Re: [PATCH v2 1/2] mm/migrate_device.c: Copy pte dirty bit to page

From: Huang, Ying
Date: Thu Aug 18 2022 - 02:34:58 EST


Peter Xu <peterx@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

> On Wed, Aug 17, 2022 at 02:41:19AM -0700, Nadav Amit wrote:
>> 4. Having multiple TLB flushing infrastructures makes all of these
>> discussions very complicated and unmaintainable. I need to convince myself
>> in every occasion (including this one) whether calls to
>> flush_tlb_batched_pending() and tlb_flush_pending() are needed or not.
>>
>> What I would like to have [3] is a single infrastructure that gets a
>> “ticket” (generation when the batching started), the old PTE and the new PTE
>> and checks whether a TLB flush is needed based on the arch behavior and the
>> current TLB generation. If needed, it would update the “ticket” to the new
>> generation. Andy wanted a ring for pending TLB flushes, but I think it is an
>> overkill with more overhead and complexity than needed.
>>
>> But the current situation in which every TLB flush is a basis for long
>> discussions and prone to bugs is impossible.
>>
>> I hope it helps. Let me know if you want me to revive the patch-set or other
>> feedback.
>>
>> [1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20220711034615.482895-5-21cnbao@xxxxxxxxx/
>> [2] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20220718120212.3180-13-namit@xxxxxxxxxx/
>> [3] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20210131001132.3368247-16-namit@xxxxxxxxxx/
>
> I need more reading on tlb code and also [3] which looks useful to me.
> It's definitely sad to make tlb flushing so complicated. It'll be great if
> things can be sorted out someday.
>
> In this specific case, the only way to do safe tlb batching in my mind is:
>
> pte_offset_map_lock();
> arch_enter_lazy_mmu_mode();
> // If any pending tlb, do it now
> if (mm_tlb_flush_pending())
> flush_tlb_range(vma, start, end);
> else
> flush_tlb_batched_pending();

I don't think we need the above 4 lines. Because we will flush TLB
before we access the pages. Can you find any issue if we don't use the
above 4 lines?

Best Regards,
Huang, Ying

> loop {
> ...
> pte = ptep_get_and_clear();
> ...
> if (pte_present())
> unmapped++;
> ...
> }
> if (unmapped)
> flush_tlb_range(walk->vma, start, end);
> arch_leave_lazy_mmu_mode();
> pte_unmap_unlock();
>
> I may miss something, but even if not it already doesn't look pretty.
>
> Thanks,