linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 2.6.20.3] Flush writes to MSI-X table

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Date:	Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:50:45 -0700
From:	"Kok, Auke" <auke-jan.h.kok@...el.com>
To:	Greg KH <gregkh@...e.de>,
	Mitch Williams <mitch.a.williams@...el.com>
CC:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, mingo@...hat.com,
	john.ronciak@...el.com, jesse.brandeburg@...el.com
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2.6.20.3] Flush writes to MSI-X table

Greg KH wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 22, 2007 at 02:08:19PM -0700, Mitch Williams wrote:
>> Because both MSI-X interrupt messages and MSI-X table writes are posted,
>> it's possible for them to cross while in-flight.  This results in
>> interrupts being received long after the kernel thinks they're disabled,
>> and in interrupts being sent to stale vectors after rebalancing.
>>
>> This patch performs a read flush after writes to the MSI-X table for
>> enable/disable and rebalancing operations.  Because this is an expensive
>> operation, we do not perform the read flush after mask/unmask
>> operations.  Hardware which supports MSI-X typically also supports some
>> sort of interrupt moderation, so a read-flush is not necessary for
>> mask/unmask operations.
>>
>> This patch has been validated with (unreleased) network hardware which
>> uses MSI-X.
> 
> Is this needed for any hardware that is public today?

yes. Every msi-x capable piece of hardware in the field will crash if it does 
any form of interrupt balancing. (okay that is not that much stuff out there... 
I know, but the patch is not that big at all - all it does is subtly add a few 
read flushes to make sure that critical changes in the msix vector tables are 
pushed out at the proper time).

> Also, it seems a bit too big of a patch for -stable right now,
> especially as the mainline patch will not make it into 2.6.22 at the
> earliest.

I think Mitch was way too sensitive when he worded his e-mail. We should really 
be trying to get this fix into 2.6.21 at least.

Mitch, can you re-post this and include Eric Biederman, linux-pci, our intel 
platform guys and perhaps Linus and Andrew?

A lot of vendors (not just us) will be pushing msi-x capable hardware out, and 
this fix is absolutely needed. Getting it in soon is really preferred. Not to 
mention that Mitch has spent well over 8 weeks I think making sure that this is 
indeed the issue and the proper fix...

Auke
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