linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v2] Added perf functionality to mmdc driver

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Date:	Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:04:25 +0100
From:	Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>
To:	Zhengyu Shen <zhengyu.shen@....com>
Cc:	"shawnguo@...nel.org" <shawnguo@...nel.org>,
	"peterz@...radead.org" <peterz@...radead.org>,
	Frank Li <frank.li@....com>,
	"linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	"acme@...nel.org" <acme@...nel.org>,
	"alexander.shishkin@...ux.intel.com" 
	<alexander.shishkin@...ux.intel.com>,
	"mingo@...hat.com" <mingo@...hat.com>,
	"lznuaa@...il.com" <lznuaa@...il.com>,
	"linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org" 
	<linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] Added perf functionality to mmdc driver

On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 08:40:08PM +0000, Zhengyu Shen wrote:
> > > > > +	hrtimer_start(&pmu_mmdc->hrtimer, mmdc_timer_period(),
> > > > > +			HRTIMER_MODE_REL_PINNED);
> > > >
> > > > Why is a hrtimer necessary? Is this just copy-pasted from CCN, or do
> > > > you have similar HW issues?
> > > >
> > > > Is there no overflow interrupt?
> > >
> > > When overflow occurs, a register bit is set to one. There is no
> > > overflow interrupt which is why the timer is needed.
> > 
> > I see. Please have add comment in the driver explaining this, so that this is
> > obvious.
> > 
> > Does the counter itself wrap and continue counting, or does it saturate?
> > 
> > How have you tuned your polling period so as to avoid missing events in the
> > case of an overflow?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Mark.
> The counter wraps around once every ten seconds for total-cycles (which is the 
> Fastest increasing counter). Polling is done every one second just to be safe.

Ok. It would be worth noting this with a comment next to either the
hrtimer handler or registration thereof.

I assume that on overflow the counter wraps rather than saturating?

Thanks,
Mark.