[PATCH 0/8] Remove child from struct ctl_table

From: Joel Granados
Date: Fri Jun 02 2023 - 06:08:17 EST


This is part of the effort to remove the empty element of the ctl_table
structures (used to calculate size) and replace it with an ARRAY_SIZE call. By
replacing the child element in struct ctl_table with a flags element we make
sure that there are no forward recursions on child nodes and therefore set
ourselves up for just using an ARRAY_SIZE. We also added some self tests to
make sure that we do not break anything.

Patchset is separated in 4: parport fixes, selftests fixes, selftests additions and
replacement of child element. Tested everything with sysctl self tests and everything
seems "ok".

1. parport fixes: @mcgrof: this is related to my previous series and it plugs a
sysct table leak in the parport driver. Please tell me if you want me to repost
the parport series with this one stiched in.

2. Selftests fixes: Remove the prefixed zeros when passing a awk field to the
awk print command because it was causing $0009 to be interpreted as $0.
Replaced continue with return in sysctl.sh(test_case) so the test actually
gets skipped. The skip decision is now in sysctl.sh(skip_test).

3. Selftest additions: New test to confirm that unregister actually removes
targets. New test to confirm that permanently empty targets are indeed
created and that no other targets can be created "on top".

4. Replaced the child pointer in struct ctl_table with a u8 flag. The flag
is used to differentiate between permanently empty targets and non-empty ones.

Comments/feedback greatly appreciated

Best
Joel

Joel Granados (8):
parport: plug a sysctl register leak
test_sysctl: Fix test metadata getters
test_sysctl: Group node sysctl test under one func
test_sysctl: Add an unregister sysctl test
test_sysctl: Add an option to prevent test skip
test_sysclt: Test for registering a mount point
sysctl: Remove debugging dump_stack
sysctl: replace child with a flags var

drivers/parport/procfs.c | 23 ++---
fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c | 82 ++++------------
include/linux/sysctl.h | 4 +-
lib/test_sysctl.c | 91 ++++++++++++++++--
tools/testing/selftests/sysctl/sysctl.sh | 115 +++++++++++++++++------
5 files changed, 204 insertions(+), 111 deletions(-)

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2.30.2