linux-kernel - Re: Unlock-lock questions and the Linux Kernel Memory Model

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Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.44L0.1711291450070.1369-100000@iolanthe.rowland.org>
Date:   Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:53:06 -0500 (EST)
From:   Alan Stern <stern@...land.harvard.edu>
To:     Peter Zijlstra <peterz@...radead.org>
cc:     Daniel Lustig <dlustig@...dia.com>,
        "Paul E. McKenney" <paulmck@...ux.vnet.ibm.com>,
        Andrea Parri <parri.andrea@...il.com>,
        Luc Maranget <luc.maranget@...ia.fr>,
        Jade Alglave <j.alglave@....ac.uk>,
        Boqun Feng <boqun.feng@...il.com>,
        Nicholas Piggin <npiggin@...il.com>,
        Will Deacon <will.deacon@....com>,
        David Howells <dhowells@...hat.com>,
        Palmer Dabbelt <palmer@...belt.com>,
        Kernel development list <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: Unlock-lock questions and the Linux Kernel Memory Model

On Wed, 29 Nov 2017, Peter Zijlstra wrote:

> On Wed, Nov 29, 2017 at 11:04:53AM -0800, Daniel Lustig wrote:
> 
> > While we're here, let me ask about another test which isn't directly
> > about unlock/lock but which is still somewhat related to this
> > discussion:
> > 
> > "MP+wmb+xchg-acq" (or some such)
> > 
> > {}
> > 
> > P0(int *x, int *y)
> > {
> >         WRITE_ONCE(*x, 1);
> >         smp_wmb();
> >         WRITE_ONCE(*y, 1);
> > }
> > 
> > P1(int *x, int *y)
> > {
> >         r1 = atomic_xchg_relaxed(y, 2);
> >         r2 = smp_load_acquire(y);
> >         r3 = READ_ONCE(*x);
> > }
> > 
> > exists (1:r1=1 /\ 1:r2=2 /\ 1:r3=0)
> > 
> > C/C++ would call the atomic_xchg_relaxed part of a release sequence
> > and hence would forbid this outcome.
> 
> That's just weird. Either its _relaxed, or its _release. Making _relaxed
> mean _release is just daft.

The C11 memory model specifically allows atomic operations to be 
interspersed within a release sequence.  But it doesn't say why.

Alan