linux-kernel - Re: Notifying on empty cgroup

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Date:	Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:12:18 +0100
From:	Michal Hocko <mhocko@...e.cz>
To:	Victor Porton <porton@...od.ru>
Cc:	"linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	cgroups mailinglist <cgroups@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: Notifying on empty cgroup

On Wed 15-01-14 16:11:40, Victor Porton wrote:
> 15.01.2014, 15:59, "Michal Hocko" <mhocko@...e.cz>:
> > [CCing cgroups mailing list]
> > On Wed 15-01-14 06:12:45, Victor Porton wrote:
> >
> >>  I want to write software which needs to receive a signal when the cgroup
> >>  created by it becomes empty. (After this the empty cgroup should be deleted
> >>  just not to clutter the memory.)
> >>
> >>  If the kernel does not support such notifications, it should be improved.
> >>  This functionality is crucial for some kinds of software.
> >>
> >>  There is /sys/fs/cgroup/systemd/release_agent but I don't understand how to
> >>  use it. I don't understand why we would need it at all.
> >
> > "1.4 What does notify_on_release do ?" in
> > Documentation/cgroups/cgroups.txt the kernel source doesn't help?
> 
> I've read it. I understand what it does. I don't understand how to use
> it in practice nor

You want to clean up your memcg without any tasks so the script might do
something like:
---
#!/bin/sh

CGROUP="$1"
CGROUP_MNT=`mount | grep cgroup | awk '{print $3}'`

rmdir "$CGROUP_MNT/$CGROUP"
---

> why it is done this way.

I find the interface rather awkward as well but that is a question for
those who have implement it.

The interface will change in the future (sorry I do not have any link to
discussion about the change handy).

> >>  Starting a binary on emptying a cgroup with the purpose to notify an other
> >>  binary looks like a big overkill.
> >
> > the binary can do rmdir which is what you want, no?
> 
> I suppose a base package should do that, not my specific software. Do
> I understand right?

Yes. The notifier works on the root of the cgroup hierarchy so it is a
matter of the admin to set it.
 
> >>  Also my program should work in userspace without the need to use
> >>  release_agent which can be accessed only by root.
> >
> > The release_agent is global for all groups so the program doesn't have
> > to care.
> 
> Again: What MY program should do?

Nothing. (assuming the only thing you are interested in is removing the
empty group).

[...]
-- 
Michal Hocko
SUSE Labs
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