linux-kernel - Re: i8k_smm_func() takes enormous of time to execute

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Date:   Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:22:28 +0100
From:   Jean Delvare <jdelvare@...e.de>
To:     Oleksandr Natalenko <oleksandr@...alenko.name>,
        Jonathan Buzzard <jonathan@...zard.org.uk>
Cc:     Pali Rohár <pali.rohar@...il.com>,
        Guenter Roeck <linux@...ck-us.net>,
        linux-hwmon@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        Mario Limonciello <mario.limonciello@...l.com>
Subject: Re: i8k_smm_func() takes enormous of time to execute

Hi Oleksandr,

On jeu., 2017-11-23 at 22:41 +0100, Oleksandr Natalenko wrote:
> I've noticed that querying Dell Vostro 3360 hwmon sensor freezes the system 
> completely (like, really completely, even mouse cursor does not move, and 
> sound playback stops) for approx. half of a second. Then, system recovers and 
> runs as usual. Also, sensor readings are okay, for instance:
> 
> ===
> $ sensors dell_smm-virtual-0
> dell_smm-virtual-0
> Adapter: Virtual device
> Processor Fan: 5615 RPM
> CPU:            +51.0°C  
> Ambient:        +36.0°C  
> Other:          +63.0°C  
> SODIMM:         +41.0°C 
> ===
> 
> So, I've used trace-cmd to check what takes that much amount of time to 
> execute, and got this:
> 
> ===
> # trace-cmd record -p function_graph -l i8k_smm -F sensors dell_smm-virtual-0
> $ trace-cmd report
> ...
> sensors-23694 [002] 89099.214369: funcgraph_entry:      # 503440.746 us |  
> i8k_smm();
> ...
> ===
> 
> Clearly, 0.5 s delay.
> 
> Looking at i8k_smm(), it calls i8k_smm_func() on 0th CPU:
> 
> ===
>  232     ret = smp_call_on_cpu(0, i8k_smm_func, regs, true);
> ===
> 
> which, in turn, does some asm magic.
> 
> I know that SMM is kinda "black box", and kernel has little to do with it, but 
> I think that under Windows, for instance, it would work without freezes. So, 
> likely, querying SMM might be done differently.
> 
> I do not know how to approach this issue, thus asking for help/advice. Also, 
> CCing Jonathan since the comment before asm magic says this:
> 
> ===
>  137  * Call the System Management Mode BIOS. Code provided by Jonathan 
> Buzzard.
> ===
> 
> This was also reported in various places before, for instance, [1], but 
> unfortunately, without any solution.

There are two patches waiting to be tested in
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=195751

-- 
Jean Delvare
SUSE L3 Support