[PATCH rcu 9/9] srcu: Update comment after the index flip

From: Paul E. McKenney
Date: Wed Jan 04 2023 - 19:32:56 EST


Because there is not guaranteed to be a full memory barrier between
the ->srcu_unlock_count increment of an srcu_read_unlock() and the
->srcu_lock_count increment of the next srcu_read_lock(), this next
srcu_read_lock() is not guaranteed to see the effect of the index flip
just prior to this comment. However, this next srcu_read_lock() will
execute a full memory barrier, so the srcu_read_lock() after that is
guaranteed to see that index flip.

This guarantee is illustrated by the following diagram of events and
the litmus test following that.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

READER UPDATER
------------- ----------
// idx is initially 0.

srcu_flip() {
smp_mb();
// RSCS

srcu_read_unlock() {
smp_mb();
idx++; // P
smp_mb(); // QQ
}

srcu_readers_unlock_idx(0) {
,--counted------------ count all unlock[0]; // Q
|
unlock[0]++; // X

}
smp_mb();
srcu_read_lock() {
READ(idx) = 0; ,---- count all lock[0]; // contributes imbalance of 1.
lock[0]++; ----counted |
smp_mb(); // PP } |
} |
|
// RSCS not going to effect above scan
|
srcu_read_unlock() { |
smp_mb(); |
unlock[0]++; |
} |
/
/
srcu_read_lock() { |
READ(idx); // Y -----cannot be counted because of P (has to sample idx as 1)
lock[1]++;
...
}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

This makes it similar to the store buffer pattern. Using X, Y, P and Q
annotated above, we get:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

READER UPDATER
X (write) P (write)

smp_mb(); //PP smp_mb(); //QQ

Y (read) Q (read)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASCII art courtesy of Joel Fernandes.

Reported-by: Joel Fernandes <joel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reported-by: Boqun Feng <boqun.feng@xxxxxxxxx>
Reported-by: Frederic Weisbecker <frederic@xxxxxxxxxx>
Reported-by: Neeraj Upadhyay <quic_neeraju@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
kernel/rcu/srcutree.c | 9 +++++----
1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/kernel/rcu/srcutree.c b/kernel/rcu/srcutree.c
index d2d2e31c42b13..ab4ee58af84bf 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/srcutree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/srcutree.c
@@ -1098,10 +1098,11 @@ static void srcu_flip(struct srcu_struct *ssp)

/*
* Ensure that if the updater misses an __srcu_read_unlock()
- * increment, that task's next __srcu_read_lock() will see the
- * above counter update. Note that both this memory barrier
- * and the one in srcu_readers_active_idx_check() provide the
- * guarantee for __srcu_read_lock().
+ * increment, that task's __srcu_read_lock() following its next
+ * __srcu_read_lock() or __srcu_read_unlock() will see the above
+ * counter update. Note that both this memory barrier and the
+ * one in srcu_readers_active_idx_check() provide the guarantee
+ * for __srcu_read_lock().
*/
smp_mb(); /* D */ /* Pairs with C. */
}
--
2.31.1.189.g2e36527f23