linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v3] drbd: fix throttling on newly created DM backing devices

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Date:	Tue, 09 Sep 2014 21:03:42 +0200
From:	Imre Palik <imrep.amz@...il.com>
To:	drbd-dev@...ts.linbit.com,
	Philipp Reisner <philipp.reisner@...bit.com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, "Palik, Imre" <imrep@...zon.de>,
	Matt Wilson <msw@...zon.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v3] drbd: fix throttling on newly created DM backing devices

On 09/08/14 15:38, Lars wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 08, 2014 at 03:05:28PM +0200, Imre Palik wrote:
>> On 09/07/14 11:58, Lars wrote:
>>> On Fri, Sep 05, 2014 at 08:41:18PM +0200, Imre Palik wrote:
>>>> From: "Palik, Imre" <imrep@...zon.de>
>>>>
>>>> If the drbd backing device is a new device mapper device (e.g., a
>>>> dm-linear mapping of an existing block device that contains data), the
>>>> counters are initially 0 even though the device contains useful
>>>> data. This causes throttling until something accesses the drbd device
>>>> or the backing device.
>>>
>>> What was wrong with my previous proposal?
>>
>> Sorry, I haven't realised you added a proposal to your reply.  It
>> seems, I really needed that extra sleep during the weekend ...
>>
>> Your proposal is good.  Of course, I like my last one a slightly
>> better.  But as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder :-)
>>
>>> How does changing the signedness help with
>>> rs_last_events not being properly initialized?
>>
>> It only helps with reasoning.  I reason with modular arithmetic way
>> easier than with signed integer overflows.  Accidentally, 0 is a
>> good initialisation value in case of unsigned arithmetic.
>>
>>> Are you sure you have also considered all wrap-around cases?
>>>
>>> Maybe you are too focused on your particular corner case
>>> (disk_stats starting with 0).
>>> Maybe I'm just thick right now, so please explain.
>>
>> The idea is that 0 is the smallest possible value for an unsigned,
>> and curr_events is monotonically increasing (mod 2^32) .
>
> The problem is: it is not :-(
>
> It's a difference between stats that are increased by the
> block core at (usually) completion time, and an atomic_t
> that is increased by DRBD at just before (or just after) submittion.
>
> Depending very much on stress in the IO subsystem,
> and overall timing of events, a later call may see a smaller
> "curr_events" (because rs_last_sect_ev has already increased,
> but the disk stats have not yet noticed).
>
> With unsigned, that may wrap around to UINT_MAX, which we don't want.

I see.  You hide the jitter behind the signedness.  Thanks for the 
explanation.

>> This
>> means, initially either curr_events > 64, that is, we enter the
>> loop, and do the initialisation, or it will be bigger than 64 at
>> most when we want to start throttle in an ideal world (after no more
>> than 64 sectors of activity).
>>
>> Basically, while you initialise rs_last_events to an ideal value
>> with some calculation, I choose a safe static value.  I am content
>> with both approaches.  I think, as a subsystem maintainer, you
>> should choose the one you like better.  If you choose yours, then
>> you can add
>> Reviewed-by: Imre Palik <imrep@...zon.de>
>
> Thanks,
>
> 	Lars
>

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