linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 53/85] i7300

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Date:	Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:32:30 -0400 (EDT)
From:	Len Brown <lenb@...nel.org>
To:	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...e.hu>
Cc:	linux-acpi@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	Venki Pallipadi <venkatesh.pallipadi@...el.com>,
	Andy Henroid <andrew.d.henroid@...el.com>,
	Len Brown <len.brown@...el.com>,
	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 53/85] i7300_idle driver v1.55

> > --- a/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c
> > +++ b/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c
> > @@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ void idle_notifier_register(struct notifier_block *n)
> >  {
> >  	atomic_notifier_chain_register(&idle_notifier, n);
> >  }
> > +EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(idle_notifier_register);
> > +
> > +void idle_notifier_unregister(struct notifier_block *n)
> > +{
> > +	atomic_notifier_chain_unregister(&idle_notifier, n);
> > +}
> > +EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(idle_notifier_unregister);
> 
> hm, such x86 infrastructure changes should be submitted via the x86 
> tree, and you should at least have Cc:-ed the maintainers.

I agree that this patch did not hit the list in the conventional way.
I apologize for that, and I thank you, Ingo, for noticing the patch.

> The thing is, we are _getting rid_ of the idle notifiers, not extending 
> them. The last thing we need is random opaque stuff getting called in 
> weird ordering when we enter/exit idle state. We want all that be 
> visible and have explicit, in-source-code ordering.

The patch on the table is basically a platform (chipset) idle hook.
When the system is very idle, it saves energy in the memory sub-system.
Linux customers are asking for this capability b/c it allows them
to save energy and save money.

We considered putting a platform hook into the cpuidle code,
but it seemed simpler this way -- since the new platform hook
would end up looking almost exactly like the idle notifier
that we have already.  So x86-wise, all we did here is
expose the register/unregister so the driver can be modular.

I'm certainly open to suggestions.

thanks,
-Len

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