linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v2] intel_idle: mention assumption that wbinvd is not needed

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Date:   Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:11:26 +0200
From:   "Rafael J. Wysocki" <rafael@...nel.org>
To:     Alexander Monakov <amonakov@...ras.ru>
Cc:     Linux PM <linux-pm@...r.kernel.org>,
        Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        "Rafael J . Wysocki" <rafael.j.wysocki@...el.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] intel_idle: mention assumption that wbinvd is not needed

On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 2:51 PM Alexander Monakov <amonakov@...ras.ru> wrote:
>
> Intel SDM does not explicitly say that entering a C-state via MWAIT will
> implicitly flush CPU caches as appropriate for that C-state. However,
> documentation for individual Intel CPU generations does mention this
> behavior.
>
> Since intel_idle binds to any Intel CPU with MWAIT, list this assumption
> of MWAIT behavior. In passing, reword opening comment to make it clear
> that the driver can load on any old and future Intel CPU with MWAIT.
>
> Signed-off-by: Alexander Monakov <amonakov@...ras.ru>
> Cc: Rafael J. Wysocki <rafael.j.wysocki@...el.com>
> ---
>
> v2: reword remark about WBINVD (Rafael)
>
>  drivers/idle/intel_idle.c | 8 ++++++--
>  1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/idle/intel_idle.c b/drivers/idle/intel_idle.c
> index f4495841bf68..6d87f2129119 100644
> --- a/drivers/idle/intel_idle.c
> +++ b/drivers/idle/intel_idle.c
> @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
>   */
>
>  /*
> - * intel_idle is a cpuidle driver that loads on specific Intel processors
> + * intel_idle is a cpuidle driver that loads on all Intel CPUs with MWAIT
>   * in lieu of the legacy ACPI processor_idle driver.  The intent is to
>   * make Linux more efficient on these processors, as intel_idle knows
>   * more than ACPI, as well as make Linux more immune to ACPI BIOS bugs.
> @@ -20,7 +20,11 @@
>   * All CPUs have same idle states as boot CPU
>   *
>   * Chipset BM_STS (bus master status) bit is a NOP
> - *     for preventing entry into deep C-stats
> + *     for preventing entry into deep C-states
> + *
> + * CPU will flush caches as needed when entering a C-state via MWAIT
> + *     (in contrast to entering ACPI C3, in which case the WBINVD
> + *     instruction needs to be executed to flush the caches)
>   */
>
>  /*
> --

Applied as 5.10-rc material, thanks!