[PATCH net-next 0/7] net: ipa: simplify TX power handling

From: Alex Elder
Date: Tue Jan 30 2024 - 14:23:25 EST


In order to deliver a packet to the IPA hardware, we must ensure
it is powered. We request power by calling pm_runtime_get(), and
its return value tells us the power state. We can't block in
ipa_start_xmit(), so if power isn't enabled we prevent further
transmit attempts by calling netif_stop_queue(). Power will
eventually become enabled, at which point we call netif_wake_queue()
to allow the transmit to be retried. When it does, the power should
be enabled, so the packet delivery can proceed.

The logic that handles this is convoluted, and was put in place
to address a race condition pointed out by Jakub Kicinski during
review. The fix addressed that race, as well as another one that
was found while investigating it:
b8e36e13ea5e ("net: ipa: fix TX queue race")
I have wanted to simplify this code ever since, and I'm pleased to
report that this series implements a much better solution that
avoids both race conditions.

The first race occurs between the ->ndo_start_xmit thread and the
runtime resume thread. If we find power is not enabled when
requested in ipa_start_xmit(), we stop queueing. But there's a
chance the runtime resume will enable queuing just before that,
leaving queueing stopped forever. A flag is used to ensure that
does not occur.

A second flag is used to prevent NETDEV_TX_BUSY from being returned
repeatedly during the small window between enabling queueing and
finishing power resume. This can happen if resume was underway when
pm_runtime_get() was called and completes immediately afterward.
This condition only exists because of the use of the first flag.

The fix is to disable transmit for *every* call to ipa_start_xmit(),
disabling it *before* calling pm_runtime_get(). This leaves three
cases:
- If the return value indicates power is not active (or is in
transition), queueing remains disabled--thereby avoiding
the race between disabling it and a concurrent power thread
enabling it.
- If pm_runtime_get() returns an error, we drop the packet and
re-enable queueing.
- Finally, if the hardware is powered, we re-enable queueing
before delivering the packet to the hardware.

So the first race is avoided. And as a result, the second condition
will not occur.


The first patch adds pointers to the TX and RX IPA endpoints in the
netdev private data. The second patch has netif_stop_queue() be
called for all packets; if pm_runtime_get() indicates power is
enabled (or an error), netif_wake_queue() is called to enable it
again. The third and fourth patches get rid of the STARTED and
STOPPED IPA power flags, as well as the power spinlock, because they
are no longer needed. The last three patches just eliminate some
trivial functions, open-coding them instead.

-Alex

Alex Elder (7):
net: ipa: stash modem TX and RX endpoints
net: ipa: begin simplifying TX queue stop
net: ipa: kill the STARTED IPA power flag
net: ipa: kill the IPA power STOPPED flag
net: ipa: kill ipa_power_modem_queue_stop()
net: ipa: kill ipa_power_modem_queue_active()
net: ipa: kill ipa_power_modem_queue_wake()

drivers/net/ipa/ipa_modem.c | 96 +++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
drivers/net/ipa/ipa_power.c | 71 ---------------------------
drivers/net/ipa/ipa_power.h | 18 -------
3 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 124 deletions(-)

--
2.40.1