linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH RFC] rcu/nocb: Provide default all-CPUs mask for RCU_NOCB

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Date:   Thu, 14 Apr 2022 14:09:33 -0700
From:   "Paul E. McKenney" <paulmck@...nel.org>
To:     Joel Fernandes <joel@...lfernandes.org>
Cc:     LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        Josh Triplett <josh@...htriplett.org>,
        Lai Jiangshan <jiangshanlai@...il.com>,
        Mathieu Desnoyers <mathieu.desnoyers@...icios.com>,
        rcu <rcu@...r.kernel.org>, Steven Rostedt <rostedt@...dmis.org>,
        Frederic Weisbecker <frederic@...nel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH RFC] rcu/nocb: Provide default all-CPUs mask for
 RCU_NOCB_CPU=y

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 03:49:16PM -0400, Joel Fernandes wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 3:42 PM Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@...nel.org> wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 07:19:48PM +0000, Joel Fernandes wrote:
> > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 08:41:09AM -0700, Paul E. McKenney wrote:
> > > [..]
> > > > > > [4]     All CPUs are offloaded at boot, and any CPU can be de-offloaded
> > > > > >         and offloaded at runtime.  This is the same behavior that
> > > > > >         you would currently get with CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=n and
> > > > > >         rcu_nocbs=0-N.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, this is the behavior I intend. So then there would not be a need
> > > > > to pass a mask (and I suspect for a large number of users, it
> > > > > simplifies boot params).
> > > >
> > > > Very good, and from what I can see, this should work for everyone.
> > >
> > > Just to clarify, what I am going to do is, if this new option =y, then
> > > rcu_nocbs effectively wont do anything. i.e. All CPUs are offloaded at boot.
> > > Let me know if we are not on the same page about it though. I do feel that is
> > > a sensible choice given =y. If we are on same page, please ignore my comment.
> >
> > I was assuming that the rcu_nocbs=??? for non-empty "???" would override
> > the CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y.  If you choose not to do that, shouldn't
> > you at least issue some sort of diagnostic?  After all, the sysadmin
> > gave a kernel-boot parameter asking the code to do something and the
> > code is choosing not to do that something.
> >
> > Of course, such a sysadmin might want the CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y
> > Kconfig option to affect only the default, that is, when no rcu_nocbs
> > kernel boot parameter is specified.  This would change the second "[4]"
> > in my original table to "[2]".
> >
> > Thoughts?
> 
> I thought about that. I feel that since we are defaulting the new
> config option to =n , it is a conscious choice by the distro to set it
> to =y.  In such a case, they should be Ok with offloading all CPUs. If
> they decide to selectively offload some CPUs in the future, then they
> could revisit the config option at that time.
> 
> I feel the kernel config should override the boot parameter behavior.
> It is the same effect as a sysadmin passing kernel parameter X
> assuming the kernel does something but the CONFIG option might not
> even build code corresponding to X.
> 
> I feel to address your concern, we can document in kernel command line
> documentation that rcu_nocbs= does not have an effect if
> CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=y, would that work for you?

Not me so much, because I would just set CONFIG_RCU_NOCB_CPU_ALL=n so
as to not worry about it.

But I am not at all looking forward to complaints about rcu_nocbs not
working the way people expect.  So let's take some time to think more
carefully about this.

							Thanx, Paul

> Thanks,
> 
> - Joel
> 
> >
> > > > > > I believe that Steve Rostedt's review would carry weight for ChromeOS,
> > > > > > however, I am suffering a senior moment on the right person for Android.
> > > > >
> > > > > I think for Android, Kalesh Singh is in the kernel team and Tim Murray
> > > > > is the performance lead. They could appropriately represent their RCU
> > > > > needs.
> > > >
> > > > Sounds good!  Please collect a Reviewed-by from one or both of them.
> > >
> > > Ok.
> >
> >                                                         Thanx, Paul