linux-kernel - [PATCH v3] fs: Invalidate the cache for a parent block-device if fsync() is called for a partition

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Date:	Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:33:22 +0000
From:	Niels de Vos <ndevos@...hat.com>
To:	linux-fsdevel@...r.kernel.org,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>
Cc:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, Al Viro <viro@...iv.linux.org.uk>,
	Mikulas Patocka <mpatocka@...hat.com>,
	Jeff Moyer <jmoyer@...hat.com>,
	Niels de Vos <ndevos@...hat.com>,
	"Bryn M. Reeves" <bmr@...hat.com>
Subject: [PATCH v3] fs: Invalidate the cache for a parent block-device if fsync() is called for a partition

Executing an fsync() on a file-descriptor of a partition flushes the
caches for that partition by calling blkdev_fsync(). However, it seems
that reading data through the parent device will still return the old
cached data.

The problem can be worked around by forcing the caches to be flushed
with either
	# blockdev --flushbufs ${dev_disk}
or
	# echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

One of the use-cases that shows this problem:
1) create two or more partitions on a device
   - use fdisk to create /dev/sdb1 and /dev/sdb2
2) format and mount one of the partition
   - mkfs -t ext3 /dev/sdb1
3) read through the main device to have something in the cache
   - read /dev/sdb with dd or use something like "parted /dev/sdb print"
4) now write something to /dev/sdb2, format the partition for example
   - mkfs -t ext3 /dev/sdb2
5) read the blocks where sdb2 starts, through /dev/sdb
   - use dd or do again a "parted /dev/sdb print"

The cache for the block-device is not synced if the block-device is kept
open (due to a mounted partition, for example). Only when all users for
the disk have exited, the cache for the disk is made consistent again.

Without this patch, calling "blockdev --flushbufs" or dropping the
caches, the result in 5) is the same as in 3). Reading the same area
through /dev/sdb2 shows the inconsistancy between the two caches.

CC: Bryn M. Reeves <bmr@...hat.com>
Acked-by: Mikulas Patocka <mpatocka@...hat.com>
Reviewed-by: Jeff Moyer <jmoyer@...hat.com>
Signed-off-by: Niels de Vos <ndevos@...hat.com>

---
v3:
- Correct commit message, no need to mention blkdev_issue_flush().

- Include a use-case for giving a clearer understaning of the problem
  that is being addressed.

- Include received Acked-by and Reviewed-by, only the commit message
  changed in this v3.

v2:
- Do not call invalidate_bdev() from blkdev_issue_flush() and prevent
  performance degration with journalled filesystems.

  Suggested was to call invalidate_bdev() in fsync_bdev(), but this is
  not in the call-path of mkfs.ext3 and similar tools. Hence the issue
  persists.

- Correct phrasing a little, changing ioctl-BLKFLSBUF is not required.

- This issue also occurs when doing an ioctl-BLKFLSBUF on a partition.
  Reading the whole disk will still return cached data. If this is an
  issue, it will need a seperate patch.
---
 fs/block_dev.c |    4 ++++
 1 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/block_dev.c b/fs/block_dev.c
index 0e575d1..433c4de 100644
--- a/fs/block_dev.c
+++ b/fs/block_dev.c
@@ -424,6 +424,10 @@ int blkdev_fsync(struct file *filp, loff_t start, loff_t end, int datasync)
 	if (error == -EOPNOTSUPP)
 		error = 0;
 
+	/* invalidate parent block_device */
+	if (!error && bdev != bdev->bd_contains)
+		invalidate_bdev(bdev->bd_contains);
+
 	return error;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(blkdev_fsync);
-- 
1.7.6.5

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