linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v5 6/7] module: Improve support for asynchronous module exit code

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Date:   Wed, 28 Sep 2022 11:17:02 -0700
From:   Bart Van Assche <bvanassche@....org>
To:     Luis Chamberlain <mcgrof@...nel.org>,
        Mauro Carvalho Chehab <mchehab@...nel.org>
Cc:     "Martin K . Petersen" <martin.petersen@...cle.com>,
        linux-scsi@...r.kernel.org, Christoph Hellwig <hch@....de>,
        Ming Lei <ming.lei@...hat.com>, Hannes Reinecke <hare@...e.de>,
        John Garry <john.garry@...wei.com>,
        Mike Christie <michael.christie@...cle.com>,
        Krzysztof Kozlowski <krzysztof.kozlowski@...aro.org>,
        Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        linux-modules@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        "James E.J. Bottomley" <jejb@...ux.ibm.com>,
        Tejun Heo <tj@...nel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v5 6/7] module: Improve support for asynchronous module
 exit code

On 9/27/22 17:02, Luis Chamberlain wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 20, 2022 at 10:13:40AM -0700, Bart Van Assche wrote:
>> On 9/14/22 15:56, Bart Van Assche wrote:
>>> Some kernel modules call device_del() from their module exit code and
>>> schedule asynchronous work from inside the .release callback without waiting
>>> until that callback has finished. As an example, many SCSI LLD drivers call
>>> scsi_remove_host() from their module exit code. scsi_remove_host() may
>>> invoke scsi_device_dev_release_usercontext() asynchronously.
>>> scsi_device_dev_release_usercontext() uses the host template pointer and
>>> that pointer usually exists in static storage in the SCSI LLD. Support
>>> using the module reference count to keep the module around until
>>> asynchronous module exiting has completed by waiting in the delete_module()
>>> system call until the module reference count drops to zero.
>>
>> Hi Luis,
>>
>> I'd like to know your opinion about this patch since you are the maintainer
>> of the kernel module system.
> 
> See this patch which extends the documentation of try_module_get():
> 
> https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20211029184500.2821444-7-mcgrof@kernel.org
> 
> You can ignore discussion around the thread as sadly it is just
> irrelevant stuff not about that patch. But the logic it spells out
> is still true.
> 
> So, in short, using try_module_get() on exit is actually the wrong
> thing to do and it is no surprise it would fail. I haven't gotten
> yet around to reviewing Mauro's driver API which let's you unbind
> drivers, but it sounds related so I CC'd you on that.
> 
> So I'd like to ask instead if an alternative to using try_module_get()
> on exit would be better here and for the future.

Hi Luis,

The extended documentation of try_module_get() is very helpful. But 
please note that this patch is not related to try_module_get() at all. 
See also patch 7/7 in this series 
(https://lore.kernel.org/linux-scsi/20220914225621.415631-8-bvanassche@acm.org/).

Thanks,

Bart.