux/lib/* follow the same semantics that
module_init() returns 0 on successful completion & let external entity
like rmmod do the module unloading task.

Signed-off-by: Pravin Shedge <pravin.shedge4linux@xxxxxxxxx>
---
lib/percpu_test.c | 3 ++-
lib/rbtree_test.c | 2 +-
2 files changed, 3 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lib/percpu_test.c b/lib/percpu_test.c
index 0b5d14d..57a637b 100644
--- a/lib/percpu_test.c
+++ b/lib/percpu_test.c
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ static int __init percpu_test_init(void)
preempt_enable();

pr_info("percpu test done\n");
- return -EAGAIN; /* Fail will directly unload the module */
+
+ return 0;
}

static void __exit percpu_test_exit(void)
diff --git a/lib/rbtree_test.c b/lib/rbtree_test.c
index 7d36c1e..5c52112 100644
--- a/lib/rbtree_test.c
+++ b/lib/rbtree_test.c
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ static int __init rbtree_test_init(void)

kfree(nodes);

- return -EAGAIN; /* Fail will directly unload the module */
+ return 0;
}

static void __exit rbtree_test_exit(void)
--
2.7.4